OTWVeterans600
£340k funding boost for Matthew Project's work 

The Norwich-based Matthew Project has announced it has secured £340,000 of funding to offer support to HM forces veterans who are struggling with issues relating to drugs and alcohol.

The funding has enabled it to advertise for six new roles across East Anglia and it is urging other HM forces veterans to apply for the new roles.
 
The roles are being advertised by the Matthew Project’s Outside the Wire team – a dedicated project specifically for current and ex HM forces and their families across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Successful candidates will offer support and activities to serving personnel, veterans and reservists (as well as their carers and families) who are struggling with issues relating to drugs and alcohol.
 
A recent report from Northumbria University has highlighted the ‘ticking time-bomb’ of service personnel with experience in Afghanistan and Iraq who are yet to seek help – a view backed by the Outside the Wire team.
 
Matthew Project Chief Executive, Paul Martin, said: “We are expanding our work as we have seen an increased demand for service provision, including one-to-one support.

“These are vital funds to help support service men and women who return from duty and have issues with reintegrating into the community. In some cases people wait years before they seek help, sometimes self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.
 
“A Healthwatch report from May 2016 showed that veterans preferred treatment and support from other veterans. We feel they can empathise with the issues and can relate to forces and combat experiences. That’s why we’re looking for ex-military personnel to apply,” added Paul.

The grants are from The Royal British Legion, ABF the Soldier’s Charity, Libor, Safer Suffolk and the Norfolk Covenant Fund.
 
You can see all the current vacancies on this website.

www.matthewproject.org
 
Pictured above is OTW’s Phil Nunn with two veterans in Norwich.