Kane's Story

After Kane’s military career came to a sudden end, he had no idea what to do next. Without any direction in life, he felt stuck and increasingly disillusioned. Over time, he decided that he was most suited to working outdoors and he focused his energy into achieving his goal. WWTW supported Kane into a new career in Arboriculture. They provided him with help, encouragement, and the funding that he needed to get his professional training and apply for work. Now Kane has a great job as an Arborist with a leading utilities service company.

“Upon leaving the Army I was really stuck in a rut and didn’t know what to do. The turning point was meeting Lynsey at WWTW. She gave me so much help and support along the way and now I have landed myself a job doing what I love. The support has been amazing and so has the way everyone came together to help make it happen.  I would not be in this position without it.”

In 2021, Kane’s career in the Army ended when his ear was perforated by machine gun fire executed at close-range. He received a fast-track Medical Discharge and given a mere 2 weeks’ notice to leave. Kane was floored. He had enjoyed being a soldier and had had no intention of leaving the military.

He returned to civilian life without a job and with nowhere of his own to live. As he was 6 months shy of reaching his 6-year service mark, he also did not qualify for any resettlement support. Kane felt abandoned, helpless and without any ideas or plans for his future.

Before he enlisted in the Army, Kane had studied joinery at college, and he now used these skills to keep himself occupied. He built his mum a new sewing room in her garden and did some work building garden pathways and borders for a neighbour. Kane decided that he wanted to work outdoors and specifically to retrain in Arboriculture.

He had initially approached the Armed Forces Outreach Service for help with his housing situation and they now referred him to WWTW for employment support and to secure the funding necessary for his training.

Kane was put in touch with Lynsey, an Employment Advisor at WWTW, and he talked to her about his plans. Primarily, he needed to get various professional qualifications under his belt, and it was going to cost over £2600 to study at East Durham College. Lynsey prepared and submitted funding applications and a business case, to the Rifles, Army Benevolent Fund and The Royal British Legion and successfully secured the necessary funding. Kane also needed specialist PPE for his training - boots, trousers, and a helmet. Lynsey approached the Armed Forces Bikers Association on his behalf, and they covered the costs of his equipment.

Kane went on to successfully complete courses in tree climbing and aerial rescue, harness work, the use of pesticides, working with a chainsaw, and felling trees. A helpful course assessor gave him the details of an access scheme that was being run by a major utility support company, Avove. Lynsey helped him to update and rework his CV, write an introductory letter, and prepare for an interview.

All Kane’s hard work and dedication paid off when Avove offered him a job as an Arborist felling trees on railway lines and electrical sites. Kane could not be happier. He has a new trade and an income, and he feels fulfilled. He is now saving towards a deposit for his own home.

“Working outdoors was the only thing that really appealed to me. I was interested in arboriculture and decided to retrain. That meant I needed to get qualified and to somehow find the money to pay for my courses. I talked through my plans with Lynsey at WWTW, and she secured all the funding that I needed – she even got me my protective work clothing. Thanks to all her help, I have found my feet and life is positive again. I now have a rewarding job and I have a future.”