Skill Force started life as an MOD project and now works with young people who are disengaged from secondary education. In 2009 Help for Heroes agreed a grant of £224,300 to provide long-term sick and injured Service personnel with formal and on-the-job training. This will take the form of a work placement within a Skill Force team, working with young people in a learning environment under the tutelage of Skill Force Instructors, most of whom are ex-Service themselves.

80% of the Skill Force staff are ex military from across the three Services and they work in schools instructing young people, helping them to develop life skills. The Skill Force teams are very well respected by staff and students alike and their approach works extremely well with the children for whom they are responsible. The aim is to give Service personnel the confidence to return to work after an extended period away. It is a most challenging and rewarding role.

The project applies to those Service personnel who are in long-term treatment programmes, whether injured on Operations or not, those who have been upgraded above P0 but are unable to deploy with their units, or for whom it is difficult to find meaningful employment until their future is clear. The programme is an opportunity for long term sick and injured personnel to undertake a meaningful temporary work placement as part of their road to physical and emotional recovery, whether they choose to leave the Services or intend to remain in work.

How Skill Force Helps Young People

The project offers an alternative curriculum in years 10 and 11 to those likely to be permanently excluded, those who frequently truant or are under achieving in school. It delivers a vocational training programme which provides recognised qualifications including ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network), Bronze and Silver Awards, St John’s Ambulance Young Life Saver Award, Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and wider Key Skills Certificates such as Working With Others and Problem Solving.

Eligibility

• Any Sailor, Soldier or Airman on the Sick Absence Management List
• Service personnel at P7 who need meaningful employment during periods where they cannot deploy or cannot be provided with work.

Selection Criteria

• Candidates for the Internship Programme must be volunteers
• Occ Health recommendation or Unit support if already back at work
• CRB enhanced checked
• Interview with Programme Manager, Skill Force rep and Occ Health
• Previous instructional experience is desirable but not essential

How to Apply

Need more information? Download a Skill Force brochure here.
Applications must be submitted through the chain of command to:
Lt Col Nicky Murdoch AGC (SPS) Internship Programme Manager
Email: internship.programme@skillforce.org
Web: www.skillforce.org