THE YORKSHIRE REGION IS REACHING OUT TO VETERANS

After attending a Reaching out to Veterans Conference aimed at improving services to Veterans throughout the UK, Councillor Brenda Lancaster could see the benefits of Leeds City Council working more closely with SPVA on veterans’ health and welfare issues. A decision fully supported by the Council’s Adult Social Care Department.

Invitations were sent out across the Yorkshire region to attend a meeting to discuss the idea of setting up a Regional Veterans Forum. There was a fantastic response from many of the Veterans organisations and

other partners including the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), Armed Services and the Voluntary Sector. The result is a twice-yearly Forum providing both advisers and local Veterans the opportunity to socialise, network and,

most importantly, discuss veterans’ issues while experiencing presentations relating to the Veterans Community. The first official Forum focused on Resettlement processes which expelled myths and clarified facts that will help the Forum support Service Leavers who wish to relocate or return to the region. Cllr Lancaster said: ”It is important that all Veterans organisations support each other whilst keeping their own identity. We have never utilised the potential of these organisations. Publicity has also brought in younger members from recent conflicts who have had no connection with anyone which has given us a perspective of issues facing younger veterans. The suggestion to bring them
under the umbrella of Leeds City Council made sense and will help achieve
improved quality of life, health and wellbeing for the veterans in our community.”

What’s next?

Leeds Council are now exploring options on how Adult Social Care can develop partnerships that can increase the choice that veterans have to receive services. Added to this is the challenge to ensure there are adequate resources to support Service Personnel returning from recent conflicts.

ARMED FORCES DAY

Thousands of people across the world paid tribute to the UK’s past, present and future military personnel in the first ever Armed Forces Day, held on 27 June 2009.

Hundreds of events took place in many different communities around the world from London to Afghanistan and Edinburgh to Gibraltar.

Almost 200 events were held across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland along with military bases where UK Service personnel are deployed across the world celebrated in their own way.


More than 30,000 members of the public showed their support for Service personnel and veterans by attending the main national event taking place at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard.

VETERANS GIVEN A HEAD START

Haig Housing Trust is piloting a unique scheme for single Service Leavers to help them to settle into civilian life.

Since August, the charity has been trialling a scheme in London which will provide secure,low cost, transitional accommodation for single Service Leavers (TASSLE) to help them find employment and establish themselves in civilian life.

Without accommodation, the chances of successfully obtaining employment are reduced, and many end up sleeping on friends’ sofas or floors. Project TASSLE will give successful applicants an address and firm base for up to a year while they seek employment.

The scheme is being piloted in two four-bedroom flats in smart student type accommodation in Islington, well placed for job seeking in London including the Olympics site at Stratford. Each resident will have their own en-suite bedroom and will share a communal kitchen/living room with three others.

TASSLE accommodation will be strictly time limited, with a maximum stay of 12 months. It will be a condition of the license for those accepted onto the scheme that they are there to actively seek employment before moving on to other accommodation. The Trust will assist residents’ job hunting by facilitating links with employment and training agencies. If successful, the Trust hopes to roll out similar schemes across the UK.