APPENDIX 1 ARMED FORCES CHAMPION REPORT TO OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE During the past year, I have made several visits to the Royal British Legion Club in New London Road and continue to have contact with the Club President, John Hudson. I am pleased to report there are no major issues affecting ex-military personnel. For Members’ information, the Legion is at the heart of a national network that supports our Armed Forces community through thick and thin ensuring their unique contribution is never forgotten. As the country’s largest Armed Forces charity with over 220,000 members and over 100,000 volunteers, without their enthusiasm and dedication the achievements would be almost impossible. The Legion supports serving members of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, Reservists, Veterans and their families and this support continues long after life in the Armed Forces. My role as Armed Forces Champion is to liaise with the RBL, especially with the transition into civilian life, helping with employment, financial issues, respite and recovery and independent living. The Legion has rehabilitation courses tailored to support our most vulnerable veterans every step of the way, in addition taking thousands of Armed Forces families on short breaks so they can spend some much needed quality time together. They also support older veterans with home adaptations, nursing services and through six dedicated care homes run specifically for ex Services men and women. Needless to say, I have attended the Armistice Day Memorial service for more than 25 years outside the Civic Centre. On the day of Remembrance last year, I was invited by the vicar of the community Church in Beaulieu Heath to lay a cross on the road named after a soldier killed in WW1. Recently, I attended a meeting sponsored by the Royal British Legion. The panel of speakers included the Director General, the Veterans Minister and a Councillor from Staffordshire County Council plus two others. When I asked the first question, the Minister replied that as he had only been recently appointed he was unable to answer but invited the County Councillor to respond. The discussion centred around supporting Armed Forces children in education during the course of the year I had the privilege of meeting Simon Weston, a former member of the Welsh Guards, severely injured during the Falklands war. Simon is leading a campaign on Care after Combat. He went on to explain how Care after Combat is currently involved in 25 prisons across the prison estate with numbers expected to rise in the foreseeable future. Veterans with mental health issues is a feature of the prison population, however, their needs are complex and significantly different from those of the general prison population when you consider they may have physical as well as mental health problems. Care After Combat is committed to helping veterans in prison and those outside and continues to mentor and arrange forums on an agreed basis which are proving to be of particular value. Cllr Ron Alcock Armed Forces Champion .