Military charity aiming to help more working-age veterans

A new campaign is being launched by SSAFA to help those of working age assimilate into civilian life when they are leaving the Armed Forces. The military charity is aiming to help those leaving the Army, RAF and Navy make the change in lifestyle easier.

SSAFA has already supported 236 across Dorset so far this year but is hoping to help even more in the future. According to Corinne Pluchino, executive director of the charity, approximately 20,000 people per year leave the Armed Forces, with the majority moving into other careers and leading successful lives.

However, there are others who struggle with a number of issues, including debt, mental health, housing, finances and home mobility adaptations.

Ms Pluchino told the Dorset Echo: “There are some issues which may prevent veterans coming forward to seek help – the first of these is pride, which veterans themselves have said is a factor. These are people who have been trained to be completely self-sufficient and it can be difficult to ask for help. Another reason is that it can be confusing to know where to turn to.”

The highest proportion of Armed Forces veterans in the UK are located in the south-west region of the country. In this area, around one in 13 people are veterans, with a total of around 333,000 individuals.

In recent years, SSAFA has seen an increase in the number of working-age veterans it is supporting. Just 10 years ago, around a quarter of the veterans the charity helped were under the age of 65. This has increased to 45 per cent, meaning many people need the help the charity provides.

Ms Pluchino continued: “This is not about holding people’s hands. We will pick you up, dust you down and point you in the right direction. Our message is: Do not suffer in silence. You have served your country, you deserve help if you need it.”