Active Plus shortlisted for national award

Active Plus has been shortlisted in the national, Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards which are jointly organised by the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health.

Active Plus, which offers training and skills and confidence building delivered by military veterans, has been shortlisted in the Health Improvement and Promotion category – one of eight awards - which was won last year by an Everton Football Club community outreach scheme.

The shortlist was announced this month (September 2014) and the awards ceremony will take place in November at the Defence Medical Services Training Centre at Whittington Barracks. Tim Cocks, Active Plus Director, will be attending with four Active Plus veterans.

He said, “We are very pleased to have been shortlisted for the prestigious Military and Civilian Health Partnerships Awards, this recognition highlights the ongoing health benefits that the Active Plus injured veterans experience as they deliver support and training to people in local communities.”

Active Plus is a community interest company, where military veterans who have physical injuries or have suffered from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), deliver courses that build confidence, motivation and life-skills to people in local communities. This also provides opportunities for military veterans to develop their own skills, confidence and wellbeing. It originally received ESF (European Social Fund) Convergence investment and now receives mainstream DWP/Jobcentre Plus funding, and has also received investment from the Big Lottery. Active Plus delivers courses for schools, jobseekers, older people and businesses.

It was so successful it has already been rolled out across the South West including Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire.

Mark Yeoman, Head of ESF Convergence Communication, said, “Congratulations to everyone who works so hard to make Active Plus the success it is, in particular the injured military veterans, who are each on their own journeys and who make this all possible. The shortlisting for this national award underlines the organisation’s great achievements in offering training and restoring pride and confidence in many people who then continue to progress into the workplace or to volunteer and support others.”