Army in battle to help Wolverhampton's jobless

It is joining forces with job centres in a new initiative launched today which may be rolled out across the Black Country.

It aims to give job-seekers new skills and build up self discipline.

Midlands Spear – Supporting People into Employment with the Army Reserve – has already signed up 14 job hunters aged 18 to 39 – including three women – for the first of the three-week courses.

For two weeks they will be based at the Wolverhampton Fallings Park HQ of the 4th Battalion the Mercian Regiment, an Army Reserve, formerly Territorial Army, unit.

Each day will start at 9am with 30 minutes drill followed by a day of activities with talks about issues like first aid before concluding with a military fitness lesson.

The final two days of the first week will be spent at Swynnerton training area near Eccleshall in Staffordshire where they will spend a night sleeping in the open and cooking for themselves.

The second week will involve team building and a visit to the army personal development team at MOD Stafford. The final week will be spent on work experience arranged by job centre staff.

Lt Col Chris Carter, commanding officer of 4Mercian, said : "This is a great example of how the Army Reserve can work with the civil community to make use of our immense skill in developing young men and women; building their confidence, self discipline and skill base. Through this exercise, they will be better placed to enter the jobs market and will have a greater insight into the Army Reserve and the wealth of skills that they could gain through joining."

The scheme has been launched through the Wolverhampton and Bilston job centres and has had a 'good response'.

Claire Westwood , an employer adviser at the Chapel Court Job Centre, said: "This is the first course of this kind we have run. It will give those who take part the extra confidence that they need. It means they will go into their next job interview with their head held high and show some spark.

"Those who were interested had discussions with their personal advisor who checked the criteria and those who we felt were suitable went to an information session before a final decision was made."

It is hoped the scheme will be rolled out to other parts of the Black Country.