Scott Carr

I joined the Army in what seemed like a whole different life, way back in 79. Fresh from my first job making tyres in a factory, yeah I know top job with such prospects.

After the very quick realisation that my life was going to be made up of Unions and Tyres, I made that jump very quickly; joining the Royal Engineers was an easy decision for me, considering my brother was already in the Corps. That and the fact that I would have done anything, as long as it wasn't the same as my old man had done.

I did not do too well at the beginning, took me way too long to get my first stripe, and even longer to get my second, it was then that I realised that the Army might just be for me, and that I may be able to make a life out of it.

Once that notion was stuck in my head, I did OK, and reached the last post of WO1 in 2000, and finished my time in Tidworth. My time was done after 23 years, and the Corps had made the decision not to give me a commission, a fact which now to this day still makes me feel both relieved and disappointed...yeah I can't work it out either.

During my years as SNCO & Warrant Officer I managed to do some Health & Safety courses, and in my final years of resettlement did the Diploma, much like making tyres, I really did not want to spend my life as a Health & Safety (jobs worth). So made the decision to go on my own and become something which I thought would make me happy in my work. So I became a Landscape Gardener, using my skills as a Jobbing Gardener and Corps Bricklayer, this was good until such time as many things went pear shaped. (big time they did)

I realised that I was in such a bad place and made a call to an old friend who managed to get me work as H&S Consultant, this life saver got me into Health & Safety, and helped me keep my house and life together, as such I now work for large and very diverse construction company working out of London. In a job which although pushes me to the limit in many respects, makes me feel I earn the wage I get.

All the above has taken me to the place I am at now, one of reasonable comfort and not too bad a life style, I hear you ask what was all that rubbish above for then, well it set the grounds for me to be in a position that I now feel that the Army (Royal Engineers) gave me my footing in life, and it's payback time.

I have been lucky and had good career in the Army, but over the past two or so years I have been in contact with VIA, and closely watched how the charity was progressing, and was impressed, so decided after much mind raking and consultation that I was going to be involved if they would allow me to help.

I have been so impressed over the past year or two that I have worked with the charity, chatted and mixed with so many great guys, who may not for whatever types of circumstance have been able to have had the luck I have had, and just need a helping hand here and there, a bit of guidance, whatever you want to call it.

What I do know is that this charity works, it has an effect, and it helps people. I have seen first-hand evidence of this.

I personally am in this to help those who I can help, in any way that I possible can do. On a personal call, this makes me feel good about myself, and if I can do that, and help someone along the way, then that can only be a good thing.

Folks, if you're not bored to death by reading this now, I can tell you that this truly is a charity well worth giving YOUR time and VALUED support too, and in any way you could.

Please contact me at any time if you wish to help or need more information about this wonderful charity.