A military employment charity has said that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) veterans are struggling to find employment in London.
The revelation comes after RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity Forces for London Programme, an employment support service solely dedicated to providing jobs and careers advice to ex-Servicemen and women living in the capital, received an “unprecedented” number of BAME applicants- even when the number of ex-military from the community living in the capital is not much.
In fact since the launch in November 2017, the programme has attracted 56% BAME applicants, a figure 10 times greater than the predicted 5%.
Sanjay who served in the Army for 12 years and has struggled to find meaningful employment in London told Asian Voice exclusively, “Since leaving the military I’ve faced a number of challenges from debt, to housing and relationship problems. I moved to the UK from India, so I don’t have a support network here, which makes tackling big life issues that much harder.”
Therefore, RFEA is calling for more to be done to support BAME ex-Forces job seekers. Sanjay added, “I’m still haven’t found a secure civilian role, but having joined RFEA’s Forces for London gives me hope. Knowing RFEA is there to help me with things like my CV, interview technique, as well as signposting to jobs with employers who value the skills of ex-Forces men and women, makes a huge difference.”
Deputy Mayor of London for Social Integration, Social Mobility, Debbie Weekes-Bernard told the newspaper, “Our armed forces make unimaginable sacrifices in order to keep us safe so it is only right we provide our veterans with the help they deserve once they return to civilian life.
“While they have gained extensive skills in service, it is clear that veterans from BAME communities in the capital face particular challenges finding meaningful work once they leave the forces. The Forces for London programme provides crucial support to veterans from diverse backgrounds, offering them invaluable insight into the job market and helping them develop the competitive edge they need to compete in an ever-changing job market.”
Alistair Halliday, Chief Executive of RFEA said, “We know that Service leavers and veterans face a unique set of challenges when seeking civilian employment. We were surprised to hear from such a high number of BAME applicants, as there is a relatively small number of BAME ex-military living in the capital, so it shows that more needs to be done to make sure that all ex-servicemen and women are getting the support they need to find employment opportunities that enable them to thrive.”
Forces for London is delivered in partnership with the Mayor of London and part funded by the European Social Fund.
