“We’re not a job centre, or a careers advice agency, but we have helped many veterans find work, training placements or suitable courses” – CEO Veterans Aid, Dr Hugh Milroy.
When ‘Ray’, a former Royal Engineer, came to Veterans Aid he was living in a portakabin and his drinking was out of control. Today he lives in sustainable accommodation and has a job. The two are not unconnected!
The charity has always had a philosophy of ‘hand up, not hand-out’; and the ‘hand up’ has always involved seeing that, wherever possible and appropriate, clients who need practical help taking their lives forward, receive it.
The route in to Veterans Aid is a familiar one; against the landscape of social isolation it meanders around alcohol abuse, addiction, debt, illness, bankruptcy, unemployment or relationship breakdown. It leads either to VA’s Victoria Drop-in Centre or, in some cases, the streets.
Less well known is the road that leads away from the charity.
“We’re not a job centre, or a careers advice agency, but we have helped many veterans find work, training placements or suitable courses ” said CEO of Veterans Aid, Dr Hugh Milroy.
Ray’s case is a typical one. In April 2003 he fulfilled a childhood ambition by joining the Army, serving with distinction until his discharge four years later. He found employment with the National Grid for several years, but when unforeseen events derailed his life, Ray became homeless.
He turned to Veterans Aid and was immediately accommodated in its New Belvedere House hostel. Ray’s reliability and engaging manner made him a popular resident and he was soon organising the morning fitness sessions.
Job done? Or just the beginning?
Although with VA’s help Ray got a job again it quickly became apparent to hostel staff that he had underlying problems. He was in denial about drink and drug dependencies which resurfaced with a vengeance while trying to cope with full time employment.
Dr Milroy said, “Our hostel staff are patient and professionally trained. They understand that there are no quick fixes with most residents and that solutions cannot be imposed on individuals who are not ready to admit that they have a problem.”
When Ray reached this point, the help was there. He started working with staff at the hostel and the charity’s addictions specialist. Eventually he went into detox which he found extremely challenging, but he came out clean and has been free from both alcohol and drug addiction for some time.
Many organisations would have intervened by giving Ray a home – housing associations, for example, are able to do this. Others would simply have bought him a sleeping bag.
Some would have would have helped him find employment – or taken his money in return for enhanced resettlement training. All would have failed in terms of preparing Ray for sustainable, independent living.
No-one would have taken the 360 degree approach that addressed all Ray’s problems.
Today VA’s investment in accommodation, skills training, equipment, detox, furnishings and transport has paid dividends. Ray now lives in his own one-bedroomed flat, sourced and fully equipped by the charity. He has a full-time job, which he thoroughly enjoys, and he’s re-establish links with his family. He said recently, “It’s the first time mum and dad have seen me sober since the Army”.
VA’s hostel team has always helped individuals into training, employment, work experience or further education. More recently, in response to the multi-layered needs of clients, a development post has been established at the charity’s Victoria Drop-In Centre
Dr Milroy said, “We understand the need for men and women to leave this charity with a survival kit – whether they have been homeless or are just in need of a hand up. No soldier, sailor or airman is sent into conflict without equipment, morphine, a weapon, suitable clothing and an objective. Similarly, no one leaves Veterans Aid unprepared for what the post-recovery battle might involve.”
Delia Holdom, who joined VA in 2013 after leaving the Army, has taken on that responsibility. Working closely with all the charity’s caseworkers and specialists she now provides a single point of contact for veterans who have addressed their immediate problems but need a bit of extra help to find rewarding jobs, or gain the qualifications that will enable them to secure employment.
Since her arrival links have been established with several well-known High Street names including Timpson, Concept Building Services, Bounce Back, Wates Construction, FDM Group, and Pret a Manger. New links are being forged daily.
Delia’s first task is to identify individuals’ needs and capabilities. “After I’m satisfied that I’m approaching the right company, the greatest challenge of all is timelines. Companies that understand our clients’ needs tend to act quickly.”
The VA focus is on keeping clients upbeat and hopeful while managing expectations about what is achievable. The goal is always social inclusion and financial independence, but potential employers still have to go through their own internal processes.
“Some of my biggest challenges have been related to liaising between the client and the company and keeping everyone abreast of developments,” admits Delia.
“The quickest response I’ve had was from a company who set up an interview within a week, which was pretty good going as they are a high street name and extremely busy! Most take a week or two to get back to me with an interview date.”
There are no quick fixes to rebuilding a life and the decision to create a Head Office post was taken after seeing how successful New Belvedere House hostel staff were at matching needs, skills and opportunities.
Dr Milroy said, “Obviously staff there have the opportunity to observe and work with residential clients over a longer period, but not everyone seeking VA’s help has needed hostel accommodation, or been able to find the right job at the right time. Even with this dedicated post, patience and support are required.”
Delia says “Part of my role is sustaining the client’s enthusiasm to start work with actual start dates. For example, the company that interviewed the quickest didn’t have a job vacancy in our client’s location until three months later. It was important for me to maintain a dialogue with the client to keep him motivated, as well as to link-in with the company at appropriate times to ensure that his needs were taken into account. I am pleased to say that it was a success.
“The client completed his training and was offered a full time job. This transformed his life, allowed him to retain his accommodation and start building a sustainable future.”
Certain partnerships stand out and have afforded rewards to all concerned. “Our relationship with Timpson, for example, is a strong one” says Delia.
“Preventing a client from becoming homeless again by getting him a place as a Timpson trainee was wonderful. The role involved training in key cutting, photographic services, mobile phone services and management. The skills suited the client’s mental, physical, psychological and financial needs. A year on, he is now a branch manager and doing really well.”
Dave Lovelock, who found work with Concept Building Services through Delia said, “Veterans Aid is a life saver and should be really proud of what it is doing. I am so very grateful.”
Now doing general work in all areas of construction he has fitted in well prompting Jan Powell, Concept Building Services, to say, “Dave has flourished in Concept Building Services and he is valued and strong member of the team. We are proud that, in partnership with Veterans Aid, we provided him with the opportunity.”
Veterans Aid is distinguished by its unique understanding of what the journey ‘from welfare to wellbeing’ involves.
“The fabric of society is a network of interwoven threads,” said Dr Milroy. “Remove one and it is merely weakened, remove several and it disintegrates. What we do at Veterans Aid is replace and re-weave the elements necessary to survive. Without a job, it is impossible to acquire and maintain a home; without an address access to all manner of benefits and services is denied; without income an individual can’t buy the clothing, toiletries and accessories that mark him (or her) as an acceptable ‘member’ of society. Sometimes, even with all these things, ill-health or isolation can destroy a human being.
“So, while it may seem counterintuitive for a veterans charity to feature a jobs match service – it makes perfect sense to us!”
