FREE training is being offered to the families of serving soldiers in a bid to get them back to work.

Thanks to an initiative between Oxfordshire County Council, the Royal Logistic Corps and Abingdon and Witney College, a number of soldiers’ wives and partners have been able to take up free training which could in turn help lead to jobs.

Capt Geoff Nuzum, regimental careers management officer at Dalton Barracks, applied to the council for £20,000 to fund courses at Abingdon and Witney College.

More than 60 people signed up to start courses this academic year after a special enrolment evening held at the barracks, Capt Nuzum said: “It is fantastic to be able to offer this additional service to the families of our soldiers.

“There is a great deal of public support in Abingdon for our troops and the war effort in general, but the families who are left behind can sometimes be overlooked.

“This is one of a number of services we offer to the families of soldiers, to help them integrate with, and feel part of, the local community.”

Courses offered including book-keeping, first aid and English for speakers of other languages.

Soldier’s wife Anupama Gurung signed up for training in book-keeping.

She said: “If it wasn’t for the support of staff at the barracks we wouldn’t be doing these courses.

“I’ve met so many interesting people from all over the world that I probably would never have met otherwise.”

And fellow soldier’s wife Beena Gurung, who is studying English, said: “The teachers are great and very patient with us and, if courses continue to be offered, I will continue signing up for them.”

The funding is for the 2009-2010 academic year, with courses starting last September, this month and in April.

Caroline Craft, director of development at the college, said it was hoped funding could be found to extend the scheme.

She said: “The whole idea was to get them mixing with the rest of the community and because it was so successful and they have enjoyed it so much, a lot of the women went back and asked if there was money left to do the next stage, which is great.

“What I have noticed more than anything when I met these ladies was the increased confidence, which was amazing. You could just see the transformation.”

She said other areas where courses could be offered would be considered if additional funding was secured.