After leaving the Army just as Covid happened, former Army medic Michelle experienced personal grief and struggled with her mental health. Following NHS treatment, she registered for employment support from our longstanding partner The Poppy Factory, and secured funding for essential training through the Army Benevolent Fund. She’s now on track to become a qualified paramedic, working with Yorkshire Ambulance Service.
Personal struggles
Michelle said: “I served in the Army for 10 years, in the King’s Royal Hussars, undertaking operational tours in Cyprus and Afghanistan, and trained as a medic. I left in 2020 when the Covid pandemic happened, and I was due to start work as a Medic/Stewardess on a private yacht. I lost that job and I was trying to find another one while looking after my mum, who had become ill. She died within six months of me leaving Service.
“I went through a very difficult period and I was really struggling with it all. At one point I had a phone call asking if I would like to go back into the military. I was considering it because I didn’t have anything else, but I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder from my time in Service. I’ve struggled with my mental health and I may also have autism and ADHD.
A new focus
“I had treatment through the NHS. My depression settled down and I went through therapy. Later, I made a connection with The Poppy Factory.
“Giles, my Employment Consultant, got in touch with me and helped me think about how to get into a degree apprenticeship with Yorkshire Ambulance Service. I needed a C1 driving licence and Giles helped me apply to the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF), which agreed to cover the costs of the training and licence.”
In August 2024, Michelle received a grant of £947 from the ABF to pay for this vital driving licence and training.
Checking in
Michelle has overcome lots of challenges, worked really hard, and we are delighted that she has secured a place at university for a Paramedic degree, which starts in September.
She says: “Training as a paramedic in the civilian world can be difficult, because no-one understands my experience level. As a medic in the military, you become a jack of all trades and that doesn’t easily cross over.
“I miss a lot of the camaraderie from the military. It’s like a family, and you can speak to other people who know what you have been going through. I’m still in touch with Giles every week or so. That’s been great, because I don’t really have a support system otherwise.”
As well as providing individual grants to veterans like Michelle, the Army Benevolent Fund contributes funding towards the specialist employment service offered by The Poppy Factory. We were delighted to award a grant of £100,000 in 2024, to help the charity provide employment support for Army veterans with complex mental and physical health conditions.
Giles Harrison, Employment Consultant for The Poppy Factory, said:
“Working with Michelle has been great fun. She is very passionate about her plans to become a Paramedic and she has worked really hard to get her Class 2 licence, which is needed to work for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Not only did she pass with flying colours, despite her nerves on the day of the test, she followed up that victory with an excellent interview and secured her place on her university Paramedic degree, which starts in September.
“Without the financial contribution, arranged by us through the Army Benevolent Fund, Michelle would not have been able to get her licence and would have been prevented from applying to become an Apprentice Paramedic.”