Injured
servicemen and women are being given the opportunity to re-build their
lives, gain qualifications and learn new skills by transforming and
restoring the lost canal and lock in Pewsham.
The Canal & River Trust and Help for Heroes
have come together for the first time to deliver an ambitious canal
restoration and career recovery programme for wounded, injured or sick
servicemen, women and veterans.
Up to 60
veterans, from across the country, will join the Heritage Heroes
project and work alongside local canal societies and Canal & River
Trust engineers and heritage advisors to transform four forgotten
canals. The 18-month project will also see 1,000 new volunteers
recruited from nearby local communities.
The project, made possible by £500,000 funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery,
aims to bring pride and purpose back to our heroic veterans while
restoring canals, some of which have been left neglected for decades.
A soldier returning from service often has their whole life ahead of
them. These highly-skilled and capable individuals, with a great deal
to contribute to society, are often ill-prepared for the transition
back into the civilian world. The Heritage Heroes project will equip
the wounded, injured or sick heroes with City and Guilds qualifications
in construction, health and safety, horticulture and land-based
management which can be used to help them identify a new, purposeful
career.
Giles Woodhouse, Head of Recovery South at Help for Heroes, said:
“Leaving the military or realising that your career choice may no
longer be possible can be daunting, especially for those who are living
with life-changing injuries and illnesses. Working towards a new goal
in life through career recovery can be extremely beneficial to an
individual’s overall wellbeing, often accelerating their personal
recovery journey. This project will resonate with many of our military
men and women who will already have some of the necessary skills and
enjoy working outdoors, as part of a team.”
Help for Heroes veteran David Teague, 26, served as a Sapper with the
Royal Engineers before he was medically discharged in April 2016
following a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. At his
lowest, he would refuse to leave his house and stopped contact with
friends. He now feels ready to kick-start his life again and hopes
Heritage Heroes will improve his career prospects.
David said: “Having joined the Army at 16, I feel massively
institutionalised and my hope is that Heritage Heroes will help with my
transition into civilian life. I really want to get back into working
as part of a team and build up my confidence again. I’m really excited
to take the next step in my new life and I’m grateful for this
opportunity.”
The project will see the Wilts & Berks Canal brought back to life by the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.
Veterans and volunteers will make a major contribution towards
rebuilding an abandoned stretch of canal and lock. Ironically the lock
was used for military demolition practice during the Second World War
and needs a complete restoration. Veterans will learn masonry skills as
they piece together the lost lock and bridge. The Wilts & Berks
Canal Trust has started the restoration with the help of volunteers and
local grants, and will welcome the veterans early next year to the
project.
Roderick Bluh, Chairman, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust
said: “We can’t wait for the veterans to join us in the restoration at
Pewsham. This project will really benefit local communities and will
give us the opportunity to share our passion, knowledge and skills with
the military heroes. We are particularly excited about being able to
give them something back for the hard work they have done for this
country.”
Jason Leach, Enterprise and Restoration Team Manager for the Canal
& River Trust, said: “Heritage Heroes is such an exciting project
for us. It gives the Canal & River Trust the opportunity to work
with a new charity to transform waterways as well as helping to rebuild
our wounded heroes’ lives.”
Clara Govier, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “We
are delighted that the ‘Dream Fund’ has enabled this partnership
between the Canal & River Trust and Help for Heroes. Heritage
Heroes will make such a difference to the lives of our injured
servicemen and women and I’m looking forward to seeing the results of
their hard work on our historic canals.”
Veterans explain what the award means for them
Reported on the BBC website
Heritage Heroes restoration locations:
Stroudwater (Cotswolds)
Pocklington (Yorkshire)
Pewsham (Wilts & Berks)
Kennet and Avon Canal
Further information about the project’s ‘Dream Fund’ award win available here
About Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes offers comprehensive support to those who have suffered
life-changing injuries and illnesses while serving our country. This
support is provided through grants direct to our Heroes and their
families, grants to other charities and through four Help for Heroes
Recovery Centres across the UK. A recent study launched in January 2016
by Help for Heroes and King’s College London found of the 750,000 men
and women who served as Regulars between 1991 and 2014, at least 66,000
need long term support.
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
@HelpforHeroes
The aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the
waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the
Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames
near Abingdon, connecting Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton
Bassett and Swindon.
Visit www.wbct.org.uk