Welcome
Welcome to the SWS RnR website. Please explore the site to find out ways in which you can help and visit our news page to see what has been happening.
SWS RnR is a charity which provides much needed and appreciated holidays in Dumfries and Galloway for injured soldiers who have seen active service. In addition, we run two training programmes to help get ex-servicemen through the theory test to enable them to start driver training for heavy goods vehicles. We also provide training to get the SIA qualification which is needed to be employed in the security industry.
Funding is Now Available for all Veterans both Regular and Reservists in Perth and Kinross.
Full training is free to any individual to become an HGV Driver. The medical and the 3 mandatory tests that must be passed before Driver Training commences.
The Driver Training can take up to 8 days and this course also includes the Test Fee.
Details are available in the Perth Job Centre.
Veterans Foundation Commits to Three-Year Funding Plan
In a significant boost for veteran employment initiatives, the Veterans Foundation has agreed to a three-year plan to fund my salary. This support will allow me to focus on my mission of helping more veterans find meaningful work.
Since our efforts began in 2016, we have successfully assisted 82 unemployed veterans in securing full-time employment. Among those, 11 individuals were previously homeless, and three were living on the streets. This partnership with the Veterans Foundation will enable us to continue making a positive impact in the lives of veterans, helping them reintegrate into society and achieve stability.
With this renewed commitment, we are optimistic about expanding our outreach and resources to assist even more veterans in need. Together, we can create brighter futures for those who have served our country.
SWSrNR £1000 FUEL VOUCHER WINNER
The event was a total success, with all of the tickets sold and an impressive amount raised, enough to fund another veteran’s HGV Class 1 Licence. This achievement not only reflects the generosity of the community but also underscores the importance of supporting our veterans as they transition to new careers.
The lucky winner was Mrs. Linda Thomas, from St. Johns Town of Dalry. (Pictured here with Robin Hood).
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated, donated, and volunteered their time to make this event possible. Your support is invaluable, and it plays a crucial role in helping those who have served our country. Together, we can continue to create opportunities for our veterans and ensure they receive the recognition and assistance they deserve.
Looking ahead, we are already planning future events to raise even more funds and awareness for this worthy cause. Stay tuned for updates, and thank you once again for your incredible support!
A huge Thank you to The Veterans Foundation
Almost all public donations received go directly towards helping our veterans back into work. This is made possible by the continued support from The Veterans Foundation. In addition to covering my salary, we’ve also secured funding for 15 new places which are entirely free to any ex-service personnel.
Plant Sale - 2024
Show your support - Buy a plant and help a veteran for one hour. Every £2.50 we receive pays for an hour of training to get an ex-soldier into full-time work.
You can find the plant stand at Midsteeple, Dumfries.
A makeover for Jock
Jock was showing some wear and tear after travelling thousands of miles across the UK so has been given a clean-up by boss Robin Hood. Robin has raised thousands of pounds for the charity by pulling Jock across the UK. But all those miles and the weather had taken their toll, so Robin decided to give him a clean-up at his home near Mossdale.
Walk to Birmingham June 2021
SWSRnR IS PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH FIRST MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Great support from customers at Aldi stores in Dumfries & Galloway.
A big thank you to everyone who donated, we raised an astounding £1000 over 2 weekends at Aldi Stores in Dumfries and Galloway.
PLEASE NOTE: Robin's salary is paid for by the Veterans Foundation, enabling the majority of public donations to go directly to supporting our cause.
Information on Veterans who have lost limbs or have facial injuries.
A message from Victoria Williams:
I’m a researcher from the Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England. We’re conducting a study to understand how looking different might be difficult for military veterans who have scars or limb loss because of injuries from deployments or deployment training. By learning what might be difficult, we plan to make new psychological support services for veterans with these kinds of injuries. Our research is part of the Centre for Conflict Wound Research funded by the Scar Free Foundation https://www.conflictwoundresearch.org.uk/projects/identifying-effective-psychological-interventions/.
As part of our project, we’re conducting a questionnaire-based study. The questionnaire can be completed online (https://go.uwe.ac.uk/unitsveteran) and we are hoping to reach 200 injured veterans to take part and complete it.
Each person who takes part can choose to be entered into a prize draw to win up to £100 in Amazon vouchers (prizes: 1 x £100, 4 x £50, 8 x £25) or a donation to a charity of their choice.
This is a link to our promotional video for the questionnaire: https://youtu.be/xCcajxWb8lA
Robin Hood is pulling 'Jock2' 340 miles in 26 days, from John O'Groats to Dumfries
The 63-year-old, who set up the Dumfries-based charity South West Scotland RnR to train ex-servicemen to become lorry drivers, said: “I’m a few days down and although I’m exhausted, the support on the road has been absolutely incredible.
“Everybody has been so generous –we collected a few hundred in the torrential rain yesterday.
“I was completely battered by the rain but it’s amazing how a cheer or toot of the horn can keep you going.
“Both of my uniforms were soaked through – so I had to find a laundrette and make do with a tracksuit.”
The real-life action man ended up being hospitalised after making a similar journey last year from Dumfries to London to mark the Cenotaph – tugging along a lighter sculpture of a Scottish squaddie called Jock weighing in at 20 stone.
Robin, of Mossdale, Castle Douglas said: “The caravan I slept in last year just wasn’t up to standard and I ended up spending a night in hospital with hypothermia.
“I was in a really bad way, but managed to get back on the road eventually.
“I learned some tough lessons so I’m much better equipped for this year’s challenge – I actually have heating to help me recover at the end of each day.”
We told earlier this year how Robin applied for a government grant for the new project after reading about trucker shortages in Scotland - and was delighted to be awarded £130,500 to change the lives of jobless veterans.
And since then he’s helped 36 former soldiers with everything they need to become an HGV driver, earning between £23,000 and £37,000.
Robin said: “I am so proud of what our charity has achieved so far.
“We’ve helped 36 ex-squaddies get a job – that’s around £500,000 back into income tax as they aren’t claiming benefits – and they are delivering the nation’s goods.
“There are no losers here and we cannot wait to help more of our heroes.”
Article source:
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/fabulous/4699493/scotland-veterans-soldier-charity/
The Libor grant of £130500 to help veterans get an HGV driving licence at no cost to themselves.
This is open to all veterans throughout the Nation and accommodation can be provided.
To apply please register with Name, address. DOB service number, enlistment date and demob date.
SWSRnR will then guide you step by step commencing with a medical and Driving licence application pack.
We then prepare you for the Theory test which can be done in as little as 7 days.
Once passed, we then pay for you to start the Driver Training at Nithcree here in Dumfries.
This training takes 7 days and we pay for your test and vehicle hire on the day of your test.
Do not worry if you fail the first time a resit policy is available.
Robin Hood to pull 20 stone soldier statue to Cenotaph
An eight foot tall, 20-stone statue of a soldier is to feature in commemorations to mark the centenary of the end of World War One in London. And helping him get there will be Robin Hood.
The Mossdale man is the boss of forces’ charity Southwest Scotland RNR, at Carsethorn. To raise cash for the charity he aims to tow Jock – the model of a Scottish squaddie that acts as the organisation’s mascot – by himself from Dumfries using a special trolley in time to be at the Cenotaph next year.
Robin said: “I’ll start from Dumfries – where the statue was carved – on October 1, 2018. The police won’t let me use the A1 so I’ll be on side roads. It’s a total of 400 miles.
“The trolley needs work but I’ve got a year. It needs brakes added as it’ll be fine uphill but I might get crushed going downhill.”
Robin and Jock will be involved in other commemorations before that. Wednesday marks 100 years since 2nd Lieutenant John Murray died in World War One.
His father, Rev George Murray, created a memorial to him at Mossdale so he could see it from his home across the loch.
Article source:
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/dumfries-galloways-robin-hood-pull-10992801