Today’s blog focuses on people or organisations that train and educate others – whether it’s veterans who’ve set up businesses to help other people in some way, or organisations dedicated to helping Armed Forces personnel or veterans to gain new skills.

So, who do you know?

The Education, Training and Development Award

What’s it for?

Sponsored by Capita, this Award recognises and honours those that provide vocational education, training or skills to support members of the wider Armed Forces Community in preparatory, ongoing or transitional development.

Who’s won previously?

Our 2019 Winner was Walking with the Wounded, an organisation that changes the lives of former personnel who are unemployed or at risk of losing their jobs, in its work with the Essex Veterans Mental Health Team.

Fergus Williams, Director of Operations at WWTW said: “Walking with the Wounded is delighted to have won the Education, Training and Development Award from Soldering On. We are incredibly proud of our IPS Centre of Excellence in Colchester and the quality employment support service we are able to provide the ex-servicemen and women referred to us from the NHS veteran mental health team.”

A strong contender for the 2019 Award was the Forces Media Academy, providing former members of the Armed Forces with the training, work placements and qualifications needed to forge careers in the media. June MacMahon offers this fantastic testimony to how it’s not just the Winners who benefit, but the Finalists too:

“As the Principal of the Forces Media Academy I feel that being a finalist at the Soldiering On awards has enhanced our profile within the wider veteran community. In addition, the award nomination increases the visibility of our alumni to potential employers and most certainly has contributed to over 80% of our students from the first two cohorts in gaining either full-time or freelance employment within the media industry immediately after graduation.”

Our other 2019 finalists were:

The Lloyds Military Network, enabling serving personnel and Veterans who wish to work in the insurance industry to reach their full potential.

Alice Driver, an individual whos vision, commitment and dedication to the welfare of the Armed Forces community is demonstrated through her brainchild, The Drive Project, which uses the performing arts to help Veterans find their voice.

Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education, challenging the scuba diving world with its specially-created adaptive training courses for Veterans with life changing mental and physical injuries.

This Award is generously sponsored by Capita. Erika Bannerman, Executive Officer, People Solutions, Capita said: “This is a really important award because it’s changing lives in a really effective way. [Walking with the Wounded] were worthy winners, but there was a great group of nominees and it was hard for the judges to make their final decision.”

So… Who do you know?

What now? 

If you know someone who supports the military community, nominate them now to give them a chance of being a winner.

You can see all previous winners on our website by clicking on the Awards tab then selecting previous award from the drop-down menu and choosing a year.

It will be fantastic if you can help to spread the word by sharing this blog to make sure as many people as possible have the opportunity to nominate whoever they feel deserves an Award!  You’ll find us on all social media channels; these tags may help when you’re sharing info: #SOA2020 #soldieringonawards