MORE must be done to get disabled and vulnerable armed forces veterans into work, according to Poppyscotland.
A new report reveals that gaps in service provision are being addressed but that unemployment amongst veterans of working age, particularly those with illnesses or injuries, remains high.
Revisiting the Employment Support Needs of Veterans in Scotland shows that a third (34%) of the 404 veterans surveyed are out of work.
Nearly half of veterans with an illness or injury (47%) don’t have a job.
Poppyscotland believes that this is unacceptable and is committed to addressing the employment needs of disabled and vulnerable veterans.
Poppyscotland has invested more than £2 million to fund a number of employment initiatives for disabled and vulnerable veterans, including retraining grants, a mental health employability programme and a vocational assessment course.
Head of Welfare Services, Gary Gray, said: “We believe that finding sustainable employment is vital in order for veterans to lead fulfilling and successful lives.
“Although we are heading in the right direction, there is still a long way to go.”
He added: “As a charity that relies on donations, Poppyscotland has only been able to provide this level of support thanks to the generosity of the Scottish public.
“From paying for a bus or train fare so that a veteran can attend a job interview to funding a mental health project for a year, our services are cost-effective and they are improving lives. We hope that the public will continue to support us as we strive to help disabled and vulnerable veterans get back into work.”
