Chris spent 15 years in the Royal Navy and during his career received the Queens Commendation for Bravery Conduct. “I didn’t feel like I deserved it as my act of bravery was overshadowed by an empty feeling. I was young and I had never seen a dead body before or even attended a funeral. I remember pulling dead bodies from the sea and the one that I left behind haunted me.”

After leaving the Navy Chris started to wonder whether he had made the right decision, and although he did not know it at the time, he was suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Chris was referred to the Veteran’s hospital and introduced to Rachel from The Poppy Factory who started working with Chris to see how she could support him into a job which suited his needs.

“Rachel provided the support that I had been missing. Together we were able to explore the things that I wanted to do. We looked for opportunities in areas that interested me and I was keen to experience life in a different way. Now I am in a job that I enjoy and feel like I am giving to society rather than taking.”