“I always knew university wasn’t for me, I wanted to get working straight away — being boots on the ground support for those in need. With my dad and grandad being part of the Armed Forces community, the RAF PS&SWS apprenticeship was the perfect fit.”
Born and raised in Shropshire, Jacob Mason, 20, always knew he wanted to dedicate his life to supporting others. After leaving school at 18, Jacob knew university wasn’t the route he wanted to pursue, instead an apprenticeship where he could gain real-world experience whilst making a real difference to people’s lives – enter the RAF Personal Support and Social Work service (PS&SWS) at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
Developed to introduce fresh perspective, improve long-term staff retention and create a passionate workforce, the apprenticeship is the first of four to be completed as part of its “grow your own”’ initiative. Since finishing the course, Jacob applied for a full-time position within the PS&SWS service and was hired following his successful apprenticeship and interview.
Jacob said:
“With a dad who served as a Motor Transport Technician in the RAF and a grandfather who served as a Supplier for the RAF, working for an Armed Forces charity specialising in its RAF service was the obvious route forward.”
During the 12-month apprenticeship, Jacob balanced his formal coursework while also managing a real caseload. Jacob said:
“From day one I loved the culture of the team and the support provided was next level. Despite being a new programme, the team were open and made me feel so welcome.
“Being able to develop transferable skills straight out of school from communication, organisation and case management has been fantastic. My confidence has grown as I’ve seen the real impact my work is having on individuals and families. After spending my first few weeks shadowing, I started building up my caseload and, after a training period, I was handling between five and 10 cases independently. While daunting, this has been the highlight of my apprenticeship and was exactly what I was hoping it would be.”
Karen Woodcock, Social Work Team Lead said:
“Jacob exceeded all expectations and illustrated that age does not define capability, and his fresh perspective brought diversity and enthusiasm to the team. I was apprehensive about taking on an apprentice, especially one just out of school. We deal with some really complex cases, and I was concerned about his lack of lived experience and how it could impact his ability to be an effective welfare officer. How wrong I was. We’re thrilled to have him onboard as a full-time employee.”
Speaking on his new role, Jacob said:
“I’m excited to continue learning and growing. No two cases are the same, and each one helps me develop into a better, more effective welfare officer.”
When asked what advice he would give to someone looking at applying to SSAFA’s PS&SWS apprenticeships, he said:
“Go for it! Be open to every opportunity you’re given and take them on board. Say yes to everything and get as much experience as possible.”
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans, and their families. SSAFA has operated the RAF Personal Support and Social Work Service for more than 35 years, providing tailored advice and practical guidance confidentially and independent of the chain of command. The service supports the whole RAF family: for the person behind the uniform and their loved ones, including both regulars and reservists.
To learn more about SSAFA’s PS&SWS, visit ssafa.org.uk/raf
