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WWArmedALESALES Forces Covenant NEWS Issue 1 - 2021 Armed Forces Covenant across Wales The Covenant is a promise from the nation ensuring that those who serve and have served in the Armed Forces and their families are treated fairly. The Covenant at a local level aims to: ■ Encourage communities to support the Armed Forces community in their areas and to nurture public understanding and awareness among the public of issues a ecting the Armed Forces community. ■ Recognise and remember the sacri ces faced by the Armed Forces community, including an individual’s commitment when serving to potentially be placed in harm’s way. ■ Encourage activities which help to integrate the Armed Forces community into local life. ■ Encourage the Armed Forces community to help and support the wider community, by participating in events and joint projects, or other forms of engagement. The Armed Forces Covenant is supported at a local level by a partnership agreement between statutory, military and voluntary sector agencies who work together to honour and implement the national Armed Forces Covenant. Armed Forces Covenant Training Package The vast majority of the 2.8 million ex-Servicemen and women living in Britain today have successfully adapted to civilian life, putting the skills and experience they acquired while serving in the Armed Forces to good use. However, a signi cant minority can be in need of support either at the point of discharge or many years afterwards. This e-learning has been developed by WLGA. It explains the commitment of the Armed Forces Covenant and how it can be honoured and implemented in the Community. It will help you understand and apply the principles of the Covenant at a local level. It also provides sources of further information and support. www.covenantwales.wales/e-learning/ If you would like bespoke training for your department please contact your Regional Armed Forces Covenant Offi cer Armed Forces Covenant across Wales p.1 16371 Get involved… Veterans’ Gateway Sign �he Co�enant The rst point of contact for veterans seeking support Businesses, charitable organisations and public sector organisations of all sizes who wish We put veterans and their families in touch with the to support Gwent’s Armed Forces Community organisations best placed to help with the information, can join . in signing the Covenant. advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, nances, personal Each organisation can tailor their own pledge to o er relationships and more. the support they want to provide, each pledge can be unique. Options range from ensuring There is a huge network of organisations supporting the employment policies support veterans, reservists, Armed Forces community, so nding the right one for your and forces’ families, o ering discounts for needs can be tricky. We make it quick and easy by being your rst point of contact for whatever support you need, whether services/products through the Defence you are based in the UK or abroad. Discount service and supporting Armed Forces Day every June. Many of our team are veterans themselves so they understand the issues that people face after leaving the Armed Forces. They work with people on a one-to-one basis, connecting them with the right support as soon as possible. The 24-hour online chat, phone, and text message service brings the Armed Forces support community together in a single place – delivered by a Royal British Legion-led consortium with Poppy- Scotland, Combat Stress, Connect Assist, The Ministry of Defence To fi nd out mo�e visit and SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity. www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk The service centre, based in Nantgarw near Cardi , is manned partly by veterans to help ensure that callers can speak to someone who can understand their experience. THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT FUND TRUST The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Makes Grants To Support The Armed Forces Community. The Veterans Gateway can be contacted by: ■ Calling 0808 802 1212 ■ Texting 81212 We manage the grant programmes funded ■ Visiting www.veteransgateway.org.uk by the Covenant Fund. We also run wider funding programmes that support the NEWS: The Veterans’ Gateway App Armed Forces Community. The Veterans’ Gateway App has now launched which helps veterans nd support organisations in their area The people who benefi t from our grants are from using their smartphone or tablet. Click here to download the Armed Forces Community. This includes serving the App & access support from nances to employment personnel, families, veterans and families of veterans. https://bit.ly/2yWFBqV In some of our programmes, the wider community around a base or in an area with an Armed Forces population can also benefi t; as we will support projects on one of our programmes that will help to encourage good relations between Armed Forces and civilian communities. For more information: www.covenantfund.org.uk/ p.2 Armed Forces Covenant across Wales AFC Liaison Officers in Wales LOCAL AUTHORITY 18 1 Monmouthshire Isle of Anglesey 21 2 Newport 19 Flintshire Conwy 20 3 Torfaen Denbighshire 22 4 Blaenau Gwent Wrexham 17 5 Caerphilly Gwynedd Armed Forces Liaison Officer Lisa Rawlings email: [email protected] WALES 6 Cardiff 7 Vale of Glamorgan 15 16 Armed Forces Liaison Officer Ceredigion Powys Abigail Warbrton email: [email protected] 8 Merthyr 14 13 Pembrokeshire Carmarthenshire Merthyr Blaenau Tydfil Gwent 9 Rhondda Cynon Taff 1 Monmouthshire 8 4 Armed Forces Liaison Officer Neath 9 Port Talbot Rhondda 3 12 Caerphilly Torfaen Jamie Ireland 11 Cynon Swansea Taff 5 Bridgend 2 email: [email protected] Newport 10 Cardiff 6 7 The Vale of 10 Bridgend Glamorgan 11 Neath Port Talbot 12 Swansea Armed Forces Liaison Officer To be confirmed LOCAL AUTHORITY 13 Camarthenshire 17 Gwynedd 14 Pembrokeshire 18 Isle of Anglesey 15 Cerredigion Armed Forces Liaison Officer 19 Conwy Hayley Edwards 20 Denbigshire email: [email protected] 21 Flintshire 16 Powys 22 Wrexham Armed Forces Liaison Officer Armed Forces Liaison Officer Andy Jones Stephen Townley email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Armed Forces Covenant across Wales p.3 Armed Forces Champions Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan Gwent Cardi Cllr Huw Thomas Blaenau Gwent Cllr Brian Thomas email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Vale of Glamorgan Cllr Eddie Williams Caerphilly Cllr Alan Higgs email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Monmouth Cllr Lisa Dymock Merthyr & RCT email: [email protected] Merthyr Cllr Andrew Barry Newport Cllr Mark Spencer email: [email protected] email: [email protected] RCT Cllr Maureen Webber Torfaen To be conrmed email: [email protected] South West Wales Powys Powys Cllr Rosemarie Harris Bridgend Cllr Richard Young email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Neath Port Talbot Cllr Chris James email: [email protected] North Wales Swansea Cllr Wendy Lewis Anglesey Cllr Richard Dew email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Swansea Cllr Alyson Pugh Conwy Cllr Liz Roberts email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Flintshire Cllr Andy Dunbobbin West Wales email: [email protected] Ceredigion Cllr Paul Hinge Gwynedd Cllr Thomas Ioan Ceredig email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Pembrokeshire Cllr John Cole Wrexham Cllr David Griths email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Carmarthenshire Cllr David Jenkins Denbighshire Richard Mainon email: [email protected] email: [email protected] p. Armed Forces Covenant across Wales Gwent Veteran mental wellbeing training & coaching Blaenau Gwent Many people are struggling with their Bomber crash crew remembered mental health, now 9th December 2020 marked the 80th anniversary of the more than ever. T2520 wellington bomber crash where six brave young men lost their lives. Working from home, away from friends & family and lack of face-to-face support. In addition, veterans are faced with other Tredegar Town Council hold a memorial service at the crash challenges and when they leave the Service, this may be the site every November and also on signi cant anniversaries of rst time where they feel they are truly on their own and have the crash. Due to Covid restrictions, a small group (Cllr Alyson to fully provide for themselves and their families. Military life Tippings, Cllr Sean Rees and Annette Edwards) made their breeds a high level of resilience which can sometimes work way to Cefn yr Ystrad, high above Tre l village and quarry to against someone’s ability to seek help to move forward in pay their respect. A short service was held and a wreath civilian life. It could be argued by some veterans that they never made by the Sirhowy Woodlands group was laid. really ‘ t-in’, and as a result, many servicemen and women experience di culties with their mental health. This is often as The crew had set out from RAF Marham at 17.20 on 8th Dec a result of active service or challenges with the transition out 1940 in their Wellington Bomber heading towards Bordeaux, of the military. Also, a lot of military trades and skills are not France. The raid was noted as a success with several targets transferrable, therefore they potentially face issues with gaining being hit. On their return, Bomber T2520 experienced bad employment. It’s a perfect storm to brew mental ill health. weather and thick cloud and was separated from the rest of the squadron. The basic and primitive instrumentation lead Kelly & Jamie Farr are both proud veterans with a combined them o course and running low on fuel, they began their 41 years service in the Royal Air Force.