A GROUP of wounded service personnel have been learning about country pursuits as part of a Help for Heroes course that will give them qualifications that could lead them to a new career.

Phoenix House recovery centre in Catterick Garrison is running Shooting for Heroes, a project that has been successful in other Help for Heroes centres in the UK.

Since February, 12 students have been spending one weekend a month either on a rural estate close to Phoenix House, or in the classroom, learning skills related to game conservation, land management and gundog handling.

Those who successfully complete the whole course will achieve a City & Guilds Level Two certificate in live quarry shooting.

Last month’s activity, shoot management, began with a presentation from Adrian Blackmore of Countryside Alliance that included its current and future projects and vocational opportunities within country sports, before the students were able to put their new-found knowledge into practice on the Swinton Park Estate.

Hosted by estate owner Mark Cunliffe Lister, they spent the day on the moors learning from grouse keeper Gary Taylor about the management of moorland, including the importance of burning the heather and effective ways to deal with pests that affect ground-laying birds.

Veteran Steve Johnson from Blyth said: “All of the staff that worked for the estate were very welcoming and helpful answering all questions.”

Mr Johnson, 40, has recently been medically discharged from the Royal Military Police after 23 years, following being diagnosed with PTSD.

He added: “To be afforded such an opportunity by Help for Heroes is fantastic. I have always been interested in the countryside and grabbed the chance to go on the Shooting for Heroes course.

“The programme really has changed my life for the better.”

Help for Heroes training and development manager, April Britton, who is based at Phoenix House, said the Shooting for Heroes course was really inspiring those taking part.

She said: “Former servicemen and women are used to working outside and, when medically discharged and looking for a new career, the thought of being in an office all day is not very appealing for many.

“But even if participants are just interested in taking up shooting as a pastime, working towards - and achieving - a recognised qualification such as this can be hugely beneficial to an individual’s psychological and physical wellbeing, often accelerating their own recovery.”

Tom Orde-Powlett, whose family owns the Bolton estate, which hosted the first northern Shooting for Heroes weekend earlier this year, said: “I think it is great that Help for Heroes, in partnership with estates such as Bolton, are giving wounded servicemen and veterans an insight into the shooting industry and potential future career opportunities.”

Any landowners interested in hosting a practical training day, or beneficiaries interested in joining the course, can contact 01748-834148.