Vanessa McClay

I haven't worked in this industry before however what I lack in knowledge and training for the position I can offer my own personal experience

My husband served with the Irish guards and was medically retired in 2008 We met in 2016 and we moved in and blended our two families In 2018 our daughter was born and shortly after my husband who had undiagnosed type one diabetes had a hypo and collapsed from the top of a flight of stairs to the bottom and seriously damaged his back and was in a hospital bed for a year unable to carry out even the most basic of task This worsened his PTSD and he was later diagnosed as having complex PTSD and was under the care of Complex Treatment Service who then referred to TILLS who then transferred to the High Intensity Service Team Unable to work his business was unable to carry on and it was liquidated , he was made bankrupt and we were evicted from our home all whilst he was lay in a hospital bed We were in contact with SSAFA and multiple agencies including (but not exhausting) social services The poppy factory Walking with wounded and RBL were an agency we were in contact with and who helped us massively Whilst I lack in work experience I can offer empathy and bring my own personal experience to the table as veterans and their families may feel more understood knowing they are talking to someone who has been in a similar situation and knows the process first hand