Veterans’ training for new careers in heritage crafts

We are delighted to have been awarded a grant from the Army Benevolent Fund to provide three training bursaries in 2023 specifically for Army veterans.

The Army Benevolent Fund funds several charities that are devoted to helping former soldiers find gainful employment following their Army service.

Their donation will be used to fund training bursaries of up to £4,000 each for three Army veterans, which will open for applications in June. Bursaries can be used to cover the costs of training with a craftsperson in the worksplace, attending a specialist training course, or undertaking a self-directed programme of training with one or more craftspeople.

Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, Army Benevolent Fund, added:

“Supporting former soldiers to explore new and rewarding civilian careers is a priority area for our charity. In making our donation, we were impressed with how Heritage Crafts helps people with such diverse career backgrounds, including the Armed Forces, to train for such a highly skilled and specialist industry.”

Jay Blades MBE, Co-Chair of Heritage Crafts, said:

“If we are going to keep traditional craft skills alive we are going to have to reach people from all backgrounds, to show them there are opportunities out there they might not have thought possible. Linking up with former services personnel with a wealth of life experience behind them makes perfect sense, so we are delighted to be working with the Army Benevolent Fund to provide these bursaries.”