Current projects
Interested in our current projects? Then read on to find out how we’re changing lives across the local community.
Active Plus in the community
Active Plus delivers a range of projects across the local community that are tailored to the aims and objectives of our funders. As a social enterprise we strive to achieve a balanced income from grants, contracts and sales, reinvesting profits into developing our business so that we can support more injured military veterans through our volunteer pathway and on into employment with Active Plus or elsewhere.
Supporting Injured Military Veterans is a cross-cutting theme, and the heart of our business. Our unique delivery model means that unlike many other charities and community interest companies, we are not dependent on grants or donations to fund our work with veterans. Instead we use the skills and experience they gained whilst serving in the armed forces, supporting and developing them to deliver courses that not only generate our income but also prove life-changing for participants and veterans alike.
Current projects
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly People Hub
Specialist employment and skills support for people in Cornwall aged 16 or over
The programme is designed to increase employment opportunities and skills for those over the age of 16 living in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Working with 11 partner organisations and being led by Cornwall Council, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly People Hub will support people who are:
- out of employment
- economically inactive
- in employment and looking to retrain
- those looking to upskill, study or participate in education
Active Plus will work directly within the Armed Forces Community as we deliver bespoke one-to-one support, we will assist people to identify and breakdown barriers, set goals and achieve aspirations. Alongside tailored individual intervention, participants will be given the opportunity to join group sessions with a team of wounded, injured and sick military veterans. Courses will focus on improving confidence, motivation and resilience as veteran participants benefit from the peer to peer support of likeminded individuals.
Through the programme veterans can progress into sustained employment, education or training, achieve basic skills, access volunteering opportunities, experience increased social inclusion alongside developing a range of soft skills.
If you are interested in this project, or you’d like to find out more then contact us.
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared
Prosperity Fund. Cornwall Council is responsible for managing projects funded by the UK
Shared Prosperity Fund through the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Good Growth
Programme.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund proactively supports delivery of the UK-government’s five
national missions: pushing power out to communities everywhere, with a specific focus to
help kickstart economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
Military Roots
Cornwall Council Education Business Partnership and Active Plus CIC are working in partnership to deliver a new project across Cornwall named “Military Roots” which will be delivered as part of the Service Pupil Programme funded by Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
The project is designed to improve confidence,connection, aspirations and self-belief in secondary school students in Cornwall who have a parent(s) currently serving in HM Armed Forces. The project will build knowledge, awareness and confidence for professionals who are supporting service pupils in their schools. Pupils and professionals will connect which will see a community of practice develop during the life of the project.
Working in collaboration, this project will be led by Cornwall Council Education Business Partnership and co-delivered with Active Plus CIC.
Professional Development: Equipping school staff with confidence and knowledge to support service pupils. Headstart Kernow training team will deliver, providing expertise on trauma-informed practice and mental health awareness, enhancing understanding of social, emotional, and mental health needs. These sessions will be informed by Active Plus and feature Veterans who will share their experiences. School staff will develop improved support, better needs identification and enhance understanding of Armed Forces families.
Active Plus Peer Connection and Resilience: Each six-session course aims to foster peer connections, build confidence, motivation, resilience, attainment, positive relationships, and peer-to-peer support. Active Plus (AP) uses skills of Military Veterans to inspire others.
Aspiration and Future Skills Workshops: Level 6 career advisors will conduct workshops tailored for Armed Forces youth, guiding them in understanding aspirations and navigating educational/training pathways. These sessions will take the form of an initial workshops to identify key interests, using local employers and training providers to engage young people. Each young person will then be offered a 1:1 careers session to understand their individual aspirations, goals and identify steps to achieve.
Community of Practice Development: Nine community and celebration events will establish a supportive network uniting professionals, families, and young people to share experiences and best practices.
For further information, contact Chris Kent:
Armed Forces Community Social Prescribing
Specialist service to help address a range of health needs and inequalities experienced by the Armed Forces Community
This project is designed to support people from the Armed Forces Community in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. Bespoke, intervention will be provided via an experienced Armed Forces Community Social Prescribing Link Worker who can:
- Promote protective factors influencing health and wellbeing, including providing support to help overcome key risk factors influencing the health of veterans. These include measures to overcome problems with social isolation, adequate housing, employment and training opportunities, domestic abuse, mental health, early service leavers, sensory problems (e.g., hearing), smoking and alcohol misuse, access to healthcare and support in the criminal justice system.
- Focus on interventions to improve general health status among older adults and other vulnerable groups, such as those leaving the armed services early, and those with a physical and/or mental health condition.
- Promote awareness of Veteran Friendly Schemes and their adoption within primary care to become Veteran Friendly across the Peninsula, ensuring Veterans receive priority when their illness is attributable to their military service.
- Address physical and mental health, particularly for those at risk of self-harming and suicide. This could include greater access to the Veteran Reserves Mental Health Programme, Veterans Mental Health Transition Service, The Intervention and Liaison Service, NHS Veterans Mental Health Complex Treatment Service and Improving Access to Psychological Therapies.
If you are interested in receiving support from this project, please complete our referral form, or if you’d like to find out more then contact us.
This project is funded through the Cornwall Council and NHS Integrated Care Board.
Connecting Communities: Veterans Inspiring People
Linking up local people in Falmouth and Penryn with community resources.
The Connecting Communities: Veterans Inspiring People project aligns with the overall Active Plus aims as it will ultimately improve community cohesion as it places veterans and the wider community at the heart of its delivery.
The project aims to engage with and improve the lives of people in the Cornish community who are inactive and therefore at higher risk of social isolation, ill-health and poor wellbeing.
Wounded, injured and sick military veterans will act as inspirational role models within the community as they build confidence, increase resilience and promote inclusion for all, therefore improving the lives of local people, as well as their own. The project will reduce isolation, increase overall health and wellbeing and will align the community with the community’s resources.
If you are interested in receiving support from this project, or you’d like to find out more then contact us.
This project is funded through the National Lottery Community Fund.
Get funding for your training
Your training could be eligible for community project funding. Contact us to find out more.