The Veterans’ Foundation has awarded a grant of £132,000 to the Poppy Factory’s Navigator programme to help expand the service into other areas of the UK.
The Poppy Factory supports veterans with mental health issues and their families into employment.
Eighty-five per cent of veterans in the programme report a mental health condition. Its Navigator programme helps veterans improve their health and wellbeing by providing activities and the opportunity to interact with others.
Navigator is currently available in Cheshire and Merseyside and London and South Wales, sponsored by the Veterans’ Foundation and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (HM Government) respectively.
This latest Veterans’ Foundation grant will help expand the service to Birmingham and the Solent.
Professionals supporting veterans with mental health needs can refer them to Navigator, which offers up to six months person-centred support to combat isolation, loneliness and poor mental or physical health.
The Navigator programme provides meaningful activity and the opportunity to connect with others so veterans can start to improve their health and wellbeing.
“It has been tremendously successful in building confidence and independence in those areas where it currently offered,” said Amanda Shepard, Chief Executive of The Poppy Factory.
“But we receive a large number of referrals and know we can do so much more so we are truly grateful to receive this grant to be able to expand the service.”
Veterans’ Foundation Grants manager, Sarah Kelling, said: “This summer we started offering larger awards in a new major grants programme to support projects that demonstrated the greatest potential to tackle mental health issues and Navigator certainly ticked those boxes.
“The activities offered through Navigator gives veterans a sense of purpose, which provides demonstrable benefits.”
