The national freephone helpline,
operated by Connect Assist, is enabling the RBL to provide tailored support to
veterans and their families in Wales and across the UK. Trained advisors are
available from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week on 0808 802 8080.
The helpline is one of a number
of initiatives the charity has recently launched in order to deliver services
more effectively and holistically and reach more members of the Armed Forces
community than ever before. This includes a new online information service and
‘Pop in’ Advice and Information Centres, which allows people to
receive face to face advice.
One of the area ‘Pop
In’ centres will be based in Cardiff where people will be able to visit
the centre to receive practical help and advice and learn more about the wide
range of services they provide. The office is due to open later this
year.
Secondary offices are already
established in Wrexham, Caernarfon and Swansea from where the Legion is
delivering community outreach via trained staff and
volunteers.
The Minister
said:
"Wales has a proud
tradition of military service and we owe our veterans an immense debt of
gratitude.
"I’m delighted to
have been able to visit the contact centre today to see how the new helpline,
which is operated from here in Nantgarw, is providing valuable support and
advice to veterans and their families in Wales and across the rest of the
UK.
"The forthcoming opening of
the ‘Pop in’ centre in Cardiff will be another huge milestone and I
congratulate the Royal British Legion on their great work reaching out to more
members of the Armed Forces community than ever before."
Phil Jones, Wales Area Manager
at the Royal British Legion said:
"The Royal British Legion
was delighted to welcome the Minister to our contact centre, in Nantgarw this
morning to highlight our new way of working and to see for herself how it is
helping us reach more members of the Armed Forces community than ever before.
The Legion recognises that the profile of our beneficiaries is constantly
changing and that we must continue to improve our services to reflect that
need. That is why we have opened this facility with Connect Assist, to meet the
needs of veterans and their families in Wales and across the UK by providing
tailored support and advice when people need it. Having trained advisers
available, from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week, ensures that Service personnel,
veterans and their families can access the advice and support they need at any
stage of their lives.
"In addition, we are
opening a new high street ‘Pop in’ advice and information hub in
Cardiff, supported by secondary locations in Swansea, Caernarfon and Wrexham
from where we are delivering our community outreach via trained staff and
volunteers. This is an exciting time for the Legion in Wales and we are hoping
people will want to join us, either by becoming members or volunteers, to
support the Armed Forces community in Wales which has such a long and proud
tradition."