A SERVICE to help armed service veterans find work has teamed up with a national charity.

Finchale Training College, in Durham, is now working with the national charity Regular Forces Employment Association [RFEA] to provide a one stop holistic service to help veterans find work.

RFEA employment adviser Gavin Ball said: “Like Finchale, we have an unparalleled understanding of the skills and ambitions that ex-forces bring to the employment market and have a proven track record of helping all ranks, trades, backgrounds and services to find and remain in work.”

Andrew Wildish, from Finchale Veterans’ Services Team Leader, said: “Having RFEA and Gavin on site at Finchale with the team has been great for staff and veterans as we now have the ability to access a wider range of employers and vacancies to provide additional services to referred individuals.”

The one stop service can also address other needs beyond employment, including drug, alcohol, housing, financial and relationship problems.

Charlotte Hudson, 33, has started working as a gym instructor after calling Finchale for help with a drinking problem.

After being referred to the employment engagement team, she was able to improve her numeracy skills, update her CV and get help to do a personal trainer qualification and is now working at Spectrum Leisure Centre in Willington.

She said: “The team at Finchale couldn’t do enough to help, always keeping in touch when I needed it the most. With me, I need to have focus and they did that.

“I’m a lot happier now than when I first contacted Finchale late last year. Everything has changed for the better and I know have a direction, focus and love my job. I would advise people to get in touch with Finchale, make that phone call.”

To find out more about Finchale visit www.finchale.org.