RBLI Impact Report 2020 by RBLI

REPORT

2019 – 2020

IMPACT

CONTENTS 2

INTRODUCTION

FOREWORD

KEY FOCUS 2019-2020

OUR NEW PRESIDENT

COVID-19

10 HOW WE HELP 12 OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS 14 CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS 18 CENTENARY CHALLENGES 20 OUR VILLAGE 22 PREPARING FOR TOMORROW 26 JAMES’ STORY 28 LIFEWORKS 34 DONNA’S STORY 36 BRITAIN’S BRAVEST MANUFACTURING CO 42 SCOTLAND’S BRAVEST MANUFACTURING CO 47 NEIL’S STORY 48 EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS 50 MIKE’S STORY 52 SPOTLIGHT ON OUR PEOPLE 54 SPOTLIGHT ON OUR VOLUNTEERS 56 OUR PEOPLE

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

INTRODUCTION BY STEVE SHERRY CHIEF EXECUTIVE

What a year. We are so proud to have reached our milestone Centenary in 2019 and the year saw us celebrate with beneficiaries, partners, staff, and of course, our supporters and volunteers across the UK. It has been such a privilege to be at the helm of this charity as we celebrated this highlight and as with such exciting projects and developments going on across the organisation as our growth continued into 2020 .

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

We were very lucky to have some brilliant events to share in over this past year, most notably of course, our visit in November 2019 from HM the Queen to open our new care facility, Appleton Lodge. This was a great honour for the charity and I know everyone thought it was a fantastic marker for our centenary year. Appleton Lodge is of course, just one part of our Centenary village – an important range of new developments to ensure we can provide homes and care to veterans for years to come. Whilst here, the Queen also cut the turf to start us on the next stage of our development – more adapted apartments, assisted living and family homes. These buildings will complement our holistic support for veterans. In the Village section of this report you will read more about the fantastic results we have had supporting veterans who have been homeless or overcoming mental health and substance abuse difficulties, towards brighter futures both on and off the village. Alongside the centenary celebrations and developments, normal service and delivery have continued improving the lives of veterans and other beneficiaries. Our social enterprises, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company and Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company have expanded their product range, and are now creating unique commemorative and other products for sale direct to the consumer. This has been an exciting shift of pace and we have been delighted to see some of our products for sale in Morrisons stores thanks to an ongoing partnership. Not only does this provide another income stream for our charity, it also provides more vital jobs for veterans and disabled people within our enterprises – together we have created an exemplar of social value within a supply chain which I hope will encourage other businesses to take on similar ventures.

We know employment provides people with a purpose, and that providing support to ensure people are in the right jobs with the right assistance when needed is crucial. Our Access to Work team have continued to enable disabled people to achieve their best in the workplace by helping over 1000 people each month around the UK get support in the workplace. Closer to our head office, our work to help long term-unemployed people move into sustainable employment has been ongoing, making a difference to the daily lives of people across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. As you will read, we have also had some brilliant success from our LifeWorks programmes for the military community – with a launch in Hull to support the local veteran community, and many veterans and military family members supported into the jobs they want on civvy street. Of course, we cannot talk about 2020 without talking about the impact of Covid-19. This unprecedented health crisis has affected all areas of RBLI, but I am extremely proud of how all our staff and volunteers embraced new ways of working to ensure support for our beneficiaries has not stopped. I would especially like to say thank you to our care teams, who have continued to work on the frontline with positivity and dedication in times of need. I hope reading this report gives you reassurance that RBLI has had a brilliant end to its first 100 years and is ready for the challenges of the next 100. We will always continue to put our beneficiaries at the front of everything we do and adapt to their changing needs as we move towards the mid-21st century.

STEVE SHERRY CMG OBE Chief Executive

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

FOREWORD

KEY FOCUS 2019-20

BY STEPHEN KINGSMAN CHAIRMAN

Throughout my time as Chairman at RBLI each year has brought new successes and this has been the best year yet thanks to incredible challenges like the centenary cycle ride, and of course the visit from Her Majesty The Queen. I am very proud to be a part of this unique charity which is improving lives every day across the country, and it is thanks to our incredible team of hardworking staff that this work is able to continue to the highest standards as we begin our next 100 years. Of course, we are not alone in wanting to make a difference, and we are extremely lucky to have such generous partners, customers, funders and volunteers who consistently stand behind us in campaigns and projects. Thank you for your continued support - together we provide a lifeline to so many veterans and others in need, and I am confident we will continue to do so for many years to come.

To improve lives every day

OUR MISSION

I want to take this opportunity to say congratulations to everyone at RBLI on playing their part in making the centenary year such a success.

To create leading veteran communities with the best accommodation and a full pathway of support towards independence To further develop our work, health and training businesses and work with partners to ensure people with disabilities thrive in the workplace To continue to provide first-class preemployment support to the military community across the UK To build a 21st century social enterprise and employment academy that shows the power of social value To raise our profile through funding, sponsorship, and events to maximise opportunities for our beneficiaries

As our centenary year was celebrated and we moved into 2020, we have concentrated on making a real impact to individuals who for one reason or another have been struggling to find independence in their lives. Everyone deserves independence and we are passionate about helping our beneficiaries find independence in their lives, whether that means they move into sustainable employment that then helps them save a deposit for housing, or they can choose how to spend their time when other choices are taken away due to ill-health. EMPLOYMENT

SOCIAL VALUE

Across our divisions we help a wide range of people, but for most, employment plays a big part in their journey with us. The right employment can provide access to many opportunities, improve mental health and allow financial independence. Whilst we have continued our capital development of the village, our staff have been dedicated to improving individual lives and working together across divisions in many cases to help veterans, disabled people, and others who are struggling, to reach their employment goals.

Still at the heart of our work is the idea of social value, that businesses can use their power to make a difference to the lives of those in need. So this year has seen us also focus on partnerships. We have collaborated with organisations who share our passion for improving lives so that together we can have an impact for years to come. These partnerships have already had a tremendous impact on the independence of people who live on our village and whom we support more widely across the country.

THE NEXT 100 YEARS

STEPHEN KINGSMAN Chairman

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

Finally, as our first 100 years drew to a close, we spent time looking forward to our next 100 years and making positive changes around our organisation to ensure we are here when it matters to those people, veterans and those with disabilities, who matter most to us.

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OUR NEW PRESIDENT We are pleased and proud to announce and welcome The Lord King of Lothbury KG GBE, former Governor of the Bank of England and Life Peer as RBLI’s new President. Lord King takes over from Viscount De L’Isle CVO MBE, Lord Lieutenant of Kent.

THANK YOU VISCOUNT DE L’ISLE

WELCOME LORD KING

Everyone at RBLI would like to thank Viscount De L’Isle CVO MBE, Lord Lieutenant of Kent, for his wonderful support for the charity as our President.

Lord King is a British economist and public servant who served as the Governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013. He has been involved in our charity since 2018 when he launched our Centenary Village expansion campaign at a special event at The Tower of London.

As Viscount De L’Isle retires we have been reflecting on his service to us, and to the county of Kent, and his unstinting support for the military community, military families, and the cadets. His leadership in the field of volunteering, which also inspired RBLI to formalise our own volunteering programme in 2017, could not have come at a better time, putting us all in a much stronger position when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

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As one of the world’s most respected and significant leaders in banking, he has generously used his influence to draw attention to RBLI’s work and ambitious Centenary Village project.

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COVID-19 There is no doubt that the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has put immense stress across our society.

Like many, RBLI were hit hard in the first few weeks of lockdown, with difficult times across the whole organisation as services were put on hold and our care homes were forced to fight an invisible enemy.

Thankfully, almost all of our services could remain open – our social enterprises continued to operate as part of the national effort to combat the virus, manufacturing health and safety signage, pallets and more for customers across the UK and beyond. Our LifeWorks team took on the challenge of virtual support, expanding their online offering very quickly to ensure that veterans and the military community could still access employability support should they need it. Of course, as the weeks and months went on, this has been a vital service for many who have been made redundant or lost work due to the impact of the pandemic. We would like to thank all of our staff for their support during this time, and for their understanding as we navigated this very new and unexpected storm. Particular thanks go of course to our incredible nurses, care and welfare staff who have been on the front

line and very much held their own. On 1st July 2020 we were so proud to recognise their incredible efforts by presenting a unique Thank You award to each team member in our care homes. We would also like to say thank you to all those funders who were able to support us through emergency grants and of course the government’s furlough scheme, which enabled us to weather the storm through these difficult months. Looking forward, we understand that we have an increased need for support over the next few years and we are very much ready to take on this challenge. As society social distanced, our online fundraising efforts went full steam ahead, and behind the scenes we have been working on many ways to operate safely across the charity and ensure our beneficiaries get the vital support they need in these testing times.

Image: In July we held a special awards ceremony to recognise the ongoing efforts of our incredible care teams as we battle with the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

HOW WE HELP RBLI LIVING

Our charity celebrates its milestone Centenary Year this year and is also mid-way through a 10-year strategy for growth. RBLI has, over its 100 years, evolved a unique mix of facilities and holistic services that are helping disadvantaged veterans build a second life.

We provide homes for Armed Forces veterans and their families, at any stage of their life. Our accomodation can provide a temporary stepping stone or emergency cover for veterans and families, while they work towards independence. For others who need long-term support, we provide family housing, specially adapted homes for wounded veterans, an assisted living scheme and a high-dependency nursing home. Residents are supported by our welfare team. Via our holistic health and social care model, they can access help to improve their independence, with benefits support, advice on managing health conditions and more.

EMPLOYABILITY SUPPORT We support people with disabilities across Great Britain, ensuring they are not disadvantaged when doing their job. We also provide employment support for veterans who are struggling on civvy street. In Kent and Sussex, our Employment Services teams work to support local people gain the skills they need for work, as well as helping them find sustainable, relevant employment or volunteering opportunities.

LIFEWORKS LifeWorks is our unique programme which supports veterans and the military community towards sustainable work and training. Delivered across the UK and remotely, it gives individuals the tools they need to find work and helps them better understand the career and jobs market on civvy street. 10

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

BRITAIN’S BRAVEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY (BBMC) is RBLI’s social enterprise providing vital employment to Armed Forces veterans and people with disabilities. The employment we provide gives them the necessary skills and support they need to regain their independence. Their skills and work ethic mean we can manufacture high quality products and deliver exceptional services, including signs, wooden products and print, mail and fulfilment.

SCOTLAND’S BRAVEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY SMBC opened in June 2019 and is an exciting new social enterprise situated in the Erskine Veterans’ Village Estate in Bishopton, Renfrewshire. The location has been famous for supporting Armed Forces veterans since the darkest days of WW1, when many service personnel returned from conflict needing lifelong care and support. Today, the Estate is a vibrant veteran community providing accommodation and care for veterans in a village environment. The factory boasts state-of-the art technology and provides jobs and support to those brave men and women adjusting to life outside the military. Some may be learning to live with an injury or disability, others may need support adapting to civilian life.

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS

13,783

£3,068,350

£434,000

100k

975

pledged to the development of the Centenary Village

spent on STEP IN - integrated welfare, mental health, and community services

People supported by RBLI in 2019/20

£8m

investment in elderly care, including dementia care

£586k

spent on Appleton Lodge construction

engagements on Facebook

£1.15m

20,000

spent on Centenary Village construction

Tommies made and distributed by Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company

people with disabilities supported per month through Access to Work

£10m

fundraising achieved for our Centenerary Village campaign

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS 2019 was an incredible year for everyone at Royal British Legion Industries.

1919-2019

From resident veterans in our village, to staff far and wide around the UK, the centenary brought celebration and reflection.

£1.5m

Received in donations following the Royal visit.

1.5 billion

Total press reach (based on circulation, listernership and viewership figures supplied by official bodies).

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS CONTINUED The highlight of the year was of course a visit from Her Majesty The Queen, who came to the village in November to learn more about our work and speak to some of the fantastic people we support. Arriving to streets lined with thousands of local school children, The Queen marked our 100th year anniversary by officially opening Appleton Lodge, our new luxury care facility for veterans and their families (read more on page 23).

VILLAGE PARTY Finally, we couldn’t let the centenary pass without a party! Almost 600 people joined us on the village to mark our official centenary date in September. Staff were joined by veterans and their families as well as some of our incredible volunteers and residents in a joyous day to celebrate 100 years of supporting veterans and others in need.

During the visit, The Queen met many veterans from RBLI including WWII veteran John Riggs. The 99-year-old was the first resident of Appleton Lodge, part of the wider Centenary Village. We were honoured that The Queen laid a time capsule to mark the 100 years, and cut the turf for the next stage of the Centenary Village. The time capsule contains 10 stories of veterans and their families living in RBLI’s existing village, a commemorative coin marking the occasion and a handwritten letter for future residents from our Chief Executive, Brigadier Steve Sherry CMG OBE. We hope a future RBLI team in 100 years will enjoy opening it!

Her Majesty The Queen spent over three hours at RBLI, touring our Centenary Village site and taking time to meet residents, staff and supporters.

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

CENTENARY CHALLENGES

100

cyclists took part in the RBLI Centenary ride

RBLI supporters pushed themselves to the limit in our centenary year to raise funds for the new village.

BRITAIN’S BRAVEST MILITARY CHALLENGE

As we continued our journey of development in line with our strategy, we were thrilled to host our first ever mass participation event in partnership with Be Military Fit with Bear Grylls.

The event was not for the fainthearted - it included extremely tough military training drills, putting participants to the test with the highest level of physical and mental challenge.

Nearly 700 supporters took part across 18 parks around the UK in “Britain’s Bravest Military Challenge” – our ultimate military fitness test.

We were overwhelmed by the support for this event and were pleased to say that it raised £30,000 to help us support veterans and people with disabilities.

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

700

people took on Britain’s Bravest Military Challenge

Cycling to the Menin Gate was inspiring. Thoroughly worthwhile and a brilliant ride.

Peter Ketley & Neil Young

Grandads of the Atlantic Record-breaking ocean rowers and RBLI ambassadors

150

miles cycled from Aylesford to Ypres

£70k

raised by our Centenary cyclists

RBLI’S CENTENARY RIDE Injured veterans, six former Gurkhas and two world record-breaking grandads were amongst 100 cyclists who took on our Centenary cycling challenge to raise crucial funds for Royal British Legion Industries. Launched by Sevenoaks MP Sir Michael Fallon at the RBLI Village in Aylesford, the 150-mile route started with a challenging ride to Dover to catch the ferry to France. The group then rode through the battlefields of the First World War, finally arriving in Belgium for the playing of the last post at the iconic Menin Gate war memorial.

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

OUR VILLAGE

I have realised that I have a life to live beyond what I imagined… I had given up… it felt like I had lost everything. I can’t thank RBLI enough. You have saved my life.

The RBLI village is located near Aylesford in Kent and provides a full care pathway from high dependency care to fully independent homes, supporting veterans to a new life. Delivered through our STEP-IN support programme led by a dedicated welfare team, veterans and other residents are able to access a wide range of support including employability, financial and health/wellbeing activities. All this is provided within our unique village setting, with a variety of accommodation for every step of the way.

Paul – Royal Marines veteran, PTSD survivor and RBLI resident

1. BRITAIN’S BRAVEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY provides employment for village residents, local veterans and people with disabilities. 2. BASECAMP is our community hub and cafe, which provides a place for residents, visitors and the local community to meet and relax.

3. GAVIN ASTOR HOUSE is a high-dependency nursing home, providing 24-hour care.

4. APPLETON LODGE is our new extra care facility offering respite care, dementia care and activities to support wellbeing.

2 4

5. RBLI GARDEN OF HONOUR commemorates those who have made the ulimate sacrifice and is a peaceful space where anyone can go to remember.

6. RBLI VETERANS APARTMENTS provide versatile, adaptive housing for single veterans as they move towards independence. 7. ASSISTED LIVING accomodation for those aged over 55 caters for those who have served in the Armed Forces, and their spouses.

8. MOUNTBATTEN PAVILION provides emergency homes for veterans.

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9. FAMILY ACCOMODATION provides a variety of emergency and semi-permanent housing for Armed Forces families. 10. CAPEL MORRIS CENTRE is our multi-purpose venue used for conferences, community activities, training and events.

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PREPARING FOR TOMORROW: 21ST CENTURY CARE Wherever RBLI delivers and wherever we expand to, our village is always our heart. As the latest developments to our Centenary Village project have come to fruition, we are so excited to see the difference they will make to people’s lives.

The village we create may be constructed of buildings, but the most important part is undoubtably the residents who live here. Whether we support them to move on independently to somewhere new, or they stay here to receive care in their final years, it really is all about them. From apartments for single veterans, to assisted living schemes, our village is diverse and provides support for over 300 people in different stages of their lives. With the opening of our new care facility Appleton Lodge, we have completed the care pathway across the village, giving veterans the opportunity for support and independence into old age.

8.6m

more people aged 65+ living in the UK in 50 years time

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

For those younger veterans, we have seen an impressive 22% ‘move on’ to a new stage of their life independently from the village. This makes us so proud for each and every individual and is a testament to our staff supporting them via the STEP-IN programme. Fundraising for our Centenary Village has continued with immense support from many philanthropists from around the globe and organisations including The Oak Foundation – all these people share our passion for achieving longterm change for individuals and particularly veterans who have been homeless or dealing with substance abuse.

70%

of people in care homes have dementia or memory problems

APPLETON LODGE Appleton Lodge is our new luxury extra care facility open to veterans and their families, as well as the wider general public. Opened by Her Majesty The Queen on Wednesday 6th November 2019, Appleton Lodge is named after First World War Sister Edith Appleton, OBE, who was born in Kent and awarded the Royal Red Cross for nursing on the front line during the Great War.

It is part of a £8m investment in elderly care, and provides residents with a range of care needs, including dementia, a safe and luxurious place to live which also offers day care services. The state-ofthe-art facility provides 15 en-suites, with flexible living spaces. Every member of care and nursing staff on the team here has been given specialist dementia training.

300

60%

of the residents currently in our care are aged over 65

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PREPARING FOR TOMORROW:

O U R C E N T E N A RY V I L L A G E E X PA N S I O N A £2m donation from Greenwich Hospital towards our Centenary Village will help to provide care for the next 100 years.

Our long-term partner Barratt Developments brought its Graduates together in a project which raised £100k for the village expansion. The Graduates organised a special fundraising gala dinner held at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens. The original goal was to raise £20k for a dementia garden alongside our care home Gavin Astor House. The garden will be wheelchair accessible and placed within a courtyard designed specifically for residents facing challenges due to dementia. The extra funds raised are being used to renovate a home for a vulnerable veteran and their family on the village.

Barratt Developments’ Chief Executive David Thomas during a volunteering day.

We were also supported by Greenwich Hospital with a donation of £2m. It was splendid to celebrate this donation with a get together of veterans from RBLI and Greenwich Hospital. Thanks to these donations and many more across the past 2 years, including the early, pioneering commitment from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, we are very proud to announce that in January we reached our £10m milestone.

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It really is amazing how people come together to create change in the world, and we are so gratified that some of you chose to help us make that change for veterans. As we move into the 2020s, we are confident that our village will continue to help and provide a home to many. In October, we were pleased to welcome Johnny Mercer MP and the Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP to launch The Office for Veterans’ Affairs. The event saw the start of a new era in support for veterans from the government, and it was fantastic to be chosen as the location for the launch, a nod to our reputation for excellence and effectiveness in our holistic approach to veteran support.

Following her Majesty the Queen’s visit in November, which included a turf cutting for new buildings at the village, we are fully ready and prepared to continue the Centenary Village project into the next stage and build a thriving community for the next 100 years.

£10m

Our Centenary Village fundraising milestone was reached in January, thanks to our incredible supporters.

300

People can now be supported on our Village in different stages of their lives

22%

younger veterans successfully moved on to independent lives

extra care suites officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen

£8m

investment in elderly care, including specialist dementia care

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

JAMES’ STORY As a charity based in Kent near Maidstone, every Royal Engineer holds a special place in our heart. We are very pleased to be able to share the story of James, a Royal Engineer who served over 15 years in the British Army.

James took part in many tours including the Gulf War and Afghanistan before retiring to civilian life. Since returning to civvy street, James has struggled with mental health difficulties and originally came to the RBLI village for respite after a breakdown in 2018. During his stay, James saw the extent of support RBLI could offer him and decided to stay to make the village his home longer term. “Mountbatten Pavilion on the RBLI Village was a building block for my integration with others. I got daily contact with different people but it also gave me a closed space to retreat to.”

Our welfare team have supported James through the STEP-IN programme, where amongst other things he attended regular fitness sessions and was part of a local horticultural project. Over the past two years, James has made amazing progress and has recently moved to our STEP-ON house on the RBLI village. This is a shared occupancy with another veteran for those ready to live more independently. The shared occupancy reduces the cost, allowing each individual to save money towards their own accommodation in the future. James is still able to access full support from the welfare team if needed.

My cottage is an escape in a natural environment, open space and surrounded by nature but within the RBLI Village. Nowhere else provides this… a personal garden and retreat with a house that gives you room to breathe.

The Royal Engineers’ Association is supporting many veterans like James through a major new welfare partnership with RBLI

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LIFEW

RKS

Next year will see 10 years since LifeWorks was first delivered. Every year that has passed has seen more veterans helped and improvements and expansions to the support we provide. This year was no different, with new methods of delivery, and some fantastic stories of civvy street success. Specifically designed for the military community, LifeWorks supports around 800 veterans, spouses, and young people each year. We are incredibly lucky to have a fantastic team including occupational psychologists, experienced trainers and former military personnel; this is a unique combination which enables an intensive intervention to turn lives around in just one week. Thanks to generous support from our funders, our work this year has been focused in key locations around the country where we know veterans and military families are in need of support.

In total, we have supported 854 people from within the military community. We were delighted to launch LifeWorks in Hull last May (2019) in partnership with Greenwich Hospital. The interest from veterans in the area was phenomenal, and we returned later in the year for another course. As well as Yorkshire, we have also been making a difference to the lives of large numbers of veterans across the UK, and thanks to generous support from funders including Morrisons and Calleva we have been able to focus our work in areas of particular need: Wales, Devon, Hampshire, Bristol and the North East of England. We have also been finding more hidden veterans due to our innovative use of social media when advertising our courses to those who are struggling.

Andy Reid MBE (left) and Roger Leeder (right) at our LifeWorks Engagement event in January 2020, where 59 people from throughout the military charity and wider sector attended to learn more about our impact.

SO, WHAT IS LIFEWORKS?

LifeWorks is our outstanding employment support programme for veterans. The core programme incorporates an intensive week of face-to-face support for veterans followed by 12 months of formal reachback, telephone calls and remote coaching.

We also run LifeWorks Families, a sister service aimed at helping the families of serving personnel and veterans. Military life has its ups and downs, but it definitely provides military families with key skills of adaptability and resilience.

The aim is to support veterans into sustainable employment on civvy street. We know that veterans have incredible transferable skills and are an asset to employers. We want to bring them together!

They have a lot to offer employers but are still seen by some as unlikely to stay in a job due to their personal life and lose confidence about moving frequently and gaps on their CV.

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

83%

800

1000

of veterans who attend LifeWorks move into work/ training within 1 year

countries have been reached by our team delivering support to spouses & partners

members of the military community are supported through LifeWorks each year

hours of Reachback telephone support was provided for veterans and families last year

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EVAN’S STORY Evan’s father serves in the RAF, and for many years he lived with his family near where his father was based in Texas, USA.

When the family relocated back to UK, Evan struggled to find work, so LifeWorks stepped in to help.

After graduating high school, Evan had trained as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technician, but on his return to the UK he struggled to find work and had no success with job applications. The local RAF Hive co-ordinator recommended LifeWorks Families and Evan signed up and attended our LifeWorks Families course in September 2019. Evan, who has Asperger’s syndrome, said: “The course was delivered by a fantastic lady called Claire. She helped to structure my CV based on skills rather than experience, and helped build the confidence to write it.

patient with me when I needed extra guidance on CV and interview skills.” In total, Evan had applied for over 100 jobs, but after Claire’s support he got an interview for a job in his industry and was successfully hired as a Junior Transport Refrigeration Engineer. Now Evan has his own van and equipment and travels around London and the Midlands for his work.

Claire made it so much easier to understand and she was very

Lifeworks gave me the confidence to find a job and I’m very thankful for all the support I was given.

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

CARDIOVASCULAR 1.1%

MENTAL HEALTH - ANXIETY/ DEPRESSION 28%

Reachback

LifeWorks – Remote

DYSLEXIA/DYSPRAXIA 0.5%

MENTAL HEALTH OTHER 16%

Behind the scenes of our courses, our Reachback work continues to play a vital part in helping veterans achieve success. Our team answer calls every day from beneficiaries who have attended a course and need help with specific job applications or motivation after setbacks in their journey.

Finally, this year has seen us dramatically increase our online offering, including video coaching services.

They also have a structured programme of call backs to check in with veterans and see how they are doing throughout the year. It’s amazing the difference a call can make when you catch a person at a low point. In total, our team has provided an incredible 1000 hours of Reachback support over the past year.

We have also continued to deliver to military families via our online learning system which includes short courses accessible from home. This service has been welcomed particularly by those requiring light touch support and for younger people just starting their career journeys. During lockdown this was particularly useful and we were able to ramp up support as needed.

We continue to engage with other military charities and government to ensure the sector works together to provide the best support. We were really pleased to see the roll-out of the veterans rail card, and the planned introduction of a question regarding service in the 2021 Census this year. Both these initiatives will allow organisations like ourselves to better understand where to target services and find veterans who are in need.

1+128161245924G

LIFEWORKS CONTINUED

LIFEW

RKS

Breakdown of health conditions and disabilities across programme participants

THANK YOU The Calleva Foundation

NO HEALTH CONDITION 22%

NEUROLOGICAL 3.8%

OTHER ILLNESS 9.4%

SENSORY (HEARING / SIGHT) 4.9% MUSCULOSKELETAL 12.1%

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

DONNA’S STORY

Donna was referrred to LifeWorks after struggling to adapt to life on Civvy Street. Read how this life-changing programme helped Donna regain her confidence and find a role she loves.

Picture: Donna with Stuart and Nigel from the LifeWorks team and also her Dad – a fellow veteran who attended LifeWorks with Donna and has also benefitted from the support he received.

LifeWorks focused me in the right direction, reassuring me and giving me confidence.

Donna’s father was in the RAF, so she was brought up as part of the military community and joined up herself, serving with the Army in the Royal Signals for five years. After her service Donna found her transition to Civvy Street quite difficult and cut herself off from the military community. She encountered poor treatment at work, struggled with her mental health and eventually realised she needed support. “I was broken with very little confidence,” says Donna. After reaching out to a veteran’s motorcycle club, she realised how much she missed the military community. She got in touch with the Poppy Factory and was referred to LifeWorks. Donna was very anxious but quickly relaxed and the course saw her confidence grow and her naturally bubbly personality shine through. Donna was always quick to offer help and support to others throughout the week which made her realise she would love a role supporting veterans – a goal supported by others on the course.

Donna flourished in her mock interview with external volunteer interviewer, Simon, who works supporting veterans himself. He recognised that Donna’s ability to empathise, to talk to others of all backgrounds and her practical attitude to problem-solving would allow her to stand out of a crowd. Simon kept in touch with Donna after seeing her potential, and put her forward for a full-time paid role with opportunities to help others and continue her own personal development. Simon said, “I was almost reluctant to have given her the heads up as I’d like to have had her on our team, but thrilled for her and look forwards to working with her in future!” Donna was really excited to start her new job: “LifeWorks focused me in the right direction, reassuring me and giving me confidence”.

CONGRATULATIONS DONNA!

Donna

2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

BRITAIN’S BRAVEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY RBLI has been running a social enterprise in some form for over 90 years – when veterans who lived on the village began manufacturing wooden toys and other products as part of a rehabilitation process for living with tuberculosis.

Relaunched in 2016 as Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (BBMC), RBLI’s social enterprise has manufactured a wide variety of products all of which offer unique opportunities to the injured veterans and disabled people who work on them. Over the past decades, their work has mainly focused on the B2B market, with BBMC becoming a leader in manufacturing road and rail signs for the UK. Many people will walk past a sign made by a veteran every day and not know. We are amazed by the incredible work our teams do, whether it is creating a motorway gantry sign many metres wide, or packing products to accurate specifications. Today, the nature of their work is changing fast, with more opportunities in other markets creating further prospects for veterans on the team.

Barratt Developments Our partnership with Barratts Developments has continued RBLI-wide, and their support has provided BBMC with some tremendous opportunities over the past year. Following the provision of sales suite signage for their subsidiary David Wilson Homes, the team have been able to expand their sign services to the production of hoardings – this has included the creation of hoardings produced to showcase BBMC on the royal visit in November. Thank you to Barratts Developments for supporting us with this new product line.

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Morrisons Supermarkets Another key partner of the past year has been Morrisons. Following financial support from the supermarket on welfare projects around RBLI, including the centenary village, it was fantastic to launch a new product together in September thanks to personal support from Morrisons Chief Executive, David Potts. The launch saw RBLI take its first step into the B2C market with the production of Britain’s Bravest coasters. Manufactured in our factories, the coasters are on sale to the public in 192 Morrisons supermarkets across England, Scotland and Wales. All profits go to support wounded, injured and sick ex-servicemen and women, allowing people to do their bit to help as they do their everyday shop.

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BRITAIN’S BRAVEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY CONTINUED

20,000 Tommies shipped out in 2019/20

82%

of staff in BBMC have a disability or service connection

98m2

The largest sign we made this year!

300

corporate customers are helping us to support Britain’s Bravest

There But Not There Finally, we have been so honoured to receive an incredible legacy of consumer products at RBLI in the form of the There But Not There project (TBNT).

transfer of the Tommy campaign into our ownership. This has given us a fantastic opportunity to expand the work of BBMC into the public domain.

In 2018, to mark the end of the First World War, we worked with Remembered on the TBNT project to commemorate, educate and heal through the installation of moving WWI Tommy figures in communities throughout the UK. Our part focused on providing the public with the opportunity to purchase their own Tommy for remembrance at home.

For the veterans and disabled people on our teams, it has meant more fulfilment work, and the chance to try different work in stock control, dispatch and customer service. We have also seen an increase in supporters as our work becomes more widely known in the community.

With its original educational objectives achieved, at the end of 2019, TBNT passed this legacy to RBLI with the

Thank you to all involved in this project, and we hope we can bring many more important commemoration products to life over the next few years.

The Tommy is an iconic figure symbolising sacrifice and service. RBLI are the ideal partners to keep this powerful symbol in the forefront of the nation’s recognition of those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom and security. General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL Former head of the British Army and There But Not There patron

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Tommy’s legacy has enabled the creation of rbli.shop where there is now a range of Tommy products including garden Tommies, stickers, pin badges, and wooden Tommies made in our social enterprise. 2019/2020 IMPACT REPORT

SCOTLAND’S BRAVEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY It’s been an incredibly busy first year for Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (SBMC).

They have flown onto the social enterprise scene, with much support nationwide for their work.

After the official opening in June 2019 by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, which saw 78 VIP guests visit the factory, the team set to work to ensure the vision for SBMC stayed on track. With large statutory signage contracts creating significant work opportunities for injured veterans, they used The National Lottery Community Fund award to invest in a training suite so veterans can in the future learn new specialist skills as well as undertake management courses. Investment also continued in machinery - ensuring SBMC remains competitive against other businesses is crucial, and it is also key that veterans are given experience on upto-date equipment that will stand them in good stead should they choose to move on to employment in the wider manufacturing industry. With 60% of all staff at Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company having served in the military, and the majority having received an injury from service, we are

so proud to be setting an example for other employers on the capability of veterans in work and positive disability employment. In January we welcomed representatives from DWP, major employers and Mhairi Black, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, to our factory to showcase how the factory is both commercially successful and socially thriving through being Disability Confident. We were also thrilled to receive further praise in the form of two awards from the business community. At the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2019, SBMC received the One to Watch Award for clearly articulating its future vision, how to achieve it and also showing growth in their model. SBMC was also awarded the Most Promising New Business at the ROCCOs the annual business awards of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, the largest business event in the country.

First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, officially opened Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company in June 2019.

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SCOTLAND’S BRAVEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY CONTINUED

60%

of all SBMC staff have served in the Armed Forces

1,340

road signs made by SBMC last year

Of course, behind any success is always the support of the wider community and SBMC have been extremely fortunate to have some great businesses and funders behind them on this 1st year journey. One of their first customers, Bear Scotland, bought over 1,340 road signs over the last year providing many hours of work for the veterans at the factory. Thanks also need to go to The Scottish Government’s Supported Business Signs and Scotland Excel Signs Frameworks which put us firmly in the frame for Public Sector contracts, Calmac Ferries, Amey, Dumfries and Galloway Council, East Ayrshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council, amongst others for their ongoing business. Long-term funding partnerships from Scottish Veterans Fund, Workplace Equality Fund, Poppy Scotland and The National Lottery Community Fund have also been vital in this first year of operation.

Any disability of any kind can change someone’s life overnight. Support and confidence are absolutely key in realising the potential of an individual. Nowhere does that better than here.

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Mhairi Black MP

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NEIL’S STORY After leaving the Scots Guards,Neil seemed to adapt easily to civillian life and it wasn’t until 20 years later that things unravelled. Read how Neil turned to SBMC for support and is now rebuilding his career and his relationships.

Neil was born and brought up on a Scottish Island, a far cry from the cities he served in during tours of Northern Ireland as part of the Scots Guards. Upon leaving the Army in the late 80s, Neil appeared to have transitioned well, securing work, getting married and starting a family. However, in the 2000s Neil’s life started to falter. His marriage broke down and he struggled with his mental health, turning to alcohol. Neil struggled for many years, and it wasn’t until he moved to Renfrewshire in 2018 that he started to address his alcoholism. As he progressed, his local job coach was very supportive and persuaded Neil to contact Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company. Last year, Neil joined the team

at SBMC, committing to a new life with structure, social interaction and the chance for new training. This would also be Neil’s first regular job in 10 years – he says he was “shocked” to be accepted, but delighted to be given the opportunity after so many years out of employment. In this first year of working there, he is now alcohol-free (a significant turning point), and has been made a team leader. Neil takes huge pride in his own work, in his colleagues, and in SBMC. Since joining SBMC he has been able to rebuild his relationship with his sons and is now looking to undertake some more training to further his career in manufacturing.

“THE MORE YOU PUT IN, THE MORE YOU GET OUT”. Neil’s mantra as he embraces his new life with SBMC.

Neil speaking about his experiences to a group of visiting politicians at SBMC

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Employment Solutions received a 5.5 out of 6 rating from DWP.

EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS

Removing barriers to work through expert skills training

Our Employment Solutions Division has been helping individuals into employment for nearly 30 years, delivering support through programmes like New Deal for Disabled People, WORKSTEP, Work Preparation, and Pathways to Work.

Especially in today’s climate, there can be nothing more important than helping people to find employment. RBLI’s Employment Solutions team have consistently exceeded national benchmarks, bringing people closer to the labour market and regularly supporting around 65% of beneficaries into work with a 75% sustainment rate. Over the past year this excellent work has continued, with support focused on the most vulnerable and in need. Funding Thanks to funding from the Big Lottery and European Social Fund, we have been helping people who have been out of work for long periods of time and those who have struggled with their health to move closer to the labour market.

Working with people with multiple barriers, and extremely low self esteem means taking people through many steps they find challenging and intimidating. We help with financial anxiety, management of health conditions, basic skills and education, finding work placements, troubled families, and our advisors are incredibly experienced at finding the right way to build self-efficacy. Every single one of the nearly 800 people we have supported this year has their own individual battles and obstacles to overcome, but they are really amazing at taking steps to positive change with support from our advisors. Thanks to our incredible staff and lottery funding, we have been able to support 1/3 of the people who come to us into work – an absolutely fantastic result.

Access to Work Meanwhile on our nationwide contract with the Department for Work and Pensions, Access to Work, we supported over 11,000 people this year. That means 11,000 more people with disabilities are able to thrive in the place of work and are not left without support. Employers across the country benefit from this scheme, and are able to unlock the talent of disabled people in their industries. Over the years, we have built a team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about making a difference. Our team consists of ergonomists, health care professionals, and DSE specialists and we are proud to say as a Disability Confident Leader that 27% of our assessment delivery team have a disability or health condition themselves.

800

people supported though lottery-funded projects

65%

of Employment Solutions beneficaries successfully find work, with a 75% sustainment rate.

11,000

people with disabilities supported through Access to Work. 48

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MIKE’S STORY As the single parent of a child with learning difficulties, Mike felt lost and alone as he struggled to find a job that could fit around his caring responsibilities.

With support from RBLI’s Employment Solutions team, he is now on the road to success with his own business.

Mike lost his job in 2016. He had just become the sole carer for his 8 year old son who has learning difficulties and was finding school challenging.

Mike was supported in his business idea “Mike’s Tip Taxi” as self-employment would allow him the flexibility to work around his son.

Mike was finding it very hard to balance everything, saying it “made working impossible”. Mike had always worked before but was lacking key computer skills.

We encouraged him to take IT, First Aid at Work and Manual Handling courses, which he passed.

He was extremely reticent about meeting with our team but said that his advisor Scott made him feel at ease straight away. “He lifted my confidence and was very understanding.” Mike began to get regular support from Scott and another RBLI team member, Wayne. “I was introduced into Wayne’s Chatter Club - a get together with other RBLI customers from different walks of life, I quickly came to realise how much of a recluse, as a lone parent, I had become.

As his business idea developed, the team helped him with everything from designing his marketing material to funding appropriate licensing and PPE. We are so proud that Mike’s Tip Taxi is now up and running! Mike says “I would like to say a huge thank to Scott and Wayne from RBLI for all the support in my future for myself and my son, Alfie. The backing I have received will ensure my business succeeds.”

Over time this has been a supportive and weekly event I look forward to, and has helped me increase my confidence, positivity and selfworth to move forward”.

I quickly became to realise how much of a recluse as a lone parent I had become. Mike

Supported by RBLI’s Employment Solutions team in West Sussex

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SPOTLIGHT ON OUR PEOPLE Kent Charity Awards Of course, we couldn’t talk about 2019 without mentioning the Kent Charity Awards. RBLI were extremely proud to be chosen back in June as the Large Charity of the Year, in recognition of its social enterprise Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, as well as the work of the teams providing training and employment support, holistic care and homes. We have teams working across Kent every day from the north of the county down towards the coast, and it is their hard work and dedication that is behind the incredible transformations we see in our beneficiaries. It is also testament to the teamwork around the organisation that we see cross-departmental working to help individuals in need, whether that is seeking work experience in one of our social enterprises, organising an Access to Work assessment for a beneficiary due to start a new job, or linking any veterans in with our LifeWorks team.

Winning the award is a major boost for everyone at the charity. Being recognised as the best large charity in the county is testament to the hard work everyone at RBLI does for veterans and people with disabilities which is helping improve lives every day. We are very proud to have won. Steve Sherry RBLI Chief Executive

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SPOTLIGHT ON OUR VOLUNTEERS

It is impossible to feature all of our incredible volunteers every year, but we are so proud of everyone who gives their time and energy to help us year in year out. And to those new to the RBLI team, it is fantastic to have you on our side as we support veterans through the tough times and into the good times.

Before I joined RBLI, I felt quite low in myself, but coming here and just talking and being with different people has really helped my mental health and wellbeing. I look forward to it. Clare. RBLI volunteer

We were especially grateful to all those volunteers who came out to support us on Her Majesty’s visit. You helped make an extraordinary day even more amazing.

CLARE’S STORY Clare volunteers in RBLI’s nursing home Gavin Astor House befriending the residents and helping RBLI’s Lifestyle and Wellbeing Manager put on activities for the residents. “I enjoy being with elderly people – I help my neighbour and I don’t have any grandparents of my own and I kind of miss having slightly older people around.”

RBLI Friend and regular volunteer, Brendan Touhey MBE, meeting Her Majesty.

Clare’s links to RBLI go back many years. Her grandad lived on the village and her grandmother spent some time at Gavin Astor House. Therefore it was a natural step for Clare when she finished full-time work to come and volunteer to make a difference in the nursing home.

“I volunteer on Thursdays and Fridays and help where I am needed”, explains Clare, “either helping run a designated activity such as a tea party or do an arts and crafts session . The other week I walked round and had a chat with some of the residents. Research from 1The National Council of Voluntary Organisations shows that there is strong evidence on the link between volunteering and improved mental health and wellbeing, and this is reflected in Clare’s experience: Clare wants to encourage others to volunteer at RBLI: “ Just do it – even if it is for a couple of hours – you will enjoy it! Everyone has been really supportive and helpful.”

https://www.ncvo.org.uk/images/documents/policy_and_research/Impactful-volunteering-understanding-the-impactof-volunteering-on-volunteers.pdf 1

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OUR PEOPLE 2019/20 PATRON

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent GCVO PRESIDENT

Chief Executive Steve Sherry CMG OBE

Viscount de L’Isle MBE Lord Lieutenant of Kent CVO MBE

Director of Strategic Development Lisa Farmer

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Director of Corporate Services Philip Defraine

Chairman Stephen Kingsman DL Vice Chairman Frank Martin DL TRUSTEES

Nadra Ahmed OBE DL Kathryn Cearns OBE FA FCCA Des Crampton Blair Gulland Brigadier Tony Kerr OBE Sarah Mason David Montgomery Sarah Mason Steve Rowbotham Alistair Watson

DIRECTORS

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Director of Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company Kate Bull Director of Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company Michelle Ferguson Director of Employment Solutions Andy Milton

Centenary Village Campaign Patron

General Sir Gordon Messenger KCB DSO* OBE - Former Vice Chief of Defence Staff Advisor to RBLI Kate Bosley MSc RGN RSCN Dip of Nursing

AWARDS IN 2019/20 KEiBA 2018 Winner Kent Messenger Charity of the Year 2019 Winner Kent Charity Awards Winner - Large Charity of the Year

Director of Care and Wellfare Will Cambpell-Wroe

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Aylesford ME20 7NL

Keep in touch rbli.co.uk rbli.shop wearelifeworks.org.uk

01622 795900

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