THIRD SECTOR

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is delighted to award a £20,000 grant to The Open University (OU) Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships Fund (DVSF) to provide study kits for Army veterans.

Ensuring that veterans can access education opportunities and find rewarding careers after their Army service is a priority for the charity.

It has been a longstanding supporter of the DVSF, the only scheme of its kind in the UK offering free education and specialist careers and disability support to former members of the Armed Forces.

The grant will help around 14 disabled Army veterans to complete their further education studies by providing them with new study support kits, including computer equipment, desks and accessories.

Gregg, a veteran and DVSF beneficiary, said: 'Before the DVSF scholarship with the OU, I experienced knockbacks from my local universities saying I wouldn’t cope with higher education. The OU understood and valued my experience, for that I’m so very grateful. Not only has studying with The Open University given me a degree, which I am very proud of, it has also developed my research skills, improved my confidence and given me a different view of the world.'

Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, CEO of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, added: 'We need to ensure that disabled veterans can study effectively and comfortably to complete their degrees and get the financial support they need We were only too pleased to provide this grant to the OU.'