New project for force veterans begins in Cornwall

The Cornish charity Surf Action has launched a new project to help unemployed veterans secure jobs.

The group, which has just moved into its new headquarters at Heartlands near Pool, said 24,000 men and women leave the armed forces each year.

The new scheme aims to identify how skills learned in the forces can be transferred to civilian jobs.

Last year the group launched Active Plus to helps veterans with post-traumatic stress return to work.

Surf Action was set up by Cornishman Rich Emerson who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following his service in Iraq.

The latest scheme, called the empowerment employment project, is being run in conjunction with Job Centre Plus.

It will involve a six-week training course, which will operate one day a week.

Russell Pierre, one of Surf Action's directors, said: "On each day of the course we'll look at the skills they have. They might have forgotten they have those skills.

"They might not realise how those skills can be transferred to civvy life. Employers might not realise how valuable those skills could be."