COUNCILS across Merseyside have pledged to work with an Armed Forces charity in a bid to reduce levels of unemployment among ex-service personnel living in the region.

The initiative will take the form of free Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) LifeWorks courses, helping veterans living in Wirral, Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton and St Helens into work, training or higher education.

The support for local veterans underlines Merseyside’s commitment to the Community Covenant which aims to prevent forces personnel and their families being disadvantaged as a result of serving their country.

Cllr Ron Round, leader of Knowsley Council and lead for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority on employment and skills, said: “We are committed to offering practical support to improve the opportunities of veterans. 

“One way we can do this is supporting the work of the RBLI on their Lifeworks courses, to ensure veterans across the City Region are aware of the opportunities available to them to help them into training and employment.”

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 Merseyside councils 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.”

RBLI will be launching the initiative with local elected representatives at an event in Liverpool on Friday.

Research shows that unemployment is particularly high among early service leavers, where the rate of joblessness six months after leaving the forces is just under 50%.

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.

The charity helps more than 2,000 veterans into work every year. One former soldier who found work after attending a LifeWorks course was Peter Campbell, a Private in the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards until 1980.

He said: “When I lost my job in 2009 I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do. I’d been applying for jobs for a year and not getting anywhere.  RBLI spent time helping me find a direction for employment. It was hard work, but they persevered. I can never thank them enough for the work they did.  Without them I would still have a depressive outlook of employment.  They are worth their weight in gold.”   

The event takes place from 12.30pm until 2pm at the Royal British legion pop-in centre in Williamson Street, Liverpool.

Veterans can book onto the Liverpool City LifeWorks course by calling 0800 319 6844, emailing lifeworks@rbli.co.uk or visiting rbli.co.uk/employment_solutions/lifeworks/