RAF veterans with health conditions who need help moving back into employment will be given one-to-one support by The Poppy Factory through new funding from the RAF Benevolent Fund.
The Fund has awarded £19,000 to The Poppy Factory to help deliver its employability service, which helps wounded, injured and sick veterans across England, Wales and Northern Ireland find meaningful employment in their own communities.
More than 300 men and women who have served in the Armed Forces begin new jobs and careers each year thanks to support from the charity’s employability consultants, who work with veterans to help build their confidence and apply for civilian jobs that match their skills and situations. Once in work, The Poppy Factory continues to work with them and their employer to make sure they adjust well.
The funding from the RAF Benevolent Fund will help the charity reach more RAF veterans throughout the next 12 months.
Deirdre Mills, Chief Executive of The Poppy Factory, said:
“I am hugely grateful to the RAF Benevolent Fund for this important contribution to our employability service. These funds will enable us to reach more RAF veterans who are living with mental and physical health conditions, helping them find a route back into meaningful employment and providing the personal support they need, whatever challenges they may face on the way.”
As the RAF’s leading welfare charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund has a proud tradition of looking after the RAF Family. It is there for all serving and former members of the RAF as well as their partners and dependent children.
Air Vice-Marshal David Murray, Chief Executive of the RAF Benevolent Fund, said:
“The RAF Benevolent Fund provides support for the whole RAF Family, from serving personnel to RAF veterans, to those transitioning out of the service.
“For more than 100 years the Fund has been the RAF’s oldest friend, always there in their time of need, providing financial, emotional and practical support. We are delighted to award another grant, supporting The Poppy Factory in this vital work.”
Notes to editors
For more information about The Poppy Factory, please contact Dan Hodges on 07496 645 869 or email danh@poppyfactory.org
The Poppy Factory
The Poppy Factory is now the country’s leading employability organisation for veterans with mental and physical health conditions. From its base in Richmond-upon-Thames, the charity provides tailored support across England and Wales to help ex-Forces men and women with health challenges to return to meaningful work.
The Poppy Factory works with businesses around the country to transform the way employers think about recruiting people with physical or mental health conditions. More than 1,250 individuals have been supported into employment in their communities since the charity launched its employability service in 2010.
In 2019 The Poppy Factory won the Healthcare and Rehabilitation Award at the Soldiering On Awards and the Disability and Health Employment Award at the ERSA Employability Awards. It was also recognised by the Ministry of Defence for its outstanding support for the Armed Forces community with an Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.
The RAF Benevolent Fund
The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is the RAF’s leading welfare charity. We exist to support current and former members of the RAF, their partners and dependants, whenever they need us. In 2018, we spent £21m supporting more than 53,000 members of the RAF Family. For more information visit: www.rafbf.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/RAFBF
