Combat veterans help over-50s to get back to work in Cornwall

A project where combat veterans teach skills to people aged 50 and over with the aim of encouraging them into work is starting new courses across Cornwall.

Active Plus targets people aged 50 and over who are out of work, aiming to give them confidence and skills to support them in finding a job or setting up a business.

Front centre, Tim Cocks, with the Active Plus team picture: Simon Burt

It also develops combat veterans to lead and deliver the courses.

As well as receiving support through Convergence's European Social Fund, it has also recently won a Big Lottery bid which is funding a team of employees and more courses.

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Courses are taking place in Gwavas, St Ives, Bodmin and Redruth which will see combat veterans teach a range of skills, including interview techniques, first aid and IT skills.

Active Plus director Tim Cocks said: "The success of the project stems from training and developing injured veterans as instructors. These come with a wealth of knowledge and experiences that can deliver information and training in an empathetic manner at the right level."

Mark Yeoman, head of ESF Convergence communication said: "The success of these courses, developed by Tim Cocks and Active Plus, has been such that mainstream organisations such as Big Lottery now want to buy them so they can benefit their customers as well. The result is great – more people supported with the help they need and a growing enterprise"

Active Plus was set up by Mr Cocks as a pilot scheme using volunteers and was so successful it was rolled out across Cornwall. Around one third of participants go into work or set up their own business after completing the course.