Wendy Lagden has gained the first City & Guilds Level 3 Bookbinding qualification set up by Bound by Veterans. She earned a distinction and at a recent event was presented with her Diploma by captain Alison Towler of the Royal Navy, president of the Association of Wrens.

Formerly known as The Wiltshire Barn Project, Bound by Veterans offers bookbinding tuition to wounded, injured and sick (WIS) veterans of the services to aid their recovery through its therapeutic benefits and to help them transition from military to civilian life by gaining qualifications.

Lagden said: “When I first saw the course advertised it appealed to me because I had been wanting to repair an old book of my gran’s for some time. What I didn’t expect was from that moment I would be completely hooked.

“Learning this fascinating trade and, in particular, achieving the City & Guilds Level 3, has inspired me to continue bookbinding and given me a new purpose in life.”

She added: “Adjusting from a busy, active, and rewarding job in the military to civilian life can be challenging. Coming to terms with what I can now no longer do is a battle I face each day.

“With bookbinding I can be creative, work with my hands and at a pace to suit me. Without bookbinding in my life, this battle would be so much harder.”

Bound by Veterans chairman Alison Strachan added: “As well as being a huge achievement for Wendy, this is an important milestone in our history and we are enormously grateful to The Printing Charity for supporting us.”

Neil Lovell, chief executive of The Printing Charity, said the initiative fits with its support to preserve the skill of bookbinding, which is also shown in its other funding of The Queen’s Bindery Apprenticeship Scheme and Designer Bookbinders.

“We are proud to support the achievement of recognised qualifications and training, which can provide routes into employment,” he added.