Veterans find purpose on the fairway at Caddie School for Soldiers in St Andrews

A charity programme in St Andrews is helping wounded and injured veterans rebuild confidence and start new careers as professional golf caddies.

"I've played golf my whole life. I've always wanted to work in the golf industry and, yeah, this is the gateway to it," said veteran Chris Byrne.

Another veteran taking part said: "It's just amazing really that there's the opportunity to be able to qualify you to train to be a caddie in this sort of setting's unbelievable."

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The Caddie School for Soldiers, now in its seventh year, trains ex-service personnel from the UK, US, and Canada.

"Often the guys will turn up – they are a disparate bunch. Very rarely do they know each other before they turn up and living together, training together, brings them out of that shell," Ken McIntosh, the general manager of the school said.

"It may take them back to a time in their past when they have that camaraderie, that enjoyment of being together, working together as a team," he added.

For many, the programme is part of their recovery. "A year or two ago, I figured out that I was starting to struggle with my own mental health and I hadn't done a lot of sport for myself in the last 10 years," said Owain Rees, a student.

"But I got into picking the golf clubs back up and following, sort of, family things and, you know, Afghanistan and stuff and having lots of children myself I just found myself not doing a lot for myself.

"And then I realise you need to get back out there, and golf was one of my first steps to getting back out there and then that's kind of helped me build some of my confidence back up again.

"Golf's a great leveller."

Veteran Mr Byrne summed up the experience: "My biggest trouble is my mental health. I struggle with being happy in my own head.

"But when I am on the golf course, when I'm hitting golf balls, or helping someone else hit golf balls, it just frees me up, clears me out. I feel connected, committed.

"I have a sense of purpose," he added.