6:28pm Wednesday 20th January 2010
By Dan Hearn
THE first Civvylisation event held in Oxford, to help service personnel join Civvy Street, has been hailed an “amazing success” by organisers.
Hundreds of Armed Forces veterans packed into County Hall today to find out about help and advice available to those looking to reintegrate into civilian life.
Visitors listened to a host of guest speakers and had the chance to discuss their careers with different organisations and support groups.
Dr Tracey Marr, of the Hamilton Project, organised the event — which was backed by the Oxford Mail — with Bianca Kerley, from JobCentre Plus.
The project, based in Litle Haseley, helps former servicemen and women to set up businesses.
Dr Marr said that she was amazed by the turnout and hoped similar events would be held in future. She said: “It has been absolutely fantastic – much better than we expected.
“A lot of advice has been given on a range of subjects. We really want to get the message out to service leaders that help is available.
“We will now take stock of how everything went, but I feel confident there will be another one.”
Exhibitors included NHS Oxfordshire, JobCentre Plus and the Royal British Legion, as well as RAF Benson and RAF Brize Norton.
One of the speakers was adventurer Nigel Gifford, who discussed how service leavers can transfer skills learned in the services into civilian jobs.
He said: “In the military, people are always part of a team and have been through the same experiences as one another. It’s not the same in business.
“Adapting can be quite difficult, but ex-service personnel have a range of skills they can bring to the workplace.”
His parents, Rollin and Janet, and brother Alastair visited today’s event.
Mr Hamilton senior said: “It think Civvylisation is fantastic and something Richard would have been very proud of.”
Based at RAF Brize Norton, he is looking for a management role in the food industry, after joining the forces as a teenager.
He said: “I came along to find out what’s on offer. After so long in one career, it can be hard to change.
“It’s important to people leaving the forces that this help is available to supplement support you receive from the RAF.”
The Senior Aircraftman, who works as a supplies specialist, has served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands and has been based at RAF Benson for a year.
She said: “I think this event has been fantastic, a real help.
“I’m leaving the RAF for purely personal reasons. Moving on is both exciting and daunting and I didn’t realise the support on offer to ex-military personnel.”
He had spells at RAF Abingdon and RAF Brize Norton during his 12-year career.
He said: “I left the forces because I had another tour of the Falklands looming. I had a young family and didn’t want to leave them at home.
“I was working making MRI scanners before being made redundant. It’s good this level of support and advice exists.”
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