Courses for Forces
Courses for Forces programme
This funded programme is delivered in partnership with the Armed Forces Community Support Hub in Exeter (the lead partner), for former forces personnel.
Students will have the opportunity to find out more about traditional rural skills, and participate in activities including green woodworking including carpentry, bushcraft, horticulture, working with heavy horses, plus practical experience of working on real projects in countryside management.
The courses are therapeutic in nature, although participants will also have the opportunity to gain qualifications. They are aimed at armed forces veterans including transitioning service personnel and those who have recently left the service, in particular those who have recently returned from Afghanistan.
Subjects that may be covered during this course include (according to the season):
- Health and Safety and working with tools
- Green woodworking including tool use, selecting wood, rip sawing, splitting and cleaving, hewing, chisels, using a shave horse and pole lathe, designing and completing their own woodwork project.
- Woodland and habitat management, tree and plant identification, conservation. Coppicing and coppice crafts such as hurdle making or charcoal burning.
- Introduction to working with heavy horses.
- Bushcraft including exploring the cornerstones to bushcraft and survival: Shelter, Fire, Water, Food
- Horticulture including learning to grow from seedlings, cuttings, plant care and harvesting (seasonal).
Potential formal training an qualifications include:
- First Aid in the Workplace Level 3.
- Chainsaw License to Practice 974 & 976
- Health and Safety qualification.
To enquire and apply: Please visit the Armed Forces Community Support Hub.