WGPlus (Archive)
They deserve the best support we can give them |
The first ever UK-wide strategy on the delivery of support for veterans has been published Produced jointly between the UK, Scottish & Welsh Governments, and including the NIO, the Strategy for our veterans outlines a new vision & principles to support those who served, as well as their families, in every aspect of their lives once they have hung up their uniform. Having looked back 100 years to the Armistice, this vision and its supporting principles are intended to ensure current and future veterans, and their families, can look forward to the next 100 years confident in the nation’s support. The strategy identifies six key areas where support is most needed over the next 10 years: community & relationships, employment & skills, health & wellbeing, finance & debt, housing, and contact with the law. It assesses the barriers & opportunities in these areas to providing support to each veteran, including improved collaboration between organisations, better co-ordination of services and more robust data on the veteran community. It will be published alongside a consultation paper that seeks views on how best to champion & deliver the needs of the ex-service community. This Strategy for our veterans: UK government consultation paper informs how the strategy could be implemented across the UK, except for devolved matters in Scotland and Wales. Open to everyone, including charities, employers, academics, service providers, local authorities and the veteran community, the UK consultation will ultimately inform action planning by providers of public services to support the ex-service community. The Scottish and Welsh Governments will engage separately on devolved issues such as housing and healthcare. As part of the package of support for veterans, the Veterans’ Gateway’s 24/7 helpline will trial a new outreach service where it will proactively call those who have served, to check in on their wellbeing and remind them of where support can be found. As a first step in better understanding the profiles and needs of veterans, a new question is being considered for addition to the 2021 Census in England and Wales, and in Scotland, that will allow ex-service personnel to declare their service. The move will help authorities develop a better understanding of where veterans live and work so the right level of support can be provided. |
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MoD: First ever UK-wide veterans strategy launched NHS England: NHS leaders commit to specialist health support for veterans in every part of NHS LGA responds to Government strategy for veterans UK aid to protect 7,000 Commonwealth veterans of the British Armed Forces from extreme poverty Post Office & MOD agree new partnership on veterans employment New study into Iraq & Afghanistan veterans launched Defence Minister teams up with international counterparts to improve support for veterans Team UK heads to Sydney for the Invictus Games 2018 250,000 veterans helped into new careers New pocket guide for troops to access mental health support MoD of Defence teams up with innovative start-up to train next generation of cyber veterans GP practices across the country to become ‘veteran friendly’ MOD to review Armed Forces exemption from UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Veterans are not ‘mad, bad or sad’, says Defence Committee Injured veterans & service personnel take part in excavation at Barrow Clump MoD must uphold the Forces' Covenant Scottish Veterans Commissioner Serving Those Who Served - Policy Exchange Speech Britain leads first ever European conference on veterans mental health Veterans to retain military ID, allowing easier access to services Open University Disabled Veterans Scholarship Fund Defence Secretary launches first ever Veterans Strategy & new cross-Government Veterans Unit DefSec. highlights importance of partnering with charities during visit to military recovery centre NHS England to transform mental health care for military veterans across the country New bursary to get veterans into teaching DefSec. shows commitment to Armed Forces mental health with over £220m funding & new helpline Supporting veterans through membership of the VAPC New homes for veterans in time for Christmas |