More veterans like Sam will have support to find employment after leaving service, thanks to the Army Benevolent Fund’s grant of £100,000 to The Poppy Factory.
The Poppy Factory is a long-standing partner charity of the ABF, and this year we are once again supporting its Veterans’ Employment Service initiative, which provides assistance to veterans in their own communities via a network of specialist veterans’ employment consultants.
Through in-person and online training, The Poppy Factory supports service leavers throughout their job search and during the first few months of a new role. One beneficiary supported by this programme is Sam.
Sam served for 19 years in The Royal Logistic Corps, serving on deployments in Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan. On leaving the Army in 2015, Sam struggled with her mental and physical health and was diagnosed with complex PTSD.
When Sam was facing uncertainty about her future, we provided her with funding so that she could undertake professional training to be a barber. She was also introduced to The Poppy Factory for additional support.
With encouragement from her employment consultant at The Poppy Factory, Sam built her confidence and developed a clear path forward. Speaking about her experience, Sam said:
“Our initial meeting was a turning point for me. Andrew was giving me support to consider my future. I knew I wanted a career change and to focus on becoming a professional barber.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, Army Benevolent Fund, added:
“We are proud to continue our long-standing support for The Poppy Factory, an organisation that supports veterans such as Sam as they make the transition into civilian life.”