Richard’s Journey Towards Stability and Purpose

Richard first encountered Active Plus, a valued partner of the People Hub project, at the Newquay Veterans Re-Group in June, where he met his Specialist Change Coach, Yorick.

At the time, Richard was in a very difficult position, needing urgent support with both housing and employment. He reached out to Active Plus, feeling anxious and uncertain about his future.

One of Richard’s immediate challenges was the lack of documentation due to his living conditions—he had no evidence to support his registration process or prove his Right to Work in the UK. Yorick helped resolve this by obtaining a new birth certificate, enabling Richard to move forward.

Richard was then referred to the Armed Forces Social Prescribing team for housing support, Turn to Starboard for training and volunteering opportunities, and Ocean Clean Sailing to help reduce isolation and reconnect with the community.
He also took part in the employment and business programme with X Forces Enterprise, attending a three-day face-to-face workshop and one online session. These experiences helped Richard overcome his fears around digital skills and empowered him to progress on his employment journey.

Richard has been invited to attend the upcoming Soldiering On Awards in London, where he will showcase his contributions to the workshops to the wider Armed Forces community. He is currently working towards his Dry Skippers course and plans to pursue crewing opportunities on yachts and boats, aiming to build a career in the marine industry.

Speaking about the support he received from Yorick, Richard said:

“Without him I wouldn’t be where I am today!”

He also reflected on his wider journey:

“I felt nervous and anxious when I first met Yorick. He referred me to the Armed Forces Social Prescribing team and put me in touch with X Forces Enterprise where I received a lot of support. I feel Yorick and the team have been very knowledgeable. When I started the XFE workshops, my first session I was very nervous and didn’t want to stay. I got over that as I felt at ease with the other participants as they are all veterans and really enjoyed it. All the staff are supportive, they always find time to speak and they always put your welfare first.”