A Scottish forces charity is celebrating a double funding boost, including a vital grant from the Veterans' Foundation.
Southwest RnR has not only been handed £24,000 from Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway to allow it to put more veterans through HGV driver training, but the charity has also received £20,000 from the Veterans' Foundation, which has agreed to continue paying the salary of boss Robin Hood.
Robin, who lives near Mossdale, said: “It means we can get another 15 lads trained this year, taking my total to 83. So it’s good news for 15 unemployed veterans in Dumfries and Galloway as it means they can get a job."
Southwest RnR exists because they believe we should all be taking action to help our fighting forces to recover from injuries.
A second reason for why SWS RnR has been established is because many people want to show how much they value what these young men and women have done, and continue to do, and this provides them with a very personal way of expressing such sentiments.
“One of my biggest concerns is that my salary is paid for, so people in Dumfries and Galloway that give me money know it goes to the cause and not to me," explained Robin.
“It’s a real sticking point for me and now it means for another two years I can just get on with things.
“It’s good news as a lot of charities of our size with an income of less than £100,000 have gone under.”
Southwest RnR's training courses include full board accommodation throughout the veterans' stay and the training starts at 9am and goes through to 5pm each day for both the HGV1 theory studies and SIA badge qualification.
Friday is test for both subjects and those who successfully pass the driver training theory test can start the practical part of the course on the following Monday.
So, in an ideal world, an unemployed ex-serviceman can start on a Monday morning and two weeks later pass his class one driving test and be employed almost immediately as, as a nation, we are approximately 60,000 lorry drivers short.
Similarly, those embarking into the security industry once they have got their SIA badge they will find it easy to gain employment.
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