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Cross-Party Group Annual Report. 2016 and 2017 Cross Party Group for the Armed Forces and Cadets

1. Group membership and office holders.

Chair: AM. Re-elected as Chair on 13th February 2018

Other Assembly Members who attended and had representatives attend included:

• AM • AM • Andrew RT Davies AM • Mark Isherwood AM • AM • Gareth Bennet AM • Eluned Morgan AM • Lee Waters AM • David Rowlands AM • Caroline Jones AM • AM • AM • AM • Rhiannon Passmore AM • AM • AM • Neil Hamilton AM

Secretary: • Kathryn Sharpe, PA to Darren Millar, June 2017 – May 2018 • Curtis Shea, PA to Darren Millar, June 2018 - Present

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Other external attendees and the organisation(s) they represent:

Name Organisation

Geraint Jones Change Step

Squadron Leader Brian Ramsey Royal Air Force

Warrant Officer Stephen Perham Royal Air Force

Annabel Ingram Army Families Federation

Lisa Rawlings Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer, Gwent

Brigadier Jock Fraser Royal Navy

ML Dave Singletary SSAFA

Air Commodore Adrian Williams Royal Air Force

Colonel Lance Patterson Deputy Commander HQ Wales

Colonel Nick Beard CE RFCA for Wales

Dr Neil Kitchener Veterans NHS Wales

Richard Mottershead Veterans Welfare Service, Veterans Welfare Manager, Veterans UK

Mike Bailey Veterans Welfare Service MOD

Ty Harrison The Royal British Legion

Peter Evans The Royal British Legion

Heather Ferguson Age Cymru

Shelley Elgin Help for Heroes

Jeff Maddison RCT Council

Laura Jones Monmouthshire County Council

Paul Weaver St John & Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service

Karen Rees Barnardo's

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Brigadier Fraser Naval Regional Commander

Millie Taylor WLGA

Jeff Madison AFCLO

Heather Ferguson Project 360`

David Price Welsh Veterans Partnership

Peter Evans

Anthony Metcalf Royal British Legion

Ian Doyle Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees

David Munson Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees

Brigadier Alan Richmond 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales

Janet Jones Welsh Government

Julianne Newsham Regular Forces Employment Association

Jeff Maddeson Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council

John William Royal British Legion

Leanne Plechowicz SToMP (Support Transition of Military Personnel)

Mark Polin Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

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2. Previous Group Meetings since the last AGM

Meeting 1.

Meeting date: 13th February 2018: 12.00 – 1.20pm

Attendees:

Name Organisation

Darren Millar AM Chair, Welsh Conservative AM for Clwyd West

Kathryn Sharpe Group Secretary

Geraint Jones Change Step

Squadron Leader Brian Ramsey RAF Specialist Engagement Team

Warrant Officer Stephen Perham RAF Specialist Engagement Team

Annabel Ingram Army Families Federation

Lisa Rawlings Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer Gwent

Mohammad Asghar AM Welsh Conservative AM for South Wales East

Brigadier Jock Fraser Naval Regional Commander

ML Dave Singletary SSAFA

Angela Burns AM Welsh Conservative AM for Carmarthen West and Pembrokeshire

Air Commodore Adrian Williams Air Officer Wales

Colonel Lance Patterson Deputy Commander HQ Wales

Colonel Nick Beard CE RFCA for Wales

Dr Neil Kitchener UNHSW

Alun Williams Caroline Jones AM, AMSS

Andrew RT Davies AM Welsh Conservative AM for South Wales Central and Leader of the

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Mike Bailey Veterans Welfare Service MOD

Ty Harrison The Royal British Legion

Peter Evans The Royal British Legion

Mark Isherwood AM Welsh Conservative AM for North Wales

Gareth Bennett AM UKIP AM for South Wales Central

Heather Ferguson Age Cymru

Alun Davies AM Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services

Summary of issues discussed:

• Address by Alun Davies, Cabinet Secretary for Local Government following publication of the Group’s Inquiry into the Armed Forces Covenant in Wales.

• Presentation from Dr Neil Kitchiner, Director and Consultant Clinical Lead of Veterans’ NHS Wales, and Geraint Jones, from Change Step, on the H4H Funded Peer Mentor Pilot.

• Presentation from Heather Ferguson, Age Cymru Project Manager, on Project 360°.

• Update from Annabel Ingram, Regional Manager North, on the work of the Army Families Federation.

• Update from Air Commodore Dai Williams on plans for celebrating the RAF Centenary.

• Brigadier Jock Fraser informed the group that HMS Express will be visiting Cardiff and it is hoped that a visit by AMs can be arranged.

• Update from Peter Evans on the Royal British Legion’s external grants funding applications

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Meeting 2.

Meeting date: 23rd May 2018: 12 – 1:30 pm

Name Organisation

Darren Millar AM Chair, Welsh Conservative AM for Clwyd West Crispin John Gareth Bennett AMSS

Lisa Rawlings Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer, Gwent Shelley Elgin Help for Heroes

Neil Kitchiner Veterans NHS Wales

Jeff Maddison RCT Council

Laura Jones Monmouthshire County Council

Paul Weaver St John & Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service Karen Rees Barnardo's

Adrian Warner VAPC and SAFA

Col. Lance Patterson Deputy Commander HQ Wales

Brigadier Fraser Naval Regional Commander

Millie Taylor WLGA

Alun Williams On behalf of Caroline Jones AM

David Hooson On behalf of Mark Drakeford AM

Lee Waters AM Assembly Member for

Eluned Morgan AM Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning David Rowlands AM Assembly Member for South Wales East

Summary of issues discussed:

• Presentation from Colonel Nick Beard on the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales’ Employer Engagement Programme

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• Presentation from Karen Rees, Barnardo's, on the Families of Veterans Support Service

• Update from Peter Evans on the ongoing work of the Royal British Legion.

• Update on the Welsh Veterans Partnership from Dave Price.

• Update on Help for Heroes from Shelley Elgin

• Update from Colonel Lance Patterson on UK Armed Forces Day

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Meeting 3.

Meeting date: 3rd October 2018: 12 – 1:15 pm

Attendees:

Name Organisation

Darren Millar AM Chair, Welsh Conservative Member for Clwyd West Curtis Shea Secretary

Lisa Rawlings Gwent Armed Forces Covenant Liason Officer

Brigadier Jock Fraser Naval Regional Commander

Jeff Madison Armed Forces Covenant Liason Officer

Heather Ferguson Project 360`

David Price Welsh Veterans Partnership

Mohammad Asghar AM Assembly Member for South Wales East Caroline Jones AM Assembly Member for South Wales West Ty Harrison Royal British Legion

Rhianon Passmore AM Assembly Member for Islwyn

Nick Beard Reserve Forces and Cadets Association Wales Suzy Davies AM Assembly Member for South Wales West Mark Isherwood AM Assembly Member for North Wales

Mandy Jones AM Assembly Member for North Wales

Peter Evans Welsh Government

Colonel Lance Patterson 160th Infantry Brigade and HQ Wales

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Anthony Metcalf Royal British Legion Colonel Nick Lock 160th Infantry Brigade and HQ Wales

Summary of issues discussed:

• Update from Darren Millar AM on the Armed Forces Reservists day.

• Presentation from Sir Deian Hopkin on Cymru’n Cofio ‘Wales Remembers’ programme.

• Update from Shelly Elgin on Help for Heroes in Wales

• Update from Lisa Rawlings on the All Wales Project for Service Children in Education.

• Presentation from Antony Metcalfe on the Royal British Legion’s Loneliness and Social Isolation in the Armed Forces Community report.

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Meeting 4.

Meeting date: 6th February 2019: 12 – 1:15 pm

Attendees:

Name Title Darren Millar AM Assembly Member for Clwyd West Ian Doyle Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees David Munson Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Brigadier Alan Richmond 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales Brigadier Jock Fraser Naval Regional Commander Hannah Blythyn AM Welsh Government (Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government) Janet Jones Welsh Government Air Cadre Adrian Williams Royal Air Force Captain Brian Thorne Reserve Forces and Cadets Association Alun Davies AM Assembly Member for Blaenau Gwent Julianne Newsham Regular Forces Employment Association Paul Weaver The Defence Medical Welfare Service Caroline Jones AM Assembly Member for South Wales West Alun Williams Office of Caroline Jones AM Conor Holohan Office of Mark Reckless AM Gareth Bennet Assembly Member for South Wales Central Neil Hamilton Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales Zak Weaver Office of Gareth Bennet AM Peter Evans Welsh Government Geraint Jones Change Step Shelly Elgin Help for Heroes Antony Metcalfe Royal British Legion Heather Ferguson Project 360 Age Cymru Annabel Ingram Army Families Federation Jeff Maddeson Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council Michael Bailey Veterans Welfare Serviec John William Royal British Legion Georgina Webb Welsh Conservative Group Office Lisa Rawlings Armed Forces Covenant Liason Officer for Gwent

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Mark Polin Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Leanne Plechowicz SToMP (Support Transition of Military Personnel) Corin Morgan-Armstrong Head of Family Interventions at HMP Parc

Summary of issues discussed:

• AGM Business – Darren Millar AM was elected as the chair of the group for the forthcoming year. Curtis Shea was nominated and duly elected as Secretary of the group

• Updates from Darren Millar AM on actioned items from the previous meeting.

• A discussion on Veterans and the Criminal Justice System with Leanne Plechowicz (SToMP), Mark Polin (Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board), Corin Morgan-Armstrong (HMP Parc).

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3. Professional lobbyists, voluntary organisations and charities with whom the Group has met during the preceding year.

• Royal British Legion http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/the-legion-near-you/legion-in-wales

• CAIS Drug and Alcohol Treatment http://www.cais.co.uk/

• SSAFA https://www.ssafa.org.uk/

• RFCA for Wales Centre Centre Block http://wales-rfca.org/

• Veterans’ NHS Wales – Cardiff and Vale Hub http://www.cardiffandvaleuhb.wales.nhs.uk/veteranswales

• RAF, Wales https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafvalley/

• 160 Infantry Brigade https://www.160walesbrigadea3.co.uk/

• Army Families Federation https://aff.org.uk/

• Royal Navy https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk

• Veterans Welfare Service https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/veterans-welfare-service

• Age Cymru https://www.ageuk.org.uk/cymru/

• Help for Heroes https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

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• St John & Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service https://www.dmws.org.uk/

• Barnardo's https://www.barnardos.org.uk/

• Welsh Local Government Association https://www.wlga.gov.uk/

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4. Other activities.

The Cross Party Group facilitates Assembly Member engagement in the Armed Forces Assembly Scheme.

Since the last AGM the Scheme has organised a visit to Cambrian Patrol, an annual international military patrolling exercise that makes its participating units cover a 50 mile course in less than 48 hours while performing numerous military exercises placed throughout the Cambrian Mountains.

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Annual Financial Statement. 6.2.2019 Cross Party Group for the Armed Forces and Cadets

There are no expenses for this CPG

Group’s Expenses. None. £0.00

Costs of all goods. No goods purchased. £0.00

Benefits received by the No benefits received. £0.00 group or individual Members from outside bodies.

Any secretariat or other No financial support £0.00 support. received.

Services provided to the Group such as hospitality.

All refreshments paid for by [include name of group/organisation].

Date Description and name of Cost provider

£0.00

Total cost £0.00

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Annual Report Cross Party Group for the Armed Forces and Cadets