Injured military veterans use skills to help vulnerable Redruth over 50's
9:38am Tuesday 20th August 2013 in News
Injured military veterans have been using their skills, knowledge and experience to help socially isolated and vulnerable over 50?s in Redruth.
The project, run by local community interest company Active Plus, enables the veterans, all of whom suffer with physical injuries or from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) to use their many years? of experience within the armed forces to motivate, inspire and teach participants who have become isolated due to physical or mental illness, personal circumstances or bereavement and enable them to reconnect with their communities.
Director Tim Cocks said: "The over 50?s are the largest untapped resource in Cornwall, they have a lifetime of skills and experiences that they could pass on to communities and be a real asset but they often get overlooked, and need additional support to develop this knowledge for the benefit of the community.
"Active Plus utilises the skills of injured military veterans, who again are a massive untapped wealth of knowledge, to inspire people who have become socially isolated. This works really well as the participants are able to relate to these veterans as they have often been through similar experiences with trauma and depression.
"The six week courses consist of informative talks about fire safety, crime?prevention, personal safety, all delivered by specialists, mixed in with activities that promote communication skills, listening, team work and problem solving.
?They make you talk to each other?, said Redruth participant, Theresa. ?The activities have bonded us more than any other part of the course. They?ve made us laugh together and have given us some wonderful memories. ?
Organisers say that feedback highlighted the value of having injured veterans as role models and mentors.
?The people running the course are absolutely marvellous, they?re so friendly, they?ve helped us all out and they?ve pushed us towards the future ? really we should all be standing up and giving them a clap. They?ve helped us so much to go forward in our own lives?
The final week of the course was attended by George Eustice MP who presented the participants with certificates of completion.
He said: ?It?s really inspiring to hear all these personal stories and how tthe participants have benefitted from this course. It is clear to me that the really powerful thing about this course is that you?re not patronised or lectured by people who don?t know what you?ve been through. You?ve got the support of people who have been through the same thing. I think it?s really important to have injured veterans like this who have been through that helping people progress. This should be the start of something, not the end, I?ve been very inspired by what I?ve seen.?
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