Combat veterans’ training rolled out across Cornwall
Rich Emerson who set up the Surf Action project, referred to below, was featured on BBC1's Saints & Scroungers programme on the 19th January. If you missed it, you can view it on BBC iPlayer.
A groundbreaking project that gets combat veterans to provide training for people aged over 50 and out of work has been so successful that 11 more have been rolled out across Cornwall. Many of the combat veterans involved have physical injuries, health issues, or are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
Active Plus followed on from Surf Action, a community interest company which supports combat veterans by teaching them to surf. Both projects have received ESF Innovation, Transnationality and Mainstreaming programme funding via Cornwall Works 50+.
Tim Cocks, Active Plus Director, explained, “The success so far has been phenomenal. Over the last three courses there has been a 90% completion rate with more than 60% of all participants progressing to employment, training, volunteering or becoming involved in community activities.
“Evaluation highlights that one of the main benefits of the course is the social interaction of the clients. Many have reported that they usually stay at home with little or no contact with other people, the course provides the opportunity and encouragement to work and socialise with other people in similar circumstances leading to increased confidence and greater motivation. Some of the participants on the original course at Helston have created their own Work Club and are still supporting each other to seek new employment opportunities with the local Jobcentre referring further clients and guidance to the group.
“One of the clients on the Truro course received an hour of training prior to his employment interview, the combat veteran used his skills as an ex Iraq interrogator to teach positive body language, and how to build a rapport with the interviewer before the interview even begins. This led to a successful offer of full time employment.
“The benefits for the combat veterans from the positive feedback and praise by the clients increase their confidence, self-esteem and feeling of self-worth. The delivery, support and guidance that the combat veterans are involved in provide essential skills that greatly improve their opportunities for employment and social interaction.”
One of the combat veterans Mike Warne suffered with alcohol issues. He is now helping to deliver his 2nd course and after helping staff from Addaction he has been requested to meet their clients to help others overcome similar problems. They have also offered to provide drug and alcohol awareness training so he can deliver to other vulnerable groups.
He said, “It is great to see people coming out of themselves and interacting with me, it stops me being isolated. I’ve become a lot more motivated having not been involved with anything for a while, it’s good to have extra structure and has sparked ideas for the future. I feel positive and happy.”
Tim Cocks, Active Plus Director.
The original three courses were held in Helston, Truro and Liskeard and engaged with 34 people. Of those, four have gained employment with support from Jobcentre Plus; one undertook work experience; two attended a computer course; five participated in a level 2 qualification; six arranged meetings with Next Step Advisors; six volunteered for voluntary work within their local area and nine have set up a Work Club, part of the Government’s Get Britain Working measures, and continue to meet.
Thelma Bateman was on the original Helston course and was the main driver for setting up the Work Club and supporting others. Thelma has been trying to set up her own sewing business and has just taken an opportunity of work experience with a possibility of employment at the end.
Tim Cocks has now been commissioned by Cornwall Works 50+ to deliver courses in all of the Jobcentres around Cornwall and two are already underway in Helston and Penzance.
Mr Cocks continued, “We are hoping to deliver to a minimum of 10 clients per course and aim to try and recruit at least 12 new combat veterans in 2012 while also continue the training and support of all that have participated.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said, “This visionary initiative has been supporting both the combat veterans and the people aged over 50 to gain or rediscover confidence and opens up opportunities by inspiring them to find further work or training. In this case Convergence has been successfully used to support a new and novel approach that is relevant and of real benefit to the participants. The result is that many more people now have the chance to benefit.”
Andrea Gilbert, Inclusion Cornwall Manager, said, “A key point is that activities such as Active Plus are not necessarily about moving people directly into employment, but rather about improving confidence, motivation and self esteem for people to progress. Some participants would struggle to even leave the house before engaging with activities such as Active Plus.”