Pandemic has affected income significantly

Veterans’ charity Help for Heroes has made a third of its staff redundant over the past year.

It made some 89 people redundant in a bid to shave £4m off its annual costs.

Some 244 staff are still employed at the organisation which has been forced to restructure due to covid-related drop in income.

Total income for the 2019/20 financial year fell by just over £2m year on year to £24.4m, while total spending was down more than £1m to £30.8m.

The charity reduced its deficit from £5.1m in 2018/19 to £4.3m last year while spending on charitable activity was stable at £22.4m.

As well as staff reduction, Help for Heroes said the pandemic led to a number of cost-saving measures, including furloughing almost 40% of its staff for seven months in 2020 and putting a recruitment freeze in place.

A spokesperson said: “During the lockdowns, our teams moved swiftly to adapt, so our recovery services could continue to be delivered remotely.

“With the effects of the pandemic now easing, we continue to find ways to reach more veterans and their families than ever before.

“In the past year we have developed our recovery services, both digitally and in the community, so that we can reach more veterans and their families wherever they live and whatever their needs.

“We believe this will deliver the best possible outcomes for our veterans and make best use of every generous donation we receive from the public.”