Dumfries and Galloway forces charity celebrates double funding boost

A forces charity is celebrating a double funding boost.

Southwest RNR has been handed £24,000 from Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway to allow it to put more veterans through HGV driver training.

And the charity has also received £20,000 from the Veterans Foundation, which has agreed to continue paying the salary of boss Robin Hood.

Robin, who lives near Mossdale, said: “It means we can get another 15 lads trained this year, taking my total to 83. So it’s good news for 15 unemployed veterans in Dumfries and Galloway as it means they can get a job.

“One of my biggest concerns is that my salary is paid for so people in Dumfries and Galloway that give me money know it goes to the cause and not to me.

“It’s a real sticking point for me and now it means for another two years I can just get on with things.

“It’s good news as a lot of charities of our size with an income of less than £100,000 have gone under.”

Previous fundraising efforts from Robin include hauling a wooden carving of a Scottish squaddie called Jock on marathon road trips – something he is considering doing again.

But for now, he is continuing to sell planted bulbs from a stall at the Midsteeple in Dumfries.