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Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2019

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Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2019 The Welsh Government’s Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2019 Presented to Senedd Cymru/ Welsh Parliament pursuant to Standing Order 15.2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 02 58 Her Majesty’s Government – and – All those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their Families. The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment. Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given the most such as the injured and the bereaved. This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant. WG40833 © Crown copyright 2020 Print ISBN: 978-1-80082-235-1 Digital ISBN: 978-1-80082-236-8 03 58 Contents 04 Foreword 06 Observations – Feedback from the Armed Forces Expert Group members 08 Executive Overview 10 Summary of Key Achievements 17 Governance 24 Health and Wellbeing 35 Education 39 Housing 41 Benefits and Finance 45 Support on return to Civilian Life 51 Employment and Skills 54 Commemoration 56 What we will do 58 Closing Words 04 58 Joint Ministerial Foreword Our Armed Forces are, and always In May 2018, as a Government we have been there for us during the launched our first Armed Forces Covenant most challenging of times. Annual Report. We did this because we felt it right that The first half of 2020 has provided, we outline the work being undertaken yet again, ample evidence of both the in Wales, our ongoing commitment to commitment and the abilities of our support the Armed Forces community Armed Forces, and as a nation we are and the huge contribution they make immensely proud of and grateful to them. to our communities. We would like to take this opportunity The document was laid in the Senedd to pay a special tribute to the men and for the people of Wales to assess and women of our Armed Forces who this scrutinise. year have and continue to work tirelessly alongside others, to help our nation It also identified key commitments for overcome the unprecedented challenges 2019/20 that the Welsh Government associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. and our key partners would take forward. We also recognise the significant support We are pleased to see that significant provided by our partner organisations progress has been made on all of those during this challenging time. commitments, and many new ones too. Our Armed Forces community have However, there is always more we can do. supported our NHS and the most vulnerable in our communities when they We will continue to promote the skills needed it most. and experience of our Armed Forces community, to ensure they are able to They have worked with the Welsh maximise the use of the skills they have Government, with our Local Health gained when they re-enter civilian life. Boards and key partners, to provide vital expertise, knowledge and skills to help tackle Covid-19, and make a significant and positive difference to the lives of the people of Wales. Our Armed Forces community are a huge asset to our nation. We recognise their invaluable contribution and will continue to support them. 05 58 We will look at what support we can This report includes numerous provide to more vulnerable families who examples of where we are providing often face upheaval during the transition that, investing in services, working with from Service life, and we will strive to partners and targeting resource at areas increase the awareness and knowledge of need. amongst service providers about the Armed Forces community to help ensure None of this can be achieved successfully that support is available when needed. without listening to our Armed Forces community and those who work This reporting year we marked the with them. seventy-fifth anniversaries of D-Day and VE Day. We know that people’s needs change and to understand those changing needs we We paid tribute to veterans who fought undertook our Veterans Scoping Exercise bravely and those on the home front last year which collected the views, during the Second World War. experiences and feedback of veterans and organisations. We did so in circumstances none of us could have foreseen and although the We are pleased that the recommendations restrictions in place due to Covid 19 emanating from that work are now being meant we had to change the way we taken forward and we will be closely marked this important milestone, it did monitoring delivery. not reduce the outpouring of respect and recognition from the people of Wales for Our Armed Forces community are a huge all our veterans have done to help shape asset to our nation. our society today. We recognise their invaluable contribution Some, but by no means all, of our current and will continue to support them. Serving personnel, ex-Service community and their families need support. Julie James MS Hannah Blythyn MS Minister for Housing and Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government Local Government 06 58 Observation Feedback from the Armed Forces Expert Group Members The Armed Forces Expert Group brings together people and organisations with detailed knowledge of issues which affect the Armed Forces community in Wales. The group provides advice, feedback and This should be celebrated under the information to the Welsh Government to Priority Treatment section and we would improve understanding of the needs of very much like to see this replicated the community and suggestions on how throughout Wales. service delivery might be improved. Although understandable in the The Armed Forces Expert Group members extenuating circumstances it is are generally supportive of the 2019 disappointing to learn of the delay Annual Report and appreciate the in the school admissions code review, commitment of the Welsh Government we hope this commitment can be to progress this agenda. re-confirmed soon. Comments from the Expert Group We note there is still further work to be members: done to address issues some Service personnel and families are facing with The Royal Navy, Army and RAF Families regards to council tax charges. Federations very much appreciate the close collaborative working relationships Where it is mentioned that places on we have with the Welsh Government in waiting lists when moving within Wales supporting our Armed Forces communities are honoured – we would like confirmation in Wales. if this will be expanded to include family members moving into Wales from other We acknowledge the progress made parts of the UK in accordance with the against the commitments as listed and see Armed Forces Covenant commitment. Wales as a welcoming and positive location for our Armed Forces and families to live We would like agreed time scales for the and work. improvement of data on Service children in welsh schools as there appears to be We would like to see more prominence little progress. given to the Forces Families Jobs platform and we encourage all Local Authorities and NHS and Veterans NHS Wales would Local Health Boards to advertise vacancies like the Veterans’ healthcare in prison through this portal. guidance to be updated to take account of the SToMP work in prisons and lack We would like to see acknowledgement of referrals to Veterans NHS Wales from of the great work of the Aneurin Bevan veterans in prison. University Health Board in enabling through policy, the easier access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for Service children. 07 58 Veterans NHS Wales has submitted We hope this will help governments and a business case to Welsh Government charities better target services to our including an option to employ community. We are grateful to all those six additional veteran therapists and who supported our “Count Them in” peer Mentors to work in prisons and campaign. community. Of course, the work is never done and The Royal British Legion works closely we are still pushing for improvements with the Welsh Government, and all parties in areas including, social isolation in in the Senedd to support the Armed the Armed Forces community, tackling Forces community. substance misuse, housing and improving the transition of people from a military to The continued financial support by the a civilian life. Welsh Government for the Armed Forces Liaison Officers is excellent news. We will continue to collaborate with colleagues from the public, private and These posts do the important job charity sectors to achieve this. of ensuring Local Authorities are meeting their Armed Forces Covenant National Probation Service in Wales are commitments. encouraged by the Welsh Government’s confirmation of the Armed Forces Liaison The funding for Service Children is also to Officers further funding of £275,000 for be welcomed. Some Service children can the next two years, from April 2021.
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