Entrepreneur programme for veterans set up by Fellows

The programme is being run through the social enterprise set up by Sally earlier this year, the Defence Gardens Scheme (DGS), which is developing a network of veteran-friendly gardens in the UK. Sally set up DGS as a result of her Fellowship, which investigated horticultural therapy for armed forces personnel with mental health issues. David, who is the founder of Entrepreneurs Unlocked, has developed a new element to the DGS programme, which provides mentoring support to veterans who want to explore a career in gardening.

Sally said: “I am delighted that Entrepreneurs Unlocked and the Defence Gardens Scheme have been able to collaborate on the development of the Defender to Entrepreneur programme. It has been an invaluable addition to our work and the veterans that we support.”

The project is being funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund’s Tackling Loneliness programme at the DGS garden in Manchester. This funding will help to support 48 veterans over the next two years. It is planned for the Defender to Entrepreneur programme to be incorporated into future DGS programmes nationally in the future.

David said: "Being able to collaborate with another Churchill Fellow has been a pleasure and a fantastic opportunity. There are common themes to our Fellowships and coming together has enabled me to learn more about the veteran community and the support that I can offer. I see this as just the start of a long and fruitful collaboration."