We were grateful to receive a grant of £35,000 from the Army Benevolent Fund last year – the Army’s national charity that supports soldiers, former soldiers and their families for life.
Thanks to this funding, PET was able to provide 56 distance learning courses to veterans in 37 prisons across England and Wales – including Understanding Mentoring and Coaching, Nutrition and Health, and Management and Leadership qualifications.
The major grant meant we could support 27 more veterans in 2025 compared with 2024.
Learners have reported improved confidence, mental health and motivation, with several progressing to further study and working towards employment on release.
For Kevin, his NEBOSH health and safety qualification has had a significant impact:
I just want to say thank you for helping me to do this course. It has given me a sense of meaning and purpose during a difficult time where my self esteem has been extremely low.
I gained a qualification which I can now use to be not only a productive member of society but will also open new doors for me upon release and allow me to provide for my family.
It’s helped me to develop confidence in my own ability and could potentially be life changing.
Greg, who is studying the Certificate in Counselling Skills, volunteers for the Samaritans in his prison and has also launched a cancer support group, providing peer-to-peer emotional support. He told us:
The course is helping me to expand my knowledge. I’m currently a ‘Listener’ trained by the Samaritans, so some of what I’m studying is also helping expand my understanding of what is expected from a counsellor’s role… Thank you for giving me this opportunity to do this course.
Aaron, meanwhile, is working his way through PET’s Creative Writing courses. He completed Part 1 last year and he’s now studying Part 2A, Writing Novels and Writing Short Stories. He told us about the positive effect it’s having on his wellbeing:
The course has helped with my mental health: instead of harmful intrusive thoughts, I’m now thinking about the course and how I can progress or improve my work.
The long-term impact of studying multiple courses with PET is reflected in Andrew‘s journey.
He was supported through previous funding from the Army Benevolent Fund to study an AS-level English Language qualification and is now on his fifth course.
He is currently completing a NEBOSH National Certificate in Environmental Management and has been offered a job as a health and safety manager on release. He recently told us:
I have worked extremely hard in this area, to try to better myself. I have turned my back on my old lifestyle and it has only been with the help, support and funding from you has this been possible.
My family are so proud of me and it’s proof that with the right nurturing, resolution, and dedication to hard work, that education is the only true form of self-rehabilitation.
Investment in my education has had a multi-layered effect, which has inspired my youngest son to follow in my footsteps. He is currently in his third and final year at university.