Military charity Help for Heroes to cut 142 staff
Military charity Help for Heroes plans to cut 142 staff roles, saying its income has dropped
by nearly a third during the pandemic.
The charity, which supports wounded veterans and their families, relies on public donations
for 97% of funding.
But since March many fundraising events have had to be cancelled or postponed.
Charity chief Melanie Waters said the crisis had hit them hard, saying: "These tough
decisions have been made to protect the future of the charity."
Three Help for Heroes recovery centres - in Yorkshire, Devon and Essex - will remain
closed indefinitely as Help for Heroes focuses on face-to-face community and online-based
support.
The charity said demand for its services rose by 33% during May and June - compared to
the same period last year - as the consequences of the national lockdown impacted on
veterans' mental health.
Requests for help with physical conditions also increased by nearly a third over the same
period.
Meanwhile, the charity - which furloughed 130 staff at the start of the pandemic - said it
anticipates funding will remain down by at least a third for the foreseeable future, as
the economy struggles to recover.
Ms Waters said a major restructure was the only way the charity could continue with its
work.
"In 2007, we made a promise on behalf of the nation to provide lifetime support to
wounded veterans, and their families, and we are striving to keep that promise," she said,
in a statement on their website.
"The crisis has had a devastating impact on the whole UK charity sector, with lasting
consequences, and it has hit us hard."
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