The Veterans’ Foundation and Prisoners’ Education Trust (PET) are working together to help veterans in prison access life-changing education and earn accredited qualifications.
The £20,000 Veterans’ Foundation grant enables PET provide distance learning courses and educational advice and guidance to around 30 veterans rebuilding their lives and careers.
In 2024, PET funded 1,540 courses in 120 prisons, including 95 for veterans.
The courses PET offer cover subjects and levels not offered through standard prison education - including GCSEs and A-levels, Open University Access modules and a wide range of professional and personal development courses.
PET also offers tailored support before, during and after study, helping veterans make the most of each course and improve their employment prospects upon release.
A Ministry of Justice report published in 2024 estimated that 3.6% of the prison population were veterans – that’s over 3,000 people.
One veteran learner, Andy, shared the impact of studying Agile Project Management with PET while in prison:
“Prison put every one of my triggers in front of me like boredom, low self-worth, lack of purpose and lack of drive.
"But when those course books landed and I knew I had a purpose the next day… honestly, it changed the whole outlook.”
Since completing his course, Andy has rebuilt his life:
“I now work for Beacon Counselling Trust on their Armed Forces Gambling Support Network Programme — delivering awareness and prevention training to serving personnel, veterans, families and the wider Armed Forces community.”
Over £30 million in Veterans Foundation grants has now been awarded to organisations supporting veterans, serving personnel, and their families nationwide.
Grants have ranged from just a few hundred pounds to an impressive £200,000, enabling more than 500 charities to deliver essential services tackling key challenges faced by the veteran community – including mental health support, homelessness prevention, employment opportunities, and reducing social isolation.
You can also make a personal contribution by making a donation to the Veterans' Foundation and help rebuild the lives of those who have served.
