Leeds City Council aims to decrease unemployment in returning Armed Forces personnel

Leeds City Council is aiming to help ex-service personnel living in the region find employment.

The council will collaborate with Armed Forces charity RBLI (Royal British Legion Industries) on an initiative to reduce levels of unemployment among people who have served our country.

The new initiative, which is the fully funded RBLI LifeWorks course, will assist veterans living in Leeds and the surrounding area into work, training or higher education.

This latest scheme is part of Leeds’ commitment to the Community Covenant, which hopes to prevent veterans, Forces personnel and their families being disadvantaged as a result of serving their country.

Extensive research has revealed that just under 50% of early service leavers are unemployed six months after leaving the Forces.

RBLI’s LifeWorks courses help ex-service personnel by providing free CV, interview and career advice, as well as helping individuals improve their confidence so they feel ready to find and go back to work.

Councillor Graham Hyde, Leeds City Council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: “We are committed as a council through our Armed Forces Covenant to ensuring that all ex-Armed Forces personnel living in Leeds can access a wide range of services and practical support.

“We are pleased to be working with RBLI on their LifeWorks courses, which will provide opportunities for veterans to see what training, work and higher education opportunities are available.”

RBLI’s chief executive, Steve Sherry CMG OBE, who served with the Army for 38 years said: “Although the vast majority of service leavers make the transition into civilian life fairly easily, some do struggle with the change. In extreme circumstances this may result in veterans experiencing issues such as homelessness and alcohol abuse, and some may even find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

“We know that being in work can prevent such issues. By partnering with Leeds City Council and other military charities in the region, we can reach out to more veterans and work harder to reduce unemployment in the local veteran community.”