ARMED Forces ‘Champions’ are being parachuted into Job Centres nationwide by Ministers to get more of Britain’s hero veterans back into work.
The Sun can reveal the Work and Pensions Secretary has bagged £6million from the Treasury to triple the number of dedicated ‘veterans’ advisors in JobCentres across the country to more than 150.
They will each be responsible for helping services personnel and their spouses across a defined region – meaning nationwide coverage across all 640 centres.
It marks another big win for The Sun’s ‘Never Forget Them’ campaign.
Therese Coffey said the move was designed to help veterans over the culture shock when they leave the Armed Forces – and get them into a second career.
STABLE EMPLOYMENT IS ESSENTIAL
She told The Sun: “The Armed Forces do our country proud and we are forever grateful to them for the sacrifices they make in order to serve our nation.
“The Sun rightly champions the importance of looking after our heroes and their families – both while they are serving and once they have left the forces.
“This welcome new funding will provide specialist, individual support to former service personnel and their families as they take the first steps to find a job and receive the financial support they are entitled to, helping them better readjust to civilian life.”
The current small number of ‘Champions’ deliver employment support and benefits advice to ex-squaddies – and also raise awareness of particular issues faced by veterans and their families.
The Sun rightly champions the importance of looking after our heroes and their families – both while they are serving and once they have left the forces.
Charities insist stable employment is “essential” for veterans’ mental health – but too many ex-squaddies face outdated stereotypes when looking for work.
DWP insiders say hundreds have been helped into the private sector after their military career – but insist more work has to be done.
The request for extra funding from the Treasury came from Amber Rudd before she quit the Cabinet.
Neil Turner worked in the Army for 30 years before working for the Department of Work and Pensions.
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He said: “This funding will ultimately help ensure the right people are out there providing the right kind of support where it’s needed, when it’s needed.”
The boost comes just days after Chancellor Sajid Javid gave Boris Johnson’s new Office for Veterans £5million-worth of funding.
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer and Paymaster General Oliver Dowden will be in charge of the new Cabinet Office department.
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