VULNERABLE veterans in Malvern and surrounding areas are being urged to come forward for help as part of campaign launched by the Armed Forces charity.
The SSAFA Military Charity launched their ‘Got Your Back’ campaign on Monday (October 24) to help war veterans get their lives back on track.
So far the charity has supported 199 people this year in Malvern and across Worcestershire but believe there are many more in the area who would benefit from their services but are not coming forward.
While most service leavers make a successful transition to ‘normal’ life, some younger veterans are experiencing serious social and financial difficulties and are relying on food banks while others end up homeless or in prison.
The SSAFA found most of the common needs of vulnerable veterans in Worcestershire included debt support, food and groceries, home mobility adaptations for those injured in service as well as training costs to get back into work.
Sir Andrew Gregory, chief executive of SSAFA, said: “SSAFA understands that our soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen are resilient characters.
“Whilst serving the nation they become fitter, more robust and more self-sufficient; they are rightly proud of their role and of themselves.
“However, for those individuals and for their families who find the transition out of the Armed Forces difficult, some are then too proud to ask for help.
“The aim of SSAFA’s Got Your Back campaign is simple and the message is clear; ‘Those who have served this country and those who have supported them have protected our backs; don’t be too proud now to ask us to protect yours.’”
One veteran who benefited from the SSAFA’s help is 40-year-old David Swift who joined the Army aged 17 but found it hard to adjust to civilian life.
Mr Swift ended up living on the streets but with the help of the charity, he is slowly getting his life back on track.
He said: “In the space of a year I went from being a healthy young man in a great regiment to someone sitting in a park wondering what the point of my life was.
“You need help, but your pride is too important to you. You go from being this soldier everyone respects to being the lowest of the low.
“You do everything in your power not to ask for help. Sometimes you think your family would be better off without you.”
Veterans and their families who need help can contact the SSAFA’s confidential Forcesline by freephone on 0800 731 4880 or by emailing www.ssafa.org.uk/gotyourback.
The charity is also asking members of the public who may be concerned about a veteran to encourage them to contact SSAFA Forcesline for help.
