Just two years after joining the Army, Paul Clayton boarded a ship destined for the Falkland Islands, part of the British Task Force sent to counter the Argentinian invasion. He …
Self-discovery drives Rob to help others
Welsh Guards veteran Rob Townsend served as a combat medic in Afghanistan, an experience that he found hard to move on from after returning home to his family in South …
Teaching comes naturally to Darren after the Royal Navy
Darren Garnett had a successful career in the Royal Navy, with opportunities to serve abroad and become an instructor. Then he was medically discharged and struggled to find employment. …
Greg re-packages his operations experience for civilian market
Greg served in the Army all over the world, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2. Witnessing injuries in Iraq took a toll on his mental health. Now, …
Ex-forces employment support helps Daniel secure steady work in London
After serving for more than 10 years in the Parachute Regiment, Daniel found it hard to settle in civilian employment. With support from The Poppy Factory, he has gained a …
Sustainable energy gives Keith his second wind
Keith Watkinson enjoyed a successful Army career, serving in Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq. Then he had equal success running his own business, until addiction and PTSD took …
Support helps Dorando smooth out plasterer training
Former soldier Dorando Orsi went through a turbulent time in the civilian world. With employment support from Remploy, The Poppy Factory, and Armed Forces Bikers, the 53-year-old from Ceredigion is …
Nurse Sarah delivers a new kind of care
Following a successful Army nursing career, mum-of-one Sarah Groves encountered tough times but was determined to get back into work again. Although it has been a long journey, she is …
A clean break for Phil
Phil enjoyed a long career in the Army and then the police. After considering retirement and his next steps, the isolation of Covid-19 left Phil feeling like he wanted to …
New job helps Gary find the right balance
Longstanding neck and back problems meant former soldier Gary Hiett could no longer do the heavy lifting work he had done for years. After being made redundant, he gained …
Richard uses his experiences to teach the next generation of soldiers
Richard joined the Army when he was 19 years old. The experience of losing comrades in Afghanistan and Iraq led to very difficult times in the civilian world. But with …
Adaptation is rewarding for ex-Forces patient David
A combination of health conditions and low self-confidence left former soldier David struggling to see a way back into employment in his 50s. After his GP referred him for employment …