The recovery process is neither straightforward nor easy and I am very aware that there are veterans out there who have suffered life-altering and far more complex physical and mental injuries than my own. But everyone’s journey is different, one thing that seems clear to me, speaking both as a former health professional and a recovering veteran, is that focusing on a positive goal can be very beneficial in an individuals’ recovery.Kate, DVSF scholarship recipient
To understand the impact a new start like this can have on a veteran, we hear from Kate a former police officer and nurse in the Army.
After being medically discharged in 2016, Kate had no idea what to do next. “I had built up my entire identity around the idea of being someone who helped others, not the person who needs help themselves. So, when I was medically discharged from the Army I had no idea what I was supposed to do.”
Kate, like many service leavers, felt lost and confused about what route to take and how to apply the skills she learned during her time with the military. “When I stepped into the civilian job market, I had a couple of false starts and I clutched at more than a few straws – HR? Teaching? Candlestick making?”
In late 2017 Kate finally found a role as a teaching assistant within a local junior school, working with special education needs pupils. Although she found this role rewarding she still felt that something was missing, that she wanted to do more.
From the Forces to the classroom
“I have really enjoyed working in my teaching assistant role and now want to take it to the next level, my ultimate goal is to complete my degree and enter into my teacher training to become a fully qualified teacher.”
Kate is currently studying with The Open University – after securing a fully funded scholarship through the DVSF. Now entering her final year of studies, Kate is on course to graduate in 2024 and feels she has control over her future again, along with a new found purpose beyond the uniform that she knew and loved so well.
“The recovery process is neither straightforward nor easy and I am very aware that there are veterans out there who have suffered life-altering and far more complex physical and mental injuries than my own. But everyone’s journey is different, one thing that seems clear to me, speaking both as a former health professional and a recovering veteran, is that focusing on a positive goal can be very beneficial in an individuals’ recovery."
Kate’s story is just one example of how the DVSF’s work is helping to change the lives of injured and disabled veterans.
I admit that at times I have felt lost and struggled to fit into the civilian world. Yet it was studying and working towards a new career that proved an unexpected lifeline.Sarah, DVSF scholarship recipient
This is an amazing opportunity, it gives veterans a light at the end of the tunnel, the chance to retrain for a job that would bring meaning and a sense of purpose back to their lives.Peter, DVSF scholarship recipient
Recognising the potential that ex-service personnel bring to society and the workplace, we were the first corporate company to partner with the DVSF and to date we have contributed over £650,000 to help support hundreds of veterans study for higher-education. Through our Community Investment activities and our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with veterans, like Kate, as our customers rely on us to protect, equip and support them whether that’s on the battlefield, or at home.
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