The Printing Charity funds new bookbinding qualification for WIS veterans

The Printing Charity is to fund six Wounded, Injured or Sick (WIS) veterans to undertake a new, internationally recognised Level 3 City & Guilds qualification in bookbinding set up by Bound by Veterans (formerly known as The Wiltshire Barn Project).

The 12-month project is the first of its kind in the UK for veterans discharged from service due to wounds, injuries or sickness. It is designed to help them make the transition from military to civilian life by becoming skilled in leather and gold tooling work, giving them the opportunity to start a new career in the printing industry.

The Level 3 syllabus has been developed by Bound by Veterans, City & Guilds, The Queen’s Bindery Apprenticeship Scheme and industry representatives to complement the existing Level 1 and 2 bookbinding curriculum.

Neil Lovell, The Printing Charity’s Chief Executive, says: “Funding this project is not only helping to keep core skills alive and providing a pathway into employment, but also aligns with our role as a founding funder of The Queen’s Bookbinding Apprenticeship Scheme and our broader support for education initiatives benefiting the industry.”

Alison Strachan, Chairman of Bound by Veterans, says: “This is wonderful news for our WIS veterans, who derive so much confidence and self-esteem from learning new skills. We are hugely grateful to The Printing Charity for sponsoring this exciting and important innovation that will dramatically extend the scope of support offered to veterans, especially by improving their employability.”