Ben Slade, Chief Executive, SkillForce
SkillForce has received a £15,000 cash injection from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for professional skills training.
SkillForce employs predominantly ex-Services personnel in a range of roles, including instructors in schools, to support their transition back into civilian life. The funding from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is now contributing towards the training of 66 Army veterans at SkillForce in areas including coaching, communications, first aid, mentoring and safeguarding.
Ben Slade, Chief Executive, SkillForce, said: “We transform the lives of veterans by supporting their transition from military to civilian life and they work in a range of different job roles within our charity.”
He added: “The majority are instructors who work with children and young people on our educational programmes helping them to develop resilience, self confidence and the belief to succeed. The funding will contribute to our Army veterans’ continued skills development and I would like to thank ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for their support.”
The Edwinstowe-based charity in Nottinghamshire delivers character education programmes to primary school pupils and secondary school students across the UK. During the last 10 years, SkillForce has trained more than 600 ex-Services personnel, giving them the opportunity to draw on their military expertise and training and develop new skills.
Brigadier (Ret’d) Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff ABF The Soldiers’ Charity said: “The skills soldiers pick up during their time in the Army often have a great use in civilian life but it can be difficult sometimes to transition them. SkillForce is excellent at supporting the ex-soldiers in this transition, its record speaks for itself. We are proud to support such a hard-working charity.”
SkillForce is expanding its work nationally, which includes developing new employability programmes to prepare young people for the world of work. We currently employ 131 staff in the field, 67% of whom are ex-Services personnel.
