Project is just the job

Helping veterans in life

Motherwell and Wishaw Citizens Advice Bureau is relaunching its Veterans VETS Employability programme, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, to support veterans and their families.

The programme takes into account the specific needs of veterans and will be supported by staff and volunteers who have an understanding of veterans and all they have to offer the community.

Veterans have specific challenges in trying to secure and sustain meaningful employment when leaving service.

VETS has extensive experience of supporting veterans through its Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP), which lets veterans explain first-hand the obstacles they face. Lanarkshire also has above average unemployment.

Alana Forsyth, business development manager at Motherwell and Wishaw CAB says: “Our experienced staff and volunteers will provide a veterans only workclub, where veterans will support each other and have access to bespoke employability training, workshops and CV writing support.

“They will help each other to gain confidence, recognise the skills they can offer to civilian employers and communicate effectively across a range of situations.

“We are also working to establish a veterans only workclub along the same principles within the prison system, with added elements to help prisoners’ transition into civilian life more successfully.

“Veterans and their families will also be provided with advice on finances, debt, benefits, money management, housing and legal matters, via our accredited CAB Advisers.

“They will also be supported to access partner services which offer health and social support, guiding them towards a positive transition.”

By developing a bespoke employability programme, CAB aims to support veterans to overcome the barriers they face in securing meaningful employment, take their physical and mental health conditions into account, support them to navigate a difficult employment market in Lanarkshire, use well established connections in both the armed services and wider community to link clients to a wide range of practical money, debt, benefits, housing, legal, energy budgeting and health advice as well as emotional supports.

To learn more about the project, contact Michele Gray at Motherwell and Wishaw CAB on 01698 265349.