It’s great to know how we are helping service leavers and veterans with Life beyond the military – Outdoors via our Rural Weeks programme, and you can read some of their comments here.

Our Rural Week at Bicton in June:

During this Rural Week I have learned that qualifications are not necessarily the be all and end all of getting a job. There are many routes into the type of job I would like to do which I hadn’t previously thought of.

Yes I would recommend this Rural Week to others – even if people are not actively considering a career in land management I would still suggest attending this course as it opens your eyes to a great many other employment streams which may be connected to rural employment but not actively outdoor work – I had never even thought of Pest Control!

Royal Artillery, still serving.

People don’t realise how big the land-based sector is. I found speaking to veterans on the course who had been where I am now, very helpful. Transparent and honest presentations by all.

Royal Marine awaiting Medical Discharge.

A massive insight into land-based opportunities and how to get into them. Opens doors to a sector which isn’t always considered when leaving the services……  I only found out by chance but am so grateful to have attended.

MPGS 3 months from retirement.

There’s plenty of eye opening for those who have not lived in rural areas. I discovered some possible inroads to working in the rural sector and filled quite a few of my knowledge gaps, of which there were many.

RLC veteran. Had been volunteering for RSPB and used the Rural Week to learn more before making the leap from an office-based job.

This week I learned that anyone can advance themselves in the land-based sector with focus and a plan. It was a well run, friendly, relaxed, informative week which revitalised my desire to push myself, look at the final third of my working life and do something I enjoy instead of chasing the money.

Army veteran.

Our Rural Experience Week at Bicton in July, generously funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust:

Opinions I had about the land-based sector were not necessarily accurate.

That my life is going in the right direction

The week helped me re-focus my values on myself. Only thing wrong, it went too quickly!

I discovered I need to improve my physical fitness.