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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Voice of the People

Voice of the People: Poppy group puts MoD's treatment of vets to shame

The Poppy Factory charity was set up in 1922.

It’s a charity that offered work to soldiers returning from the First World War.

Over the years, it has made millions of poppies – about 36 million a year – and given opportunities to veterans.

The charity says that since 2010 it has helped 1,000 veterans - many who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Among them is Vicki Harris, who served in the Falklands, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

She says the charity gave her exactly the motivation and help she needed.

Thanks to their help she found a job in hospitality then went on to work in logistics.

The charity does wonderful work. But, like the countless other charities who are stepping in to help our veterans, it is doing something that should be happening anyway.

Soldiers deserve more than they are getting after service (Getty Images)

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Helping our veterans, often struggling with PTSD, back into work should an MoD priority.

It would solve all kinds of problems for veteran.

And having a job has got to be good for their mental health.

The Armed Forces Covenant says we should acknowledge what they have done for us.

They make supreme sacrifices every day for the freedoms we enjoy.

And the least the country can do for them is to honour that bond.

At the moment, with the plight of our veterans increasing all the time, that is not being honoured.

The very least our veterans deserve is respect for their service and, when they finally return home after all they have endured, the very best of care.

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