Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Guide 2023/24.

Lancashire ARMED FORCES

COVENANT GUIDE 2023/24

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INTRODUCTION

By County Councillor Alf Clempson

Lancashire County Council Armed Forces and Veterans Champion

In Lancashire, we continue to strive to make our county the best place to live, work and thrive as a member of the Armed Forces community. We are proud of the contributions Lancashire has made throughout its long and storied history, both to the Armed Forces and to the country those forces are sworn to serve and protect.

the umbrella of the Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub, which brings together the organisations – from the public, private and charitable sectors – united in their passion to deliver on behalf of the Armed Forces family. All of these bodies are working hard together to embed the new Armed Forces Covenant Duty and deliver on our promises to improve what we do and how we do it.

Thank you for reading the firstever Lancashire Guide to the Armed Forces Covenant. On behalf of the Armed Forces Champions from each of the county’s 15 councils, I hope you will find it helpful, whether you are looking for guidance on the range of support and services available in Lancashire or simply want to know more about the Armed Forces Covenant.

We have been, and continue to be, a major source of recruitment and support for our Armed Forces. The commitments all the councils featured in this Guide have made under the Covenant honour that duty and sacrifice and testify to our collective feeling of respect and gratitude. That’s why we want to be there for those veterans and their families who come to Lancashire after their service, especially those who need some additional help and support to live the best lives they can.

In this Guide you will learn about what is available in each of the local regions that make up Lancashire across vital areas like health and employment. You will see what we have done to create a network of help and support under

It has never been more important that we support the Armed Forces family. The Covid-19 pandemic showed us all how the Armed Forces support our communities, and we want to be there for them too. As we face the challenges of the years ahead, we plan on pulling together so they can get the help they need, when they need it.

We would love to hear from you if you want to get involved in supporting Lancashire’s Armed Forces community. Please get in touch on LancsCovenant@uclan. ac.uk

County Councillor Alf Clempson

WHAT IS THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT?

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation that the Armed Forces community should be treated fairly and face no disadvantage when accessing public and commercial services - with special provision made in appropriate cases for those who have sacrificed the most.

The Covenant was established in its current form in 2011 and since then thousands of organisations –businesses, local authorities, universities and charities – have signed the Covenant, including nearly 200 within Lancashire. As a result, there are many examples in Lancashire and around the UK of good practice to prevent, mitigate or remove incidents of disadvantage.

Building on this, the Armed Forces Act 2021 is now creating a legal obligation on specified bodies in all four home nations of the UK. This is known as the ‘Armed Forces Covenant Duty’

The Armed Forces Covenant Duty means that when a specified body exercises a relevant function, it must have due regard to:

• The unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the Armed Forces;

• The principle that it is desirable to remove disadvantages arising for Service people from membership, or former membership, of the Armed Forces; and

• The principle that special provision for Service people may be justified by the effects on such people of membership, or former membership, of the Armed Forces.

This legal obligation applies to specified bodies whether or not they have signed the Covenant pledge.

Who is subject to the Duty?

In England, the specified bodies subject to the Covenant Duty are:

• local authorities

• governing bodies of maintained schools and further education institutions

• proprietors of academies

• non-maintained special schools and special post-16 institutions

• The NHS commissioning board

• The Integrated Care Board

• NHS Trusts

• and NHS Foundation Trusts

What functions are covered by the Duty?

• Health - In the settings of NHS Primary Care, NHS Secondary Care, and local authority-delivered healthcare services, the following functions: provision of services; planning and funding; and cooperation between bodies and professionals.

• Education - In compulsory education settings, the following functions: admissions; educational attainment and curriculum; child wellbeing; transport; attendance; additional needs support; and, for England only, use of Service Pupil Premium funding.

• Housing - The following housing functions: allocations policy for social housing; tenancy strategies (England only); homelessness; and disabled facilities grants.

Due regard

The Act does not state what a body must do in order to have “due regard”. How a body meets the Covenant Duty - and how the Duty is reflected in its policies or procedures - are therefore

matters for the body in question. This is about informed decision-making and means that specified bodies should think about, and place an appropriate amount of weight on, the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant when they consider how they carry out relevant functions.

Local authorities and other specified bodies should therefore make sure that mechanisms are in place that prompt decision-makers to assess how decisions might impact the Armed Forces Community within the scope of the Duty. Councils already have experience in taking similar actions through their obligations to comply with the Equality Duty which has existed since 2010 and requires public authorities to give due regard to a series of objectives promoting equality based on a series of protected characteristics. Bodies might wish to draw on their experience and practice in complying with other similar due regard duties.

In Lancashire, we improve the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant through a partnership project called the Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub. Over the following pages we’ll show you some of the Hub’s work and describe how it operates in support of the 15 Lancashire local authorities.

For more information on the Armed Forces Covenant please go to

www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk

The Covenant Duty

A statutory duty on specific bodies in the areas of Healthcare, Housing and Education to pay due regard to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant

www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk

subject to the Duty are expected to consciously consider the Covenant when developing, delivering and reviewing policies and decisions which may impact the Armed Forces Community and help improve their access to public services.

specifically focused on the Armed Forces Representatives from each of Lancashire’s colleagues four times a year to work

Voice” after securing funding from central goverment.

Sector webinars

The Hub delivers webinars on topics that require more co-ordination and/or knowledge sharing. We have explored the housing needs of military veterans, the experiences of veterans in the justice system and a grant finding/bid writing webinar, helping participants to sustain delivery of their projects. We will continue to deliver these activities as topics are highlighted for further investigation.

The Hub also benefits from its location within the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and receives support from colleagues in the College for Military Veterans and Emergency Services (CMVES). In the following pages we’ll offer examples of recent collaboration to support the Armed Forces community.

The Hub hosts an eNoticeboard on its website with a range of information for the Armed Forces community.

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY

The College for Military Veterans and Emergency Services (CMVES) provides a national, regional, and local programme of engagement for the Armed Forces community. Based at UCLan within the School of Community Health and Midwifery, CMVES works with Forces in Mind Trust, the Service Children’s Progression Alliance (SCiP), Health Education England, the Ministry of Defence, Higher Education Institutions, local authorities, colleges, schools and the voluntary, community and faith sectors.

Providing information, advice and guidance to serving and ex-serving personnel and their family members, we have assisted over 700 people into education and employment by using our external networks, and currently support personnel, veterans, service children and families throughout Lancashire and the North to meet their educational aspirations.

The college aims to support the social mobility of the military community through developing skills and learning, providing opportunities to access education and employment, addressing any inequalities within health, housing, education or employment through research and engagement.

Our four main areas of work include:

• Learning and development

• Information, advice, and guidance

• Engagement and delivery

• Research and outputs

In addition to the work of the college, we support the Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub, a countywide collaborative initiative co-located with the University working to develop better outcomes for the military community. We also host the Service Children’s Progression Alliance Lancashire and

the North West Hub, whose members include: schools, Further Education and Higher Education institutions, local authorities, health professionals and anyone who supports service children to thrive.

For more information please visit https://www.uclan.ac.uk/valuesand-initiatives/armed-forces

Service Children

Service children are to be found in just over half (52%) of state schools in England and according to (Hall, 2019) ‘they may experience considerable discontinuity in their learning, opportunities and relationships due to multiple school moves, stressful separation from parents and many other challenges connected to their parents’ role’. Progression onto Further and Higher Education is almost a third less than their peers (Office for Students, 2018).

Lancashire County Council offers the following support:

Early Years

• 15 hours funded childcare for Service Children aged 2 and above at an early-years setting or with a childminder.

Primary School

• Support to securing school places for Service Children

• Pupil Premium Funding for Service Children

Secondary School

• Support to securing school places for Service Children

• Pupil Premium Funding for Service Children

Case Study: UCLan holds NHS careers event to inspire children from military families

UCLan and Health Education England have welcomed over 80 local children from military families to an NHS careers event. Service children across Lancashire learned about possible healthcare careers at the Lancashire and South Cumbria Creative Forces Health Careers Insight Day at UCLan’s Westleigh Conference Centre.

Dr Celia Hynes, the director of CMVES at UCLan, helped to organise the event. She said: “Service children and young people often experience frequent school moves due to their parents’ employment.

“The event was important because we want to provide opportunities through the collaboration with Health Education England.

“It shows these young people the many career opportunities the NHS can provide globally. It was also a chance to engage them in thinking about university and how this can enhance their lives.”

Representatives from the North West Ambulance Service, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, and the Armed Forces ran the interactive sessions.

One of the attendees was 13-year-old Saskia Mallon from Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School in Accrington who said, “The handwashing and infection control workshop was my favourite activity as it was more practical and engaging.

“You can physically see how soap helps to kill germs and prevent infections, which has made me realise how important it is to stay clean and protect people in hospitals.”

The event is the latest of many organised and supported by CMVES who are based at UCLan and who operate as SCiP’s North West regional partner. It allows children with parents in the Armed Forces to access additional support in school to help them progress into further and higher education.

Jack Wackinson, 15, from Baines School in Poulton-le-Fylde, said: “I’ve had lots of fun in all the workshops, but I especially enjoyed learning CPR and taking a tour in the ambulance as it was my first time seeing the inside of one. I’ve also learnt a lot of lifesaving skills today, such as taking a 999 call and giving oxygen to an unconscious person, which is a lot tougher than I thought.”

Claire Tinsley, HEE Development Manager for Vocational Learning in the Regional Education Transformation Team, North West, added: “Inclusion is our purpose, and it was great to work with so many enthusiastic and committed young people and our partners.

“Promoting opportunities to those not always included and showcasing careers across the NHS and Health and Social Care was a pleasure.”

Military Spouses

We recognise life in the military community can sometimes present challenges for spouses to work or progress academically. We work in partnership with welfare services, and the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme and provide information, advice and guidance to spouses looking to return to study or employment.

Case Study: The Lamps Are Going Out

Hundreds of lanterns lit up Preston church as part of special Remembrance Service.

Schoolchildren from across Lancashire acknowledged the contributions animals make whilst serving in the military as part of 2021’s Armistice Day commemorations.

Creative arts project, ‘The Lamps Are Going Out’, saw hundreds of lanterns light up St George and the Martyr Church on Lune Street in Preston for their Remembrance Service.

Pupils from four Lancashire primary schools; English Martyrs in Preston, Catforth, Whitechapel and Weeton, alongside Sir Tom Finney Community High School, highlighted the contribution made by animals serving in the Armed Forces, particularly those who have been awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal For Gallantry. Often regarded as the Victoria

Cross for animals, recipients of the Dickin Medal include 35 dogs, 32 pigeons, four horses, a cat and a rat.

The pupils spent many weeks creating their lanterns ready for the special service. Each one featured drawings made by the children to thank military animals for the sacrifices they make.

The pyramid-shaped lamps were paraded through the church, accompanied by four large puppets of animals recognised as military and emergency services heroes and who have each received the Dickin Medal; World War Two carrier pigeon Mary of Essex, Metropolitan Police horse Upstart, Simon the able sea-cat who served on the Royal Navy HMS Amethyst and military dog Kuno, who saved the lives of British soldiers fighting in Afghanistan.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, the project was organised by community interest company Stories Outside and the CMVES. The Army Welfare Service, Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council were also involved.

Becky Steel, researcher and senior engagement officer within the CMVES, and a military spouse herself, was one of the project organisers.

She said: “We wanted to celebrate the contribution of the Forces community, with a spotlight on animals who don’t have a voice of their own. We spent several weeks working with children to help them not only create the lanterns, but also learn some of the amazing stories of how animals make a difference in times of conflict.

“It really brought a different dimension to Remembrance in 2021. There are currently 1,032 children from military families in Lancashire and we were able to work with many of them, as well as refugee children, to capture their personal experiences of remembrance and reconciliation.”

Local service children and representatives from organisations involved in the Creative Forces Health Careers event

Nana Kissa, a Year Six pupil from Weeton Primary, said: “I’ve learned that if someone saves lives you can never forget them and must remember them.”

Fellow Weeton pupil Alfie Snape added: “I’ve remembered Kuno the dog on my lantern because he was really brave and saved many soldiers’ lives.”

Colonel David Waters, President of the Central Lancashire Armed Forces & Veterans’ Association worked with the schools on the project. He said: “We should never forget the sacrifices made by the parents and grandparents of these children to protect our democracy and the freedoms that we all take for granted.”

mentoring in schools programme for secondary schools.

Participants in the programme support young people to help improve their performance, behaviour and attendance and develop skills.

How to apply

The programme recruits once a year and roles will be advertised online. Recruitment begins in April each year, but you can email an expression of interest to apprenticeenquiries@lancashire.gov.uk

For more details on the mentoring programme, please see page 29.

Each borough, district or city council in Lancashire is unique and they will justifiably provide services to their citizens differently. However, they have a collective commitment to support the Armed Forces community across the county. On the following pages you will find out more about each council, what they have to offer and how they support Forces people in their areas.

Service Leavers

There are many opportunities for educational development for armed forces veterans and we work in partnership with over 60 network members including: Lancashire and District Veterans Association, Army HQ NW, NHS and voluntary, community and faith Sector organisations.

Case Study: Ex-service personnel mentoring in schools programme

As part of its ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, Lancashire County Council recruits ex-Armed Forces personnel to become part of the

Colonel David Waters helping local children to understand Remembrance.

BOOMING BRILLIANT BURNLEY

A big warm Northern welcome to the borough of Burnley and all the good things it has to offer.

After all, we weren’t voted the friendliest town in Britain for nothing!

But don’t let that sunny demeanour fool you, we also mean business. That means we offer everything from world-renowned cutting edge brands and solid investment opportunities, to affordable living and spectacular countryside.

Living in Burnley

The mean house price in Burnley is £106,199, which is 36% of the national average. Not only does your money go further when you live in Burnley, but there is a wide-range of properties at your fingertips. From quality modern newbuilds and contemporary apartments, to quaint cottages and impressive Victorian terraces, there’s something for everyone’s budget and taste.

Working in Burnley

Burnley is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to advanced manufacturing and advanced engineering. In total, these major sectors and all of their sub-sectors account for 7,000 jobs in Burnley –approximately one in every five of jobs in

our town. Our central location in the north west means we are at the heart of the wider regional aerospace and advanced engineering cluster, the biggest of its kind in Europe, contributing £7 billion to the UK economy; a quarter of UK aerospace turnover.

Our growing status as a university town goes hand in hand with our digital jobs success. We rank second in the UK for digital jobs growth. In 2014/15 we

saw annual growth of almost 162%, compared to 2% across Great Britain and 30% across the rest of the north west.

Enjoying life in Burnley

There are plenty of impressive restaurants and bars in Burnley, as well as an array of other leisure facilities. Did you know we are home to a Michelinstarred eatery and a global awardwinning spa, for instance?

Around 80% of our town is rural, providing an excellent quality of life and making it a fantastic place to visit. Whether you’re into windsurfing, hiking, kayaking, cycling, sailing, golf or horse riding, you can do it all right here.

We have six major parks – all of them national award winners and each with their own identity. The best known –our “jewel in the crown” as it’s been described – is the historic Towneley Park and Hall, a popular wedding venue due to its beauty and grandeur, inside and out.

There’s also nearby Gawthorpe Hall, referred to as “the Downton of the

North”, which marks the start of the Brontë Way, a linear walk from Burnley to Wycoller, Haworth and finally Oakworth, near Bradford.

On the moors above the town centre is the Singing Ringing Tree, officially named as one of the top 10 pieces of sound art in the world. Standing 3 metres tall, it is made of galvanised steel pipes which make both an incredible and eerie noise in the wind. You can also enjoy breathtaking views across Burnley and the surrounding Pennine countryside.

And if all that isn’t enough, we also have the Forest of Burnley. One million trees

were planted between 1997 and 2001, creating a 2,000-tree arboretum of 400 hectares. There’s 32km of footpaths, bridleways, sculpture trails and cycle routes to explore, as well as the Leeds and Liverpool Canal which runs through our borough from Reedley Marina to Hapton Boat Yard via the historic Weavers’ Triangle.

The Burnley stretch of the canal includes one of the seven wonders of the British canal system, the Straight Mile, an embankment that carries the canal 60ft above the town centre.

That makes us the perfect place to explore the outdoors but for those who prefer the indoor life we also have plenty to offer, including a range of restaurants, bars and other leisure facilities.

Studying in Burnley

Burnley is a growing university town and we are excited for the journey ahead. The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is committed to offering courses for 4,000 students to study in Burnley by 2025.

We are also proud to be home to Burnley College which offers a sixthform centre, university courses, Themis apprenticeships and adult learning. You could end up making chassis for luxury cars, engines for jets or digital technology used in Oscar-winning films, to name just a few of the exciting career opportunities available right on our doorstep.

And if all this isn’t enough and you fancy a change of scenery, you can hop in the car, bus or train and head out to nearby Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, cities renowned for their culture, shops and nightlife. Or you can make the short journey to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, both within an hour’s drive.

We’re not ones to blow our own trumpet but we like to think we’ve good reason to boast that Burnley has something for everyone.

Burnley and the Armed Forces

Veterans in Communities (VIC) supports former ex-service men and women who have served in any of the branches of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Marines, Royal Air Force, the emergency services (Blue Light) and their families who have or are having difficulties with returning to ‘Civvy Street’ or just want to socialise with like-minded people. VIC offers a range of services and activities include walking, allotments, social trips, helping the local community with small projects, training opportunities, outreach services in local areas, art groups, craft groups, and a choir. More information at

https://veteransincommunities.org/ index.html or ring 01706 833180 or email info@vic.org.uk

Royal British Legion The local Burnley and Padiham branch of the Royal British Legion plays a vital role in helping hard to reach individuals and tackling problems like loneliness and isolation. It is based at The Market Hall in Burnley Town Centre and can be contacted on 07507 760026

Burnley FC in the Community support the local veteran community in Burnley with a range of programmes including fitness, breakfast clubs, football, social sessions and Eco workshops. There are also opportunities to gain qualifications and routes into volunteering and employment.

For more information contact Daniella Worth on 07984853407 or email daniella.worth@burnleyfc.com.

Healthier Heroes CIC provides supported living accommodation in Bancroft House in Burnley, and also aims to rehabilitate and reconnect veterans and their families regardless of whether they recently left the army or left a long time ago.

Using lived experience and its person-led approach, Healthier Heroes are striving to help veterans and their families overcome barriers that restrict aspects of their lives.

www.healthierheroescic.co.uk

01282 966730

BLACKPOOL

and local people to support the learning, well-being and opportunities available for all people in the town.

Armed Forces Community

In Blackpool we’re proud of our historic links with the Armed Forces. Over the last ten years, we have increased our efforts to welcome and support service personnel.

In October 2011, Blackpool Council signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a commitment of support between the civilian community and the Armed Forces. It is Blackpool Council’s way of acknowledging our historic relationship and ensuring service personnel aren’t disadvantaged by their service. We have

Blackpool needs little introduction. Loved and visited by millions, it occupies a unique place in the hearts and minds of the British people.

With a magnificent seafront, the biggest portfolio of visitor attractions outside of London, and a hugely impressive programme of shows and events all-yearround, it retains its place as the UK’s most popular seaside resort with 18 million visitors a year.

The Council is committed to improving Blackpool’s economy and the quality of life for local people through the delivery of its £1bn+ Growth & Prosperity Programme as part of Blackpool’s economic recovery. This is led by a dedicated team who work closely with external partners and other Council teams.

Over the past decade, Blackpool has shown that we can do things differently. We have worked creatively and built partnerships locally, nationally and internationally to change things in the town for the better. Working on our own and in partnership with others, we have shown that we can make a positive difference to the town and its people. The Blackpool Pride of Place Partnership and its town prospectus are emblematic of our collective drive and commitment to make things better for the town and its residents.

You can see the difference we have made most obviously in the regeneration of the town’s infrastructure and in the new homes we have built. More subtly, you can see it in the growing confidence of external investors in the town, with the new high-quality branded hotels, or the ambitious plans for Blackpool Central.

You also see it in the support directly provided to children, families and adults in need of help, and in the work we do in partnership with other local services

an Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Derek Robertson, who works to promote and deliver a local action plan. The plan is developed with interested groups and services to address local barriers and issues.

There are many organisations supporting the Armed Forces community in Blackpool. Supported through funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund and Veterans’ Foundation, Blackpool FC Community Trust are proud to host a range of Armed Forces programmes within the Community. This includes serving personnel, families, veterans and families of veterans.

Within their sessions, veterans have the chance to engage with other members of the Armed Forces community, providing an opportunity to rediscover the unique camaraderie of serving personnel. This includes coffee mornings, breakfast clubs, walking and running, football and the opportunity to represent Blackpool FC in veterans’ competitions against other clubs in the North West. You can learn more about their offer at www.bfcct. co.uk/programme/armed-forces/

Council Services and Support

Whether you are a veteran, currently serving or are in the process of leaving the Armed Forces, you and your family may need advice and information on issues such as housing, education, employment, training and welfare.

For advice and support on housing and homelessness issues please contact the Housing Options team.

Address: Housing Options. Chapel Street, Blackpool, FY1 5AW  01253 477760

housing.options@blackpool.gov.uk  www.blackpool.gov.uk/ HousingOptions

For help finding work and advice on claiming benefits, please contact Blackpool Jobcentre who have a specially trained Armed Forces support staff member.

Address: Blackpool Jobcentre, Municipal Buildings, Corporation Street, Blackpool, FY1 1EJ

Armed Forces Week

Every year, Armed Forces Week events take place to celebrate and commemorate those who have served and are still serving our country. For information about the celebrations please visit www.visitblackpool.com.

For any other support or information please email the Armed Forces Champion at armedforceschampion@blackpool. gov.uk

Welcome

Chorley is a popular Lancashire market town steeped in history and surrounded by beautiful countryside. Home to over 200,000 residents, you may have heard of Chorley because of the famous markets, splendidly tasting Chorley Cakes or even the satirically portrayed Chorley FM.

But when you visit Chorley, you’ll realise there’s so much to discover. With a bustling town centre, historic halls, pleasant parks, carefree cycling, wonderful walks and adventurous activities, there are lots of things to.

With major motorway and rail links to Manchester and Preston, Chorley is an attractive place to live, work and visit.

Our Vision

Our vision is to be “A proactive community leader, supporting the borough and all its residents, whether rural or urban areas, to reach their full potential through working in partnership to deliver services that achieve the best outcomes for local people and protect vulnerable people”.

We have four priorities to help us achieve our vision which are; involving residents in improving their local area and equality of access for all; clean, safe, healthy homes and communities; a strong local economy; and an ambitious Council that does more to meet the needs of residents and the local area.

Local Economy

Our aim is to continue to make Chorley a great place to live, work and visit. We have recently refurbished the iconic Astley Hall to bring the historic place back to life as visitor attraction and have made a raft of improvements to the famous Chorley Market to make sure it can thrive in the modern day town centre. In addition, we have enhanced the offer at the town centre’s Market Walk to allow local access to incredible entertainment venues and high street favourites.

We have an exciting calendar of events such as the Chorley Flower Show, Chorley 10k and the Winter Wonderland festival which brings thousands to the borough each year and boosts the local economy.

We’re also supporting economic growth by delivering Strawberry Meadows Business Park which will provide space for new or expanding businesses to make Chorley their home. This complements the already successful Strawberry Fields Digital Hub and the ongoing support available from us for local businesses.

Health and Wellbeing

We’re committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our residents. We’re actively investing in local play areas and communities across the borough, continuing our investment in local leisure centres to encourage more people to focus on their wellbeing. We have also delivered a brand-new GP surgery providing a modern, high-quality health facility.

We’re helping even more older people live independently in their own homes for

longer with the development of a second state-of-the-art extra care facility in the borough which provides supported living accommodation for the over 55s.

Finally, we are driving forward our Climate Change Strategy, planting trees and prioritising space for biodiversity to work towards the borough’s target of Carbon Neutral by 2030.

Supporting the Armed Forces Community

We support the Armed Forces Community and have recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise from the nation, that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly. The covenant is a national responsibility involving government, businesses, local authorities, charities and the public. As a borough we’re proud of our long history of support and affiliation with the Armed Forces. To this day, Chorley residents continue to engage with a variety of community projects that have a connection to the Armed Forces, past and present.

Councillor Aaron Beaver is Chorley Council’s Armed Forces Champion and he is supported in Armed Forces Covenant work, by John Hill from the council’s Communities Team. They both represent Chorley Council on ‘The Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub’.

The Hub aims to improve the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant by working with all the local authorities within Lancashire, ensuring the covenant is both understood and honored. The Hub and its partners take on a coordination role, working closely with local authority Armed Forces Champions and lead officers as well as key stakeholders from the public and charity sectors. Outputs are delivered across the following themes – education, employment, health, housing, wellbeing, and welfare support.

Chorley is home to a detachment of Army Reserves and is proud of its local

Army Cadets, RAF Air Cadets and Sea Cadets. We aid veterans through support of local organisations such as Chorley Royal British Legion, Mawdesley Royal British Legion, Wheelton and District Royal British Legion, Chorley and District Ex-Servicemen Association and Chorley Combined Services Breakfast Club. At the Council our Housing Solutions Team gives priority on Select Move for social housing if the applicant is serving in or has formerly served in the UK regular Armed Forces within the last 5 years, which over-rides the usual local connection criteria. This means applications will be placed in B and A-C as determined by the assessing housing officer. They are assessed case by case and the banding assessment date will be backdated to equal their total period of service in the UK Armed Forces (or the service of spouse or civil partner).

Education and Employment

We currently hold the Bronze and Silver Awards in The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), which encourages employers to support those serving, and veterans of the Armed Forces and inspire others to do the same.

The awards recognise our commitment to demonstrate and advocate support for defence and the Armed Forces community; and how we align our values with the Armed Forces Covenant. We aim to make an application for the ERS Gold Award in 2023.

We offer a range of roles within the Council and working in local government can be very rewarding. Each role contributes to helping the community in different ways and we deliver exciting projects to benefit our residents.

If you’d like to find out about Chorley Council and the great opportunities we can provide, visit our website: www.chorley.gov.uk. These opportunities are also advertised via the Armed Forces ‘Career Transition Partnership’.

Honouring Military Heritage

The Borough enjoys the presence and activities of groups such as the Chorley Pals Memorial Trust and the newly established Chorley and District Armed Forces Community.

FYLDE COUNCIL

St Anne’s is prominent for its pier, over 40 seaside hotels, and its miles of golden sands, with sand- yachting a feature year-round. It also hosts several summer events, notably an international kite festival. The Town Hall, formerly the St Anne’s Hydro Hotel, can be found near the pier.

Features of Lytham include the magnificent Lytham Hall, open all year round, its spacious green overlooking the River Ribble estuary and its ancient windmill, recalling simpler days. Lytham hosts an annual Festival of Music featuring major international stars, antique car and bus rallies, and a 1940s weekend on the Green allowing attendees to recall wartime years with costume and equipment.

The Borough of Fylde sits proudly on the coast, stretching inland across the Fylde plain from which it takes its name, and can rightly boast of beauty and productivity in equal measure.

Located just a short distance from the bright lights of Blackpool and Preston in glorious Lancashire, you will find pretty little villages, market towns, fantastic wide open sandy beaches, and great areas for cycling, walking or bird watching. Relax in a wide choice of tea shops, cafés, stylish restaurants, awardwinning boutique hotels, spa hotels and so much more. Fylde is a golfer’s paradise with renowned courses and the area is also home to many music and cultural events throughout the year.

World-class businesses across aerospace, manufacturing, tech, retail, and hospitality have chosen Fylde to springboard their business growth. Fylde fuses a highly skilled work force, strong visitor economy, and property and land opportunities with a wealth of business support, funding, and expertise. The Fylde coast achieves a high work/life balance score, essential for attracting and retaining calibre talent to businesses. The region not only enjoys stunning natural beauty across its coastline,

towns and villages but promotes a healthy and aspirational lifestyle.

The Borough comprises three towns: St Anne’s on the Sea, a prime holiday resort, the old town of Lytham dating back to the Domesday Book, and the ancient market town of Kirkham.

The historic town of Kirkham is well worth a visit, with numerous Grade II listed buildings, vibrant communities, and a bustling market held on the second Saturday of every month. Currently, the town is undergoing an ambitious regeneration project to revitalise the Market Square, Poulton Street and Preston Street under the Kirkham Futures programme.

There are also many beautiful villages such as Staining, Wesham, Freckleton and Clifton where great pubs and eating houses abound. It is significant that, in recent years, Fylde has won over 30 awards from Britain in Bloom, including a Champion of Champions for Lytham.

There are many local golf clubs, headed by the Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Club which hosts the international Open Golf competitions and several other major events.

The RNLI host lifeboats at St Anne’s and Lytham. Particularly poignant is the memorial on St Anne’s promenade to the 13 crew of the St Anne’s lifeboat, all of whom were lost in attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Mexico, a foundering freighter, in December 1886.

New roads in St Anne’s are named after the crew and their signs marked with a lifeboat symbol. Similarly, others named after those on the war memorial are marked with a poppy.

Fylde has several military connections which continue to prosper. The village of Weeton contains Weeton Barracks and training area which houses regular services members and their families, recently the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment which exercised the freedom of the borough in recent years. Within the barracks is a primary school, small shop and families centre.

BAE is a major employer at Warton where aircraft such as the Typhoon are designed and built with several RAF members joining a work force of over 3,000.

A full-sized Spitfire replica is located at Fairhaven Lake, commemorating the many sacrifices made by air forces over the years. The Fylde Spitfire Display team is based at Blackpool Airport which shares space with our larger neighbour. Most secondary schools host Cadets, with Sea Cadets being self-contained at a Lytham base.

An annual feature is the St George’s Day parade through Lytham in April with associated events that raise good sums for service and local charities. Both Lytham and St Anne’s host ex-

services clubs and both towns enjoy strong Royal British Legion Association branches, together with the Royal Air Force Association of South Fylde. The recent Poppy Appeal raised over £60,000 in Fylde.

Fylde is blessed with several beautiful war memorials, the one at Staining village being unveiled recently. A remembrance pathway was recently made to complement the war memorial in Kirkham. In Witch Wood, a treasured beauty spot, lies a commemorative bench to local Sergeant Nigel Coupe, killed in Afghanistan in recent years, while in World War One, King Edward VII school (now AKS) suffered the greatest number of officers killed of any UK public school.

Contact

through listening@fylde.gov.uk or

PENDLE

here over 400 years ago were part of Britain’s biggest witchcraft trial. The fascinating true story of the Pendle Witches is told in “stone” at the Pendle Sculpture Trail through ten ceramic plaques and on the Trail of the Pendle Witches - a driving trail of 45 miles from Pendle to Lancaster.

Hello and a very warm welcome to Pendle!

Located in North East Lancashire and covering an area of 169 square kilometres, we are famous for our warmhearted welcome. And this is not all we are famous for. Situated on the southern edge of the Yorkshire dales and in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, our stunning countryside appeals to walkers and cyclists alike.

The iconic Pendle Hill offers breathtaking views. A climb to its summit so inspired George Fox in 1652 that he set up the worldwide Quaker Movement.

Our heritage excites and fascinates our visitors. The Pendle Witches who lived

We are also a diverse area offering some of the best events in the UK, including the award-winning Blues Festival and the Pendle Walking Festival.

Pendle’s History

We have a great history, waiting to be uncovered.

During the Bronze Age, Pendle was part of a trade route between the Yorkshire coast and Ireland. Remains of burial grounds along with various artifacts have been found along the route.

In the early 18th century, woollen textiles were an important domestic industry, replaced by cotton by the end of the century, when the Leeds and Liverpool Canal – the longest canal in

Britain and with the famous mile tunnel - allowed easy transport of raw cotton from Liverpool. More recently, industrial diversification added engineering, including Rolls-Royce at Barnoldswick, where you can visit the one of the last remaining working mill engines, and the manufacture of furniture, carpets, and plastics. Much of the area is rural, and agriculture plays an important role.

Famous People

Pendle’s history is lit up by a number of famous people, including George Fox, whose vision on Pendle Hill inspired him to set up the Quaker Movement; Sir Jonas Moore (1617) who became a leading practical mathematician, surveyor, cartographer, Ordnance Officer, courtier and patron of astronomy. He rose from humble origins to be awarded a knighthood, gained membership of the Royal Society and won favour at the court of Charles II; Wallace Hartley, born in Colne in 1878 - the heroic bandleader of the ill-fated Titanic; and Eric Knowles, a renowned TV antiques expert. The area has also inspired others, including the famous Brontë sisters.

Stunning Countryside

For those that love the countryside, we are situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with lots of great walking  and cycling routes. These include The Pendle Way - a 45-mile circular walk split into eight distinct sections, and the Pendle Cycle Tour - a 17-mile on-road cycle route.

Great Towns and Villages

Our walking and cycling routes wend their way through a beautiful landscape dotted with lively towns and picturesque villages just waiting to be discovered, including Trawden, named the ‘Best Place to Live’ in the North West of England. Pendle’s three main towns are Nelson, Colne and Barnoldswick.

Colne is an ancient market town steeped in history - parts of the parish church date back to the 11th century. It is also the birthplace of Wallace Hartley (band master on the Titanic) and home of the world-renowned Great British R&B Festival.

Colne, along with Nelson, was at the heart of the Lancashire cotton industry and there is still much evidence in the town. Colne has many shops, an indoor and a lively outdoor market.

Nelson was originally two villages, Little Marsden and Great Marsden. However, the advent of the railways in the late 19th century resulted in the new town of Nelson being given its Town Charter

by Queen Victoria. There was already a Marsden on the railway network in the neighbouring county of Yorkshire, so the new railway station was called the Nelson Inn, Great Marsden, after the adjacent public house and inn, the Admiral Lord Nelson Inn. The name stuck and the town of Nelson was born.

Nelson grew up as an industrial town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its economy being mostly based upon the textile industry (mainly cotton weaving). It was also associated with the production of confectionery, including Jelly Babies and Victory Vs.

Barnoldswick was recently crowned one of the leading high streets in the country. The Great British High Street national competition recognised Barnoldswick’s unique retail offer. It was only one of seven towns in Britain to achieve this accolade. The town, affectionately known as Barlick, is steeped in history and can trace its history back to the Vikings.

The town, like many around this part of Lancashire, got a name for textile manufacture - and there are still proud examples of the mills about - like Bancroft Mill, now a museum. The Mill is just one of the many points of interest on Barnoldswick’s popular Stream and Steam Trail. The town has not rested on its laurels and is now home to many non-textile companies such as Rolls Royce and Silentnight. The shops in the town often have a more individual flavour than most, and Barnoldswick itself hosts many events throughout the year, including Barlick Beach, and lots of great family events at Thornton Hall Farm.

Transforming our Industrial Heritage

Northlight in Brierfield is where Pendle’s iconic past and innovative present collide to create a unique new way to experience life.

Built in 1832, this former cotton mill (Grade II listed) and local landmark is being regenerated at a cost of £32million into one of the most exciting developments in the North of England to create a new learning, living, working, leisure and cultural destination, as well as hundreds of new jobs. It is now home to Lancashire Adult Learning, providing learning opportunities for all adults across the region.

Barnoldswick © Andy Ford

As part of the Government’s Levelling Up Agenda, Colne is one of only 12 places in North West England to win a share of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and will receive £6.5m which will be used to develop a range of projects for this historic market town.

Leisure & Cultural Activities

Pendle has a lot to offer for those active amongst you. Three swimming pools, Seedhill Athletics Track, Steven Burke Cycle & Sports Hub, football, cricket and rugby pitches, numerous parks – seven awarded Green Flag status. The Leisure Box situated at Northlight offers indoor and outdoor sports pitches, a climbing

wall and a dance studio. And if you do want to take it easy, there’s an amazing facility, the Inside Spa.

For theatre goers, we have the Pendle Hippodrome and Colne Muni offering a range of entertainment. And not forgetting the Pendle Heritage centre museum and walled garden.

Supporting our Armed Forces Pendle is committed to fulfilling the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant which we signed in 2012 and re-signed in 2016. The Council’s Armed Forces Champions are proud of the work we do to support our Armed Forces community.

Pendle employs an Armed Forces Lead Officer who is responsible for delivering on our Armed Forces Covenant and supporting the Pendle Armed Forces

Covenant Group has a website to aid all current and former servicemen and women and their families with a wide

Our Covenant work was recognised by the Ministry of Defence in 2020 when we were awarded the Employee Recognition Scheme Silver award.

A member of our Covenant Group, the Armed Forces Support Group (a community group of volunteers) supports our local Armed Forces personnel, and their families, past and present, as well our local Cadet Units.

Northlight © Andy Ford

Cllr Kevin Salter Cllr Neil Butterworth

THRIVING IN LANCASHIRE

live, work and thrive as a member of the Armed Forces community. Lancashire has a long and proud history of service in the Armed Forces and our monuments and museums are testament to the sacrifices Lancastrians have made in conflicts throughout history and across the world. We want to honour that living tradition, be a leader in Lancashire, and deliver on our promises under the Armed Forces Covenant.

We originally signed the Covenant in 2013, re-signing and renewing our pledges in 2022 as part of our Armed Forces Day celebrations. We have since

© Mark D Bailey, Shutterstock.com

© Steve Allen, Shutterstock.com

introduced several new projects – such as the amazing schools mentoring programme – and secured substantial funding and investment to meet our commitments.

We serve our Armed Forces community as a provider of vital public services and, through the Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub, we are improving how we reach out to veterans, tailoring services that work for them and their families. We are focused on health and wellbeing, employment, education, skills, and training, and partnering with the NHS, district and unitary councils, service charities, social enterprises, and other grassroots groups to support service people.

We help Lancashire’s schools to support service children and work with training and skills experts to ensure ex-service personnel can join our workforce and grow the Lancashire economy. Our Armed Forces and Veterans Champion, Councillor Alf Clempson (a former Scots Guardsman), is working to make it easier for service families to place their children in Lancashire schools and supports local Armed Forces groups and charities through his Champions Fund.

We are one of the nation’s bigger employers and strongly support members of the Armed Forces community who work for the county council. In 2020 we were honoured to receive the Ministry of Defence’s Employee Recognition Scheme’s Gold Award in acknowledgement of our efforts to

support our Defence workforce. We also want more service leavers to come to work for us. Lancashire County Council is proving its commitment to the Covenant through continued investment as the Hub’s main funder and providing awareness training to frontline staff serving at councils across Lancashire.

© Ian Cramman, Shutterstock.com

Major M J Owen, 4th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, presents County Councillor Alf Clempson with the Ministry of Defence’s Employee Recognition Scheme Gold Award, alongside Ian Barber of the Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub

(left) and Lancashire County Council policy manager Kieran Curran (right).

The county council has also advised government on the new Covenant Duty, which strengthens the Covenant and ensures that councils must give due regard to service people in the delivery of public services, especially in the areas of health, housing, and education. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Councillor Clempson and others at the council, Lancashire will take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the new Duty. Like his counterparts across the county, our Champion is heavily involved in helping members of the Armed Forces community, ensuring that no one suffers disadvantage because of their service, intervening in cases on their behalf, and giving everyone equal access to government support.

Lancashire is delivering on its pledges to the Armed Forces community. We want to build a future where veterans and their families are welcomed and supported to be the best they can be. We hope all residents and businesses in Lancashire will join us on this vital journey.

Ex-Service Personnel Mentor in Schools Programme

Since its inception in 2013, Lancashire County Council’s Ex-Service Personnel Mentor in Schools Programme has supported 88 veterans from all branches of the Armed Forces to mentor pupils in 46 secondary schools across Lancashire.

Our Mentors have a tremendous impact on pupil attendance, inclusion, and progression. Each year we recruit between 10 to 12 veterans to mentor young people in Years 9 to 11 (typically students aged 13 to 16 years of age). During their 12-month fixed-term

contract, Mentors undertake training while supporting pupils. The entire programme has received 3,209 referrals and Mentors maintained their support to pupils throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, either online or via socially distanced group sessions. Our Mentors also support teachers by getting involved in all aspects of school life including helping with interest groups, clubs, and trips. While there are other agencies supporting pupils in schools, feedback tells us that the Mentoring programme has contributed to better outcomes for young people.

Our Mentors, supported by the council’s Skills, Learning and Development Team, undertake a range of nationally recognised qualifications which are reviewed every year. This year, our Mentors will study for the Institute of Leadership and Management’s (ILM) Effective Mentoring Level 3 qualification, as well as courses on Information, Advice and Guidance, Youth Mental Health First-Aid, Safeguarding, Autism, ADHD, Learning Disability Awareness, Communication, and school and council induction training. Mentors will be offered placements across the council towards the end of their contracts to encourage longer-term employment within the organisation. For the first time, this year’s intake was opened to spouses and partners of veterans and serving personnel. We

hope this extension to the programme will enhance our offer to Armed Forces community across the county. This outstanding scheme is making a real difference to both young people and the Ex-Service Mentors and feedback from schools and mentors alike is extremely positive. Most of the Mentors go on to further training or employment as a direct result of the scheme, with some training to teach and many employed in education or roles within the council.

“Thank you for all your help and support. Without being given the chance on the scheme I wouldn’t be where I am today. Three years ago, both my wife and I were out of work. Now my wife has passed her degree and we are both in employment. All down to being given the chance by Lancashire County Council.”

“This excellent opportunity to use my transferable skills from the military resulted in a full-time permanent position in the school I was assigned to… The personal satisfaction, support from those around you and seeing such positive change in the direction of a young person is immeasurable.”

LANCASTER DISTRICT

Morecambe is set within Morecambe Bay’s spectacular coastline with promenade walks and views across to the Lake District and in 2018, the Eden Project revealed its design for Eden Project Morecambe on the seafront, in partnership with the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Lancaster University, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster City Council.

Culture and Leisure

Lancaster District is a combination of city, coast and countryside, well linked together by the Bay Gateway, and has great access to the M6 and rail networks.

One of England’s Heritage Cities, Lancaster is diverse, vibrant and creative, with a fascinating history including a castle, and lots to do and explore.

Heysham is a ferry port, and a seaside village with beaches, woodland, and open grassland. It is home to the ruin of St Patrick’s Chapel, overlooking Morecambe Bay and its stone-hewn graves that are thought to date from the 11th century.

Carnforth is a great base for walkers and cyclists who want to explore the area. It is famous for iconic train station scenes in the 1945 classic film, Brief Encounter, and the Carnforth Station Heritage Centre was the winner of a 2019 tourism award.

The Lancaster District has a fantastic voluntary and community sector, including Lancaster CVS and Bay Volunteers who are well linked with key organisations who are well placed to link people to opportunities and support. It boasts a number of entertainment venues, including the Duke’s and Grand Theatres in the heart of the city; Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University; the Platform, Alhambra and Winter Gardens in Morecambe; and a number of other theatre, live music and cinema venues. The City, Maritime and Cottage Museums and the Judges’ Lodgings explore the district’s rich and fascinating stories from Roman times to today, whilst Morecambe and Heysham Heritage Centres showcase their maritime history and the legacies of those who have lived and worked in the bay. There are a number of annual festivals across the district, with themes from music and art, to sport and heritage.

© Tony West

© Jon Sparks

Wheelchair Rugby Paralympian gold medallists, Stuart Robinson and Ayaz Bhuta, both veterans, train at Lancaster City Council’s Salt Ayre Leisure Centre. As part of the GB wheelchair rugby team, they beat the national American team. If someone is still serving in the Armed Forces, Salt Ayre Leisure Centre can offer them a corporate membership.

Economy and Employment

From two universities, a University Hospital, and art and brewing, to nuclear energy facilities at Heysham, the district

has a diverse economy and employment opportunities. The growing digital and innovation sectors are attracting many newcomers to the area.

Education & Health

Together with a wealth of early years provision, primary, and secondary schools, including grammar schools, our district has Lancaster and Morecambe College situated between Lancaster and Morecambe, and the Universities of Lancaster and Cumbria (Lancaster Campus), and so boasts a vibrant student population. Local GP services, Bay Medical Group and Lancaster Medical Practice are veteran-friendly practices.

Making Lancaster District your home

Lancaster District offers a range of quality housing stock from city centre pads for busy professionals and students, to roomy family homes in urban and rural locations.

The district is lively and welcoming with a range of busy bars and coffee shops; cultural assets such as museums, theatres and galleries; and a great range of high street shops, high-quality independents and bustling markets. Its all-age vibrancy attracts discerning families and individuals looking to

participate in the vast community networks of interest around the district, and to take advantage of the extensive outdoor leisure pursuits afforded by the stunning coastline and sweeping countryside surrounding the city.

The golden expanse of Morecambe’s beach and its elegant Promenade are perfect for out-of-hours downtime, whilst the district’s welcoming parks, including the scenic Williamson Park, offer the perfect spaces for relaxation and enjoyment. With two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the doorstep too, there is plenty of opportunity to take some time out to explore the natural beauty of the countryside at your leisure.

© Diana Jarvis

© Dan Tierney

© Robin Zahler

Lancaster and the Armed Forces

Lancaster City Council is a Gold Employer Recognition Scheme Award holder and is committed to the Armed Forces Covenant. It works in partnership with the Armed Forces community both internally, and within the wider district through the district’s Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Group, to improve access to services, remove barriers to inclusion and promote the Covenant. The council provides time, and supports city council staff employed serving as reservists and cadet unit leaders.

From September 2022 to February 2023, The King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum Trustees, with thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, have been working in partnership with Lancaster City Museums to bring The Hinge of Fate: Living with Uncertainty in 1942 exhibition to the Special Exhibition Gallery of The City Museum, Market Square, Lancaster. This told the story of both the soldiers of the regiment and families on the ‘Home Front’ in Lancaster during the darkest days of the Second World War. It ran in parallel with the King’s Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment Museum’s permanent gallery in The City Museum (Entry will be free). There will also be a series of other events throughout Lancaster and the surrounding area, along with a dedicated heritage trail which will have a particular focus on wide participation, and which will include film

making workshops, music and dance, cooking (and eating) the 1942 way, making light art, life as a refugee, and come the 11th November, Remembrance.

Lancaster has a Military Heritage Group www.lmhg.org.uk. There is First Light Trust, Lancaster Café Hub, that supports all those who served in the Emergency Services and Armed Forces and their families with advice and other activities www.firstlighttrust.co.uk. There are also active Royal British Legion branches in Lancaster and Morecambe.

Lancaster is the home of Alexandra Barracks Army Reserve Centre situated at Caton Road which currently has four units: Royal Logistic Corps 381 (Lancaster) Squadron RLC, 156 Supply Regiment RLC; Army Medical Services C Squadron 208 Field Hosp; University Officers’ Training Corps North West Officer Training Regiment – Lancaster; and Infantry, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, B Company. In June 2022, the Halton Training Camp in Lancaster was officially opened as the Army’s brand-new Adventurous Training facilities said to mark the start of a new era for the Joint Service Mountain Training Wing of the Army Adventurous Training Group.

Morecambe Football Club’s Charity, MFC Community Sports, held its inaugural Armed Forces Veterans’ Coffee Morning in December 2021 at the Mazuma Stadium. The popularity of the coffee morning has enabled them to continue to take place once a month at the stadium,

with record numbers attending in August. The Football Club signed the Armed Forces Covenant in November 2021 and is a member of the Lancaster District Armed Forces Covenant Partnership. The Club also host at least one Armed Forces Recruitment event per season at the Mazuma Stadium on the matchday closest to Remembrance Day. MFC Community Sports, in partnership with Lancaster City Council, provide Walking Football in Regent Park, Morecambe, which is free and welcomes veterans. The Charity is also working with a group of Veterans who want to become volunteers for the charity to work on community projects.

Westfield War Memorial Village is a unique, small community that offers a range of quality, affordable, rental accommodation to the Armed Forces Community, both veterans and serving. It does this in an attractive setting. It promotes a supportive community with a collective spirit based on a shared experience of service to the Crown and where individuals in need are given advice and assistance. Respect for the village’s military heritage and the service of its residents is an important part of the life of Westfield.

For more information about Lancaster District visit www.exploremorecambebay.org.uk, www.visitlancaster.org.uk, lancaster.uk.com and www.lancaster.gov.uk

© Jon Sparks

PRESTON CITY COUNCIL

Preston City Council – The Proud City where everyone matters!

Preston is a friendly, exciting city, welcoming everyone to live, work, study and invest.

Situated on the north bank of the River Ribble in Lancashire, the city is the administrative centre of the county of Lancashire and the wider City of Preston Local Government district.

Preston is extremely proud of its city status, obtained in 2002, where it became England’s 50th city in the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

The University of Central Lancashire [UCLan] is situated right at the heart of the city and is home to a thriving international community of over 38,000 students and staff, currently ranked 89th in the UK in the Complete University Guide for 2022.

Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building, or you may have heard it referred to as ‘the Preston Model’, wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone, including members of the Armed Forces Community.

In 2021, Preston was named in the Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index as the highest performing city in the north-west, for the second time. It scored above average across a number of categories the public think are most important when it comes to economic wellbeing - including the availability of jobs, a positive work-life balance, the skills of the population and the variety of roles on offer.

Preston City Council is a proud supporter of the Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces Covenant Hub which is situated within Preston at the University. The Local Authority signed

the Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2012 and was awarded the AFC Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award in 2022.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served, and their families, are treated fairly. This commitment is made in recognition of the sacrifices they make on behalf of the country.

Preston is proud of its military connections. Many people from the city serve in the Armed Forces and Preston is also home to Fulwood Barracks. The barracks houses the Lancashire Infantry Museum as well as being a working barracks, which currently remains open until 2027.

Veterans and current Armed Forces personnel are honoured with an annual Remembrance Sunday service at the recently restored Cenotaph on the Flag Market, enabling Preston to pay its respects to those soldiers who have died in conflict. Preston City Council also supports Armed Forces Day, with a flag-raising event and service each year, attended by the Mayor and local regiments (4 Lancs and 3 Med), showing the city’s solidarity with current serving personnel. Preston is also

The city council are working towards ensuring that all front-line staff receive the ‘One Voice’ training to provide council staff with an overview of what the Armed Forces Covenant is, have deeper insight into the Armed Forces Community, where they may need support and to explore how public sector workers can help the community further.

home to Kimberley Barracks, HQ of 4th Lancashire Battalion.

Preston City Council employees who attend volunteer Reserve Forces Training Camp or who volunteer as Special Constables or Retained Firefighters are granted extra leave to assist them in carrying out these duties.

The city council is committed to supporting our Armed Forces personnel and families through a wide range of housing options too. Support is given to prevent homelessness when facing housing / accommodation issues after leaving the Armed Forces. Priority will be given on our housing waiting list through our choice-based letting scheme, Selectmove.

Since signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012, Preston City Council has created a local Armed Forces Network Group to promote the covenant and share information. across the city.

The city is also home to Preston North End Football Club, a founder member of the Football League. The PNE Forces programme is an initiative run by Preston North End Community and Education Trust which is open to anyone who currently or has previously served in the Armed Forces.

The initiative includes football and social sessions designed to allow forces members, both past and present, a way to keep active while forming new relationships with like-minded people. Preston is also home to several parks, nature reserves and open spaces across the city, many of which have national Green Flag Award status.

Avenham and Miller Parks are Grade II listed Victorian parkland located in the middle of the city centre and less than 10 minutes from Preston’s rail and bus stations. The award-winning parks are set by the River Ribble with many features and historical points of interest such as Derby Walk, the Italianate Terrace and the Japanese Rock Garden.

Within Ashton Park, there is a private walled garden which is home to ‘Dig In North West’ where members of our Armed Forces - serving or veteran, regular or reservist or members of any Blue Light Service - are welcomed to join in with gardening, carpentry, photography, a chat, and even a brew or two.

The Preston Guild Wheel is a 21-mile walking and cycling route, encircling Preston and providing a link from the city to the countryside. You can join the route

at any point along the way, which is mainly off-road and traffic free, providing a scenic and safe cycling and walking route for anyone to use.

Preston City Council are extremely proud to receive the AFC Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award for 2022 and are continuing to work with the Armed Forces and veterans’ groups to improve local services for people who are exservice or still serving.

You can find out more about our support for the Armed Forces and how to access advice at the Help in Preston website https://www.helpinpreston.com/ armedforcessupport

Nweeda Khan –Preston City Council

Armed Forces Champion Email: cllr.n.khan@preston.gov.uk

Councillor

ROSSENDALE

Rossendale is an impressive location with its bridleways, rivers, reservoirs and stunning hilltops – just on the fringe of Manchester and the South Pennines. Its rich heritage is evident in the design of its buildings and quintessential mill town centres, which are beautifully preserved and often revered by architectural experts.

Rossendale cherishes its history and culture. There are traditional community groups, museums, and symbols, giving a nod to its past throughout the Valley, famous for shoe-making, textiles and quarrying. Whilst the past remains at the heart of Rossendale, it is continually evolving, keeping current and ahead of times. New developments have complemented and enhanced the existing industries, historic mill towns and environment and there are plans for further expansion in the pipeline. This pastiche of old and new provides the perfect rural setting with the best of city living at truly affordable prices.

Economy and Employment

In 2017 there were 2,590 businesses in Rossendale, including award-winning companies such as Linemark UK Limited, JJO PLC and Slingco Limited. Rossendale’s industrial sector’ strengths

measured by employee jobs are, in joint first place, manufacturing, and wholesale & retail trade, and in joint second place, administrative & support, and human health & social work. Unlike other districts in Lancashire, the borough has a relatively high number of private sector jobs. Unemployment in the borough is lower than the national average.

However, we work hard to ensure everyone is able to access work.

Rossendale Works is a free service that has been designed to meet the needs of local people who have been struggling to get into the workplace, including ex-service men and women. For those looking for work, help is available, including:

• Mentoring and support - working with people to address what may be preventing them from employment, providing a tailored work plan to develop strengths and overcome social barriers. This may include: access to training to boost skills; access to activities and sports to help boost confidence, health and wellbeing; support with job applications.

• Access to work placements and volunteering. Working together with Rossendale Job Centre, eligible participants are matched with local employers who can offer work experience and training opportunities. There is access to free training courses that lead to a guaranteed interview on completion with some of Rossendale’s top employers.

Schools and Housing

Offering a range of properties in a prime location, Rossendale has house types to suit everyone. Find homes with historic features and unique cubby holes, luxury, modern boltholes where you can escape the usual day-to-day activity, or something that will present a valuable investment opportunity in the charming villages around the Valley. Nowhere in Rossendale is more than 10 minutes’ walk from open countryside.

Rossendale has an exceptional and highperforming educational offering too. It has a grammar school, schools with sixth form colleges and schools with specific specialisms. These schools are proactive with the local community and Rossendale businesses to give their students as many opportunities as possible.

Just over the hill, and easily accessed by public transport, the University of Central Lancashire has its Burnley Campus. The campus is home to a diverse community of students from around the world, studying a growing range of undergraduate, postgraduate

taught, postgraduate research and degree apprenticeship courses.

Getting Around Rossendale

Travelling to Rossendale couldn’t be easier. Situated in the heart of England’s North West, Rossendale is centrally located for Lancashire, Yorkshire, Merseyside and Cheshire. There are excellent transport connections for both UK and international visitors with three airports just an hour away, whilst the M65, M62 and M66 bring in visitors from across the country.

Navigating the local network is also simple. The valley has a regular (every 10 minutes) bus service connecting all four of our towns. We have a heritage steam railway, new cycle ways and bridleways that make accessing our countryside easy for people of all abilities.

History and Culture In Rossendale

Museums, including The Whitaker, Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Bacup’s

Natural History Museum and the Whitworth Historical Society Museum, exhibit the Valley’s industrial, cultural and historical heritage. You can explore the area’s industrial heritage and colourful history. One of the more popular and traditional events takes place in Rossendale every August Bank Holiday – the Gravy Wrestling Championships at the Rose & Bowl, Stackstead!

Theatre is a prominent part of Valley life – the Boo is a cultural hub for creative works in Waterfoot and Bacup’s Royal Court Theatre has been standing for over 125 years’ and has an impressive selection of artists, comedians and pantomimes performing weekly.

The combination of history, culture and dramatic landscapes makes Rossendale Valley a haven for photography. The beautiful landscapes, flora and fauna and traditional industrial heritage provide a host of opportunities for even the most demanding of photographers.

Shopping & Markets In Rossendale

Rawtenstall, Haslingden and Bacup offer a wide range of shops, cafés, markets and services, providing an opportunity to sample both alternative and traditional experiences.

With independent shops offering locally hand-crafted goods and good public transport, there is easy access to a wide range of great facilities.

Aside from chain stores, each of the Valley’s towns are filled with local family businesses. The markets host butchers, bakers, local producers, household goods, clothes and gifts.

Each town centre has a high street with an eclectic range of traditional and contemporary shops, cafés and services. All three Rossendale markets have a friendly vibe and sense of community.

Rawtenstall Market, and the social enterprise behind it, recently won a number of awards. The flourishing artisan market has become the hub of Rawtenstall’s community thanks to its ever-growing selection of fresh produce, butchers, fishmongers, delis, general trade, food & drink stalls, artisan makers, bakers and creators.

Rossendale and the Armed Forces

Veterans in Communities (VIC) is based at 12, Bury Road, Haslingden, and is celebrating its 10th year in Rossendale. VIC supports former ex-service men and women who have served in any of the branches of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Marines, Royal Air Force, the emergency services (Blue Light) and their families who have or are having difficulties with returning to ‘Civvy Street’ or just want to socialise with like-minded people. VIC offers a range of services and activities include; walking, allotments, social trips, helping the local community with small projects, training opportunities, outreach services in local areas, art groups, craft groups, and a choir.

More information at https:// veteransincommunities.org/index.html or ring 01706 833180

The Rossendale Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club meets on the second Saturday of the month from 10:00 at Bumbles Café, Haslingden Community Link, Bury Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, BB4 5PG

NHS Military Veterans Service (MVS) specialist psychological therapies service, for British Armed Forces veterans across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. This is a locally commissioned service hosted by Pennine Care.

The team is overseen by a consultant clinical psychologist and includes: clinical psychologists, cognitive behavioural therapists, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) practitioners, cognitive analytic therapy therapists (CAT), psychological wellbeing practitioners, a substance misuse worker and employment placement

MVS has a number of staff who are veterans themselves, or have family

0300 323 0707 or the.mvs@nhs.net

South Ribble is a scenic borough in Lancashire immersed in history, with many notable towns and villages. 110,000 people call the borough home.

You may know us as the ‘Garden of Lancashire’ with a wealth of open spaces and award-winning parks such as the brilliant Worden Park, Hurst Grange Park, and Longton Brickcroft Nature Reserve – all which have retained the prestigious Green Flag Award since its inception in 1997.

With tremendous town centres filled with character, independent retailers along with high street favourites teamed with stunning natural landscapes, South Ribble really is a great place to live, work and play.

Our Vision

Our vision as a council is for South

Ribble to be “A healthy and happy community, flourishing together in a safer and fairer borough, that is led by a council recognised for being innovative, financially sustainable and accountable”.

In commitment to our vision with have four key priorities:

• To be an exemplary Council,

• To have thriving communities,

• To have a fair local economy that works for everyone

• To have good homes, green spaces, and healthy places.

Local Economy

Our aim is to continue to make South Ribble a great place to live, work and visit. We’re delivering key transformational regeneration projects including the Leyland Town Deal, which will see up to £25 million invested into

the town centre, the historic Leyland market, and a new business and skills hub.

We’ve invested over £1 million in the borough’s local play areas so that more people and families can get outside and stay active locally and we’re developing much-needed affordable homes in the borough – the first the council has built in decades – to ensure that people can have access to affordable housing and call South Ribble home.

We are always looking for ways to improve and create spaces for community and commercial benefit. Most notably we have recently completed the £1.8 million Worden Hall project which has transformed the local heritage building into a flexible community-use space with provision for small events and weddings. We also have recently refurbished and re-

Worden Hall

opened the historic Hurst Grange Coach House, offering a lovely venue for the community to use.

We have recently launched a new website, DiscoverSouthRibble.co.uk which is centred around everything the borough has to offer. In South Ribble you can find everything you need, whether it be historical, educational or leisure. Please take a look at the website to find out what you can do next!

Health and Wellbeing

We’re committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our residents.

We’ve recently announced a £13 million investment into the borough’s leisure

centres, ensuring that all residents have easy access to high standard and affordable leisure facilities. We’re committed to ensuring that South Ribble is a place where people can thrive and have access to facilities and activities that keep them healthy and happy.

As part of our commitment to helping our residents, we offer a ‘Leisure Card’ which gives discounts on the use of our leisure centres and their facilities. The South Ribble Leisure Card entitles you to 50% off a wide range of leisure activities including discounted swimming sessions; use of gym facilities; and badminton, squash and tennis courts. Simply visit any of the South Ribble Leisure Centres and bring your proof of identification and

eligibility. Anybody serving or a veteran in the Armed Forces is eligible for the Leisure Card.

Leyland Leisure Centre

We have recently created a brand-new sports facility in Bamber Bridge next to Withy Grove Park which is home to state-of-the-art 3G multiple-use pitches and a brand-new pavilion. Plans for a new extra care facility in the borough is also underway, which will allow people to live longer in their own homes.

Finally, we are driving forward our Climate Change Strategy, planting 110,000 trees and prioritising space for biodiversity to work towards the borough’s target of Carbon Neutral by 2030.

Leyland Leisure Centre

Supporting the Armed Forces Community

We support the Armed Forces Community and have recently re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise from the nation, that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly. The covenant is a national responsibility involving government, businesses, local authorities, charities and the public. As a borough, we’re proud of our history of support and affiliation with the Armed Forces. To this day, South

Ribble residents continue to engage with a variety of community projects that have a connection to the Armed Forces, past and present.

The Council has a designated Armed Forces Champion who is supported by the Council’s Communities Team and we are represented on the ‘The Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub’.

The Hub aims to improve the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant by working with all the local authorities within Lancashire, ensuring the covenant is both understood and honoured.

The Hub and its partners take on a coordination role, working closely with local authority Armed Forces Champions and lead officers, as well as key stakeholders from the public and charity sectors. Outputs are delivered across the following themes – education, employment, health, housing, wellbeing, and welfare support.

South Ribble is home to both Army Cadet and RAF Air Cadet units. We also aid veterans through support of local organisations such as the Royal British Legion Clubs in Lostock Hall & Penwortham, and the nationally recognised Veterans’ Café which meets fortnightly in Leyland.

At the Council, our Housing Solutions Team gives priority on Select Move for social housing if the applicant is serving in or has formerly served in the UK regular Armed Forces within the last five years, which over-rides the usual local connection criteria.

A spectacular tribute to South Ribble’s First World War heroes, the borough has a memorial that remembers 686 men who died serving their country. Lostock Hall War Memorial stands 40ft tall near the Stanifield Lane roundabout in Leyland. The memorial was designed by South Ribble Borough Council officers in collaboration with DP Structures in Nelson, and was craned into place and welded together on-site.

Although more than 50 separate war memorials exist in churches around the borough, the new monument is the first borough-wide memorial and is a poignant reminder of the sacrifice they made for our communities.

Contact details:

info@southribble.gov.uk

01772 625 625

Lostock Hall First World War Memorial

WEST LANCASHIRE

West Lancashire is a very diverse place with bustling towns and big industry as well as small, picturesque villages. It is a mostly rural borough with three major settlements in Skelmersdale, Ormskirk and Burscough, as well as smaller villages and towns such as Tarleton, Rufford, Parbold and Hesketh Bank. The Borough has excellent transport links to other parts of the region, sitting between Manchester and Liverpool and very close to the M58 and M6 motorways, making trips to Manchester, Liverpool, the Lake District and beyond simple and convenient. And there’s always something to do with miles of canals and green spaces to enjoy for free, as well as major attractions like the WWT Martin Mere wetland centre, the National Trust’s Rufford Old Hall and Farmer Ted’s Farm Park.

Our major towns

Ormskirk is a historic market town steeped in history and character. It offers excellent shopping with a mix of high street and independent retailers and a wide range of restaurants, cafés and pubs all within walking distance in a compact town centre. There has been a market here since 1286 and today it takes place every Thursday and Saturday in the heart of the town centre. The 12th century Ormskirk Parish Church is one of only three churches in England to have both a tower and spire, and the only one to have them both at the same end of the church. Edge Hill University sits just on the outskirts of the town and was

recently named Modern University of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. The train station provides direct links to Liverpool and Preston.

Skelmersdale is a vibrant ‘new town’ and has real community spirit. It boasts the beautiful Beacon Country Park among its many green spaces, as well as a brandnew shopping complex. It is also a great place to work, with companies such as PepsiCo, Kammac, Hotter Shoes, DHL, ASDA, Victorian Plumbing and the Coop Bank.

Burscough is a thriving community which lies alongside the major arterial road, the  A59. The Leeds and Liverpool canal passes through the parish, along with the Southport to Wigan and the Preston to Liverpool rail lines. The town centre is home to a number of shops, pubs and the Burscough Wharf development. The Wharf offers an array of independent retail and leisure outlets and eateries. Burscough has

a great agricultural tradition and this sector forms an important part of West Lancashire’s economy with more farms, farmed land and agricultural employment than any of its neighbouring districts.

West Lancashire and the Armed

Forces

The West Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant

West Lancashire Borough Council adopted the West Lancashire Community Covenant at its meeting on 16 October 2013 and the signing ceremony was held on 14 November 2013.

Via this Covenant, we aim to encourage communities, charities, businesses, local government and health care providers to take part in the covenant to support all our Armed Forces living locally. This not only includes supporting personnel, but also their families and veterans, particularly where they have been injured or bereaved. By doing this we recognise

what our Armed Forces have done for us and continue to do on a daily basis.

West Lancashire’s Armed Forces Covenant Working Group

The working group has identified three priority areas which have become the main work strands. These are:

• Education, Skills and Employment

• Health & Wellbeing

• Families and Housing

Each of the organisations look at what they are currently doing and what they can do for veterans in these priority areas Organisations signed up to the West Lancs Covenant include: Chamber of Commerce (regional); Job Centre DWP(regional); Royal British Legion (regional); Age UK Lancashire; Lancashire Care NHS; Lancashire West CAB; West Lancashire Borough Council; SSAFA (regional);West Lancs ARK; West Lancashire Partnership; West Lancashire Community Leisure; Edge Hill University; West Lancashire College and all parish councils.

West Lancs Ark

West Lancs ARK was set up in 2012 to offer services to ex-offenders, the unemployed, the homeless and those with addictions. They also have separate provision for ex-Forces to assist with training, voluntary work, housing and claiming benefits. The team at West Lancs Ark have been nominated for the

Armed Forces Hero category in the Best of Lancashire 2022 awards, in recognition of the incredible work the organisation has undertaken to help veterans.

Armed Forces Champion for West Lancashire: Councillor Andrew Fowler

In his role as Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Fowler:

• Assists the Leader by advising on issues which support and improve access to services for ex-service men and women in the Borough.

• Acts as a Spokesperson to promote the positive aspects of the Council’s work with the Armed Forces.

• Forges and maintains links locally with Armed Forces networks.

• Represents the Council on the West Lancashire Community Covenant Working Group

West Lancashire has a long association with the Armed Forces

The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment 1st Battalion once again exercised their right to march through the Borough in May 2022 after being first gifted the Freedom of the Borough in 2011. The Regiment paraded around the town with ‘flags flying, drums beating, and bayonets fixed’ as they did back in 2011. The ceremonial parade was due to take place in 2021 but had to be postponed due to the pandemic. Many residents of West Lancashire welcomed the battalion

and celebrated the unique spectacle and experience. The 1st Battalion is based in Chester and generally recruits from West Lancashire and the surrounding areas, emphasising the special connection it has to the Borough.

Showing our appreciation

The Borough also observes Armed Forces Day each year, and Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day are always important events in the calendar.

The Armed Forces command great respect within our communities. Up Holland Parish Council recently chose to spend some of its available funds to commission some stunning bespoke benches in honour of those who fell in the first and second World Wars close to the village’s War Memorial.

West Lancashire Borough Council: westlancs.gov.uk

West Lancs ARK: westlancsark@hotmail.co.uk

Birchwood Centre: birchwoodcentre.co.uk/contactus

Skelmersdale Veterans association: alanmooresvasecretary@outlook.com

WYRE – coast, countryside and a thriving community

Discover Wyre – home to 16km of beautiful coastline and stunning countryside to explore. Picturesque towns of Fleetwood, Thornton-Cleveleys, Poulton-le-Fylde, and Garstang, as well as pretty rural villages make up the borough – named after its very own 48-mile-long River Wyre.

Less than half an hour’s drive from the M6 and a stone’s throw away from Blackpool, it’s easy to get here and get about. Poulton has its own train station, plus there’s a tramway system along the coast and good bus routes throughout.

On one side of Wyre you’ll find stunning award-winning beaches with unspoilt coastlines, and on the

other, unforgettable landscapes in the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We’re proud to boast of mouth-watering local food, traditional markets, family attractions, great leisure facilities, theatres, parks, shopping and more.

Wyre has a thriving cultural calendar with events throughout the year including Great Eccleston Show, Tram Sunday, the Fylde Coast Food and Drink Festival and Garstang Walking Festival to name a few. There’s also a great calendar of sporting events including Fleetwood Triathlon, Fleetwood Half Marathon and a weekly Parkrun along the coast.

This year (2022) Wyre Council pledged its continued support for the Armed Forces community by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant. Councillor Peter Le Marinel, a veteran himself, is Wyre’s Armed Forces Champion and comments, “We are proud to reaffirm our commitment to support the Armed Forces community. Since we originally signed it back in 2012, Wyre Council has achieved Bronze and Silver Defence

Employer Recognition Scheme awards. We have Armed Forces veterans working for the council, a nominated council Armed Forces Officer and staff currently serving in the Reserves. We acknowledge not only the outstanding contribution they make to us as a council, but also to their country.

“The Covenant demonstrates our commitment to staff as an employer and also to the Armed Forces community who access our services. We thank serving personnel and veterans and pledge to work with our partners to do everything we can to ensure they are not disadvantaged due to their service in any way.”

There are a number of Armed Forces Community groups across the borough and the Fylde Coast, with breakfast clubs and coffee mornings meeting regularly. These provide veterans, members of the Armed Forces and their families with the chance to get together and chat, enjoy guest speakers and special events.

The borough is fortunate to have a number of Armed Forces outreach project workers, who offer face-to-face advocacy and signposting to an appropriate support service. These outreach workers are veterans who organise walks and other outdoor activities for the veterans community, including their families. A

Facebook

has over 600 members, highlighting events and interests; as you would expect there is some interservice rivalry and banter too!

For more information about Wyre www.wyre.gov.uk www.discoverwyre.co.uk

For information about support, events and services for the Armed Forces Community in Wyre www.wyre.gov.uk/armedforces

To contact the councils Armed Forces Officer 01253 891000

group dedicated to the Fylde Coast armed forces community

40 YEARS ON: lessons learnt during the Falklands Conflict are more important than ever

touch with one another and organised morale boosting parties.

Since 1885, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has supported serving personnel, veterans, and their families during times of hardship, providing practical, financial and emotional support when needed.

In 1982, as men of the Task Force sailed to the South Atlantic, countless wives and mothers faced the grim reality of war for the first time. SSAFA’s nationwide network of voluntary representatives went into top gear to support them. Each announcement of British losses brought enquiries to local branches, asking if men were safe. Relatives were helped with travel arrangements to ports, airfields and hospitals. Branches also put the relatives of men in the Task Force in

As names and addresses of the injured and fallen were released by the MOD, voluntary workers in SSAFA Head Office briefed local representatives in towns and villages all over Britain. As a result, nearly every widow of the 255 men who lost their lives was visited and offered help, comfort and good counsel where needed.

Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said, “Protecting its peoples from aggression is one of the prime responsibilities of any Nation. The United Kingdom was required to fulfil that obligation when forced to liberate the Falkland Islands in 1982.

“Having ensured the population could continue to live in freedom, we remember

the 255 British military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice and the many others who were wounded 40 years ago. It is important that this country understands the critical role of members of our Armed Forces in sustaining the democratic rule of law in this part of the South Atlantic and wherever else they are threatened.

“SSAFA supported serving personnel and their families before, during and after the Falklands Conflict, just as we have done for every campaign over the last 137 years. And we continue to support those veterans and their families still living with the lasting effects of their time fighting for the freedom of the Falkland Islands. We were there for them then and will remain so now and into the future.”

HMS Hermes

A PERSONAL STORY

In 1982 Lesley Farrow and her three-yearold daughter Alice were back home while her husband, Lt Commander Malcolm Farrow, who was on Rear Admiral Woodward’s staff, was fighting in the South Atlantic on board HMS Hermes. She says, “Our letters and parcels took three weeks to get there and the news that I had back directly from Malcolm took three weeks. Whereas in previous wars such as World War II, while there were reporters there, they didn’t have instant communication. The instant news made it all very alive and especially when the harriers were going off and sometimes they didn’t come back.

“A great family friend who lived nearby came to my house each day to answer

the phone, because the phone and the door were going non-stop and I couldn’t answer both. There were a lot of naval families locally so a lot of the people who had family involved were wondering if I had more information than them.”

Thankfully, Malcolm Farrow returned home, but that was the beginning of a very long process for him and many of those on the Task Force. Malcolm comments, “I can sort of remember the drive home a bit, and I can remember looking out of the car window thinking, ‘I can’t get my head round this. Where the hell am I?’ Because my head was in a war zone… but my body wasn’t, and I couldn’t put the two together… And although I didn’t realise it at the time, I completely understand now that I must have been impossible to live with, because I didn’t know what was going on. If you think you need help, if you think things are not quite right, go and talk to someone, go and get help. SSAFA is as much needed now as it ever was.”

Lesley adds, “I think an organisation like SSAFA, can go in and give the support that these people need. When people leave the Fleet or leave any Army, they lose that feeling of being part of a unit and that’s when they can go to SSAFA for support.”

But the story doesn’t end there. Malcolm and Lesley’s three-year-old daughter Alice now works at SSAFA!

On 6th April 1983, 541 relatives of the fallen embarked on their long, sad journey to the Falkland Islands. In the Escort Party which accompanied the bereaved families to provide sympathetic support was Mrs Anne Woodruff, SSAFA’s Senior Social Worker.

At the AGM the following year, Colonel John Ansell, Secretary of the South Atlantic Fund, paid tribute to SSAFA’s voluntary representatives for “their enormous work that goes on quietly, patiently and utterly uncomplainingly, behind the scenes.”

For further information, including how to volunteer for SSAFA, please visit www. ssafa.org.uk. If you, or anyone you know, needs help or support, please contact our Forcesline service www.ssafa.org.uk/ forcesline or call 0800 260 6767.

https://www.facebook.com/ SSAFAOfficial/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ ssafa/

https://twitter.com/SSAFA

https://www.youtube.com/user/ SSAFAForcesHelp

https://www.tiktok.com/@ssafaofficial

INVICTUS GAMES FOUNDATION

“I no longer want to take my life, I want to take it as far as it can go.” Michelle P, Invictus Games competitor. Serious injury or illness can significantly affect a person physically, psychologically and socially.

For those who have served, these injuries or illnesses, whether sustained during conflict or otherwise, can have the additional impact of dramatic and sudden changes to their chosen career or lifestyle, placing pressure on their family or home life.

The Invictus Games Foundation is the only global charity using sports and adventurous challenge as a recovery pathway for an international community of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women (WIS). This pathway provides opportunities for post-traumatic growth: enabling those involved to

reclaim their purpose, identity and future, beyond injury.

We use the Invictus Games and adaptive sports to inspire recovery and showcase the resilience of the Invictus community. Sports recovery is proven to accelerate and reinforce rehabilitation, and participation in an Invictus Games is transformative for competitors and their friends and family.

Beyond the Games, we further help improve lives beyond injury by offering access to international opportunities for sports, esports and adventurous challenge, and building a supportive digital community.

Through sharing best practice and fostering international collaboration, we influence the development of research and knowledge around trauma recovery, rehabilitation, and the power of sport.

Through sports, we change lives, and save lives.

The Invictus Games Foundation is a force for good; influencing progress towards a better future. We change lives and save lives, while shifting people’s attitudes towards disability and mental health along the way.

“They are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. That is something we can all aspire to. You do not have to be a veteran who has fought back from injury to be inspired by the Invictus Spirit.”

The Duke of Sussex, Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation.

Invictus Games further info

Returning from deployment in Afghanistan, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, watched as the coffin of a Danish soldier was loaded aboard for repatriation, alongside three injured British soldiers. That moment had a profound impact on him and, following a visit to the US Warrior Games in 2013 and witnessing the power of sport, he was inspired to create the international Invictus Games to celebrate the unconquered human spirit, and shine a spotlight on these men and women who served.

The Invictus Games is a biennial multinational adaptive sporting competition now involving 21 nations, and 500 competitors. With a focus on participation rather than the medal table, the Invictus Games celebrate personal bests and making it to the start line.

“You could see with the public that not only the people who won the race were cheered. The ones who did not medal but did not quit were cheered. This is the Invictus Spirit.”

Laurentiu Serban, Team Romania.

#WeThe15

We are a proud founding partner of the #WeThe15 campaign, the biggest ever human rights movement to represent the world’s 1.2 billion people with disabilities. With the Paralympics, Special Olympics, Invictus Games and Deaflympics, there will be at least one major international sport event for people with disabilities to showcase #WeThe15 each year between now and 2030.

“These sports events add great value to the campaign and underline the hugely positive impact sport can have on society.”

International Paralympics Committee President, Andrew Parsons.

We Are Invictus

The ‘We Are Invictus’ platform, supported by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, is a free platform for international wounded, injured and sick (WIS) armed forces personnel, serving or veteran,

providing a safe and secure space for the community. The platform provides opportunities for recovery through sports beyond the Games alongside a peer-to-peer support network. Activities range from sports, esports, adventurous challenge, employment, volunteering, speaking opportunities and more. We Are Invictus can be downloaded as an app or accessed via www.weareinvictus.co.uk

The Conversation

We host a regular series of international webinars and conferences, called the IGF Conversation. Our unique experiences and network of nations provide a platform to facilitate contemporary research such as through the Royal Society in London, and offer a timely input into issues, from advances in the treatment of trauma to employment opportunities and the role of families where we, and members of our community, can add real value.

Invictus:Endeavours

Invictus:Endeavours is a grant giving programme from the Invictus Games Foundation to support the ambitions of international wounded, injured and sick (WIS) Armed Forces personnel, serving or veteran to undertake adventurous challenge in their recovery, or establish regular access to sporting recovery opportunities.

“On my own personal level, this journey has meant a lot. I have travelled far outside my comfort zone and challenged what I thought I was capable of, physically and mentally. I’m 100% sure that the expedition was good for me. It’s something I can use for a long time.”

Michael Magill, Denmark, participant in the High Atlas expedition to Morocco, 2022.

www.invictusgamesfoundation.org

https://www.facebook.com/ InvictusGamesFoundation

https://twitter.com/WeAreInvictus

https://www.instagram.com/ WeAreInvictusGames/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/

DEFENCE RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (DRM)

Defence Relationship Management (DRM) partners with organisations throughout the UK, helping them understand the value of signing the Armed Forces Covenant and building mutually beneficial partnerships with Defence. It provides support on employing Reservists, veterans, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and military spouses and improving fairness for the Armed Forces community in the consumer market. It offers advice and support on employing members of the Armed Forces Community, and enables organisations to develop a mutually beneficial working relationship with the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

DRM is always keen to establish strategic relationships with employers, tailoring partnering opportunities to mutual needs and business goals.

The ways we offer support include:

• employment of reservists and support through flexible HR policies

• employment of regular service personnel at the end of their engagements, in collaboration with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP)

The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is the Ministry of Defence working

with Right Management. They are proud to be the official provider of resettlement and have supported leavers of the Armed Forces for over 20 years, as they transition from the military into civilian life. There are huge benefits from registering and accessing the wealth of support CTP offer, from career transition guidance, skills workshops, vocational training and routes to employment.

• employment opportunities for service leavers with more challenging transitions including the wounded, injured and sick

• employment of spouses/civil partners of service personnel

• joint development of skills in areas such as engineering, medical, communications and cyber security

• career opportunities and support for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.

• tackling disadvantages faced by service personnel in the consumer market

This is managed across the Northwest region through the NW RFCA and its Regional Employer Engagement Team. The team comprises four

members covering Lancashire and Cumbria, Merseyside and IOM, Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

The Regional Employer Engagement Director (REED) for Lancashire and Cumbria is Gary Oakford. Gary joined the team in July 2022.

Gary Oakford, Regional Employer Engagement Director, Lancashire and Cumbria

The Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association for the North West of England & the Isle of Man

nw-lan-reed@rfca.mod.uk

www.nwrfca.org.uk

Visit the Armed Forces Covenant website:  https://www.armedforcescovenant. gov.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/ NorthWestRFCA

https://twitter.com/NorthWestRFCA

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ north-west-reserve-forces-andcadets-association/

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

We support serving and ex-serving personnel all year round, every day of the week. Our support starts after one day of service and continues through life, long after service is over.

We provide lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. We’ve been here since 1921 and we’ll be here as long as they need us.

We’re dedicated to supporting not only serving and ex-serving personnel but the whole of the Armed Forces community, including dependants and carers. This includes:

• Serving personnel, or those who have previously served, who have received one day of pay and were aged 16 or over at the time of service

• Reserve or Auxiliary personnel, or those who have previously served

• Those who have served with the Mercantile Marine afloat in hostile waters

• Current or previous full-time members of Allied Civil Police Forces

• Those entitled to the campaign medal issued to the Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force to those giving them direct support or under their command

• Any member of Voluntary Aid Societies who has served full-time and in uniform in direct support of the United Kingdom Armed Forces

• Any British subject (by birth or otherwise) who has served one day in the Forces of an Allied nation during hostilities and received one day of pay from that nation

• Any British subject (by birth or otherwise) who served in a resistance organisation of an Allied nation during hostilities in which the United Kingdom Armed Forces were engaged

• Any person who served in the Home Guard for at least six months, or in a Bomb and Mine Disposal Unit for at least three months

• Any person who was awarded the Defence Medal in respect of service in the Home Guard or in a Bomb and Mine Disposal Unit

We can also provide support for Commonwealth citizens who are residents in the UK as well as past and present members of the Brigade of Gurkhas and their families.

Membership

Wherever you are, whatever you like to do, there’s a branch for you. All our members play a vital role in supporting the Royal British Legion. Members build relationships. They share experiences with like-minded people and have a say in the way we run the RBL by voting through our branch network.  But most importantly, they help us

The Royal British Legion is here to help members of the Armed Forces community.

provide support to the Armed Forces community and their families.

From being at the end of a phone line and visiting veterans in their local area, to holding Remembrance and community events across the UK, our members help us reach those who need us most.

Remembrance

We remember those who lost their lives on active service in all conflicts, from the beginning of the First World War right up to the present day. We also remember all those who have served and their families.

Remembrance honours those who serve to defend our democratic freedoms and way of life. We unite across faiths, cultures and backgrounds to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth.

Remembrance in 2022

From veterans of the Falklands War and Second World War to those who

continue to play a vital role in service to Britain today, we are commemorating military and civilian service through a variety of anniversaries and events in 2022.

Service, the act of defending and protecting the nation’s democratic freedoms and way of life, is rarely without cost for those who serve. Physical, mental or emotional injury or trauma; the absence of time with family; or the pressures and dangers that come from serving, all highlight why the Remembrance of service is so important.

This year we are exploring the concept of service through a variety of anniversaries and events including the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War and the 78th anniversary of D-Day, as well as Commonwealth Day, South Asian Heritage Month and Black History Month.

From veterans of the Falklands war to those in our emergency services who have worked to protect us

throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we commemorate the service of all those in military and civilian services.

Men and women from the Commonwealth have served, and continue to serve, throughout our Armed Forces and civilian services. We will remember their service throughout our commemorations.

www.rbl.org.uk

https://www.facebook.com/ OfficialPoppyLegion

https://twitter.com/poppylegion

https://www.instagram.com/ royalbritishlegion

WALKING WITH THE WOUNDED

Be they mentally wounded, socially wounded or physically wounded, Walking With The Wounded ‘WWTW’ believes those who have served, deserve. Veterans have earned the right to the support they and their families need to function in the wider community. To have their sense of purpose reignited. And to make a positive contribution to society once more.

After life in uniform, the adjustment to civilian life can be tough. For a significant minority, it can be unmanageable.

We’re here for them. Whatever their rank, however long they served. We’re here to get ex-servicemen and women back on their feet. Our employment, mental health, care co-ordination and volunteering programmes play a vital role in empowering veterans to thrive once more.

Walking With The Wounded supports veterans from the practical- getting a job or securing a roof over their head; to the emotional - securing therapeutic help with mental health issues, or alcohol dependency or drugs. As well as sourcing expert advice on legal or domestic problems; or utilising our quick relief fund to source boots or a bus ticket for an interview - the small steps unlocking the big differences.

It’s not easy. We do the gritty but rewarding work of supporting NHS mental health teams, working with police custody suites, homeless hostels, local employers and private therapists to deliver immediate, 1-2-1 support for those who served.

Many of us are veterans ourselves and we are all professionals. Our innovative programmes help the NHS do things it

can’t do on its own and collaboration is at the heart of what we do - which enables us to achieve significant social results that ripple beyond the immediate veterans we support.

Project Nova, created in partnership with the RFEA, is a ‘best-in-class’ programme reducing reoffending of veterans in police custody.

Step Into Health, created in partnership with the Royal Foundation, was the first official employment pathway between the military and the NHS and is now operational in over 100 NHS Trusts.

We are also regenerating communities – such as buying a run-down street in Manchester for £1 as part of BBC DIY SOS’s biggest-ever-build, creating ‘Veterans Street’, including a new office for us to support veterans across the North West.

And our Queen’s Award-winning volunteering initiative OP-REGENuniting our beneficiaries, supporters and corporate volunteers to deliver meaningful positive impacts on local environments.

Our expeditions turn heads but are corporate-funded vehicles to raise funds for what we do.

The reality is, we fulfil an important social need. Re-harnessing skills, reuniting families and keeping veterans who are struggling, out of police cells, off the streets and out of hospital wards - to instead become assets to the community.

Experience has taught us that the sooner we can get involved the better the likely outcome. A small investment early on can save society a huge amount later, because these individuals have a lot to offer.

But economic arguments aside, the fact is, these are people who served.

Which means they deserve our support and respect.

Registered Charity Numbers: England: 1153497 Scotland: SCO47760

Trustees: Richard Turpin, James Hibbert, Flora McLean, Emma Peters, Guy Disney, Damian Beeley, Susan Walton, Luke D’Arcy, Louise Kavanagh, Paul Nanson 01263 863 900 www.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk

@Walking With The Wounded

@Walking With The Wounded @Walking With The Wounded @SupportTheWalk

HELP FOR HEROES

and community they often feel they lose when they leave the Armed Forces.

Since 2007, we’ve transformed the lives of more than 26,500 men, women and their loved ones and we know that many more will need our support in the future.

How do we support veterans and their families?

What do we do?

We champion the Armed Forces Community and help them live well after service.

Why are we needed?

Between 1999 and 2019, more than 40,000 servicemen and women were medically discharged from the Armed Forces. Every day, four more military careers come to an end as a result of injury or illness. For some veterans, the effects of their service only come to the surface in the months and years after it has ended. Recent research suggests that between now and 2025, up to 14,000 individuals may seek our support for the first time. We anticipate most of these will need help to address mental health issues or issues related to the management of their physical health, such as pain management. Many will also be seeking the sense of connectedness

We put the needs and priorities of our veterans and their families at the heart of everything we do, and we take a ‘whole person’ approach to recovery. The combination of services and support we offer – all delivered by our health professional teams – and our approach to recovery, is unique.

Everything we do is to enable those we support to feel: Secure – we empower veterans to feel safe in their homes, comfortable in their relationships and able to face the world.

Healthy – we empower veterans to feel as physically and mentally fit as their injuries and illnesses allow. Purposeful – we empower veterans to lead productive and fulfilling lives and contribute to society.

We partner with every individual we help to agree a combination of support that is tailored to them and in most cases, assign them a dedicated Case Manager. Our wounded and their families have access to:

One-to-one support

We give one-to-one support to veterans and their loved ones for issues related to their physical and mental health and welfare.

• Our Case Managers assess need, identify priorities with each veteran and agree an individual Recovery Plan. Case Managers also offer information, advice and guidance on a range of issues including money, health, housing and benefits.

• Our Hidden Wounds team offers guided support including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling to support common mental health problems that affect quality of life. Together our Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Counsellors and Psychologists support veterans and their families living with a range of mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, anger, and those who wish to change their drinking habits.

• Our Clinical and Medical Services team works with veterans with long-term

physical health conditions such as musculoskeletal conditions, neurological conditions and serious complex injuries. They provide nurse-led guidance and occupational therapy, help individuals navigate health care systems and support them to reengage with their community.

• Our Very Seriously Injured Programme (VSI) supports veterans living with catastrophic injuries who need roundthe-clock care. The programme helps them gain access to appropriate support such as speech and language therapy, financial assistance with carer costs and specialist equipment, so that they can achieve a level of independence and a quality of life that many of us take for granted.

• Our Grants team work closely with our Case Managers and Clinical and Medical Services team when a solution has been identified to relieve, resolve or prevent a welfare or medical wellbeing issue. They may provide financial relief of hardship or provide specialist equipment.

Recovery College

When a military career comes to an end for medical reasons, the future can seem overwhelming. Our Recovery College, cocreated with veterans and their families using their lived experience, is the first of its kind specifically for wounded veterans and their families and offers educational courses that empower veterans and their families to achieve their recovery and life goals.

Activities

> Fellowship

Many veterans and their families suffer from social isolation as a result of their circumstances and miss the camaraderie and stability of the Armed Forces network they’ve had to leave behind. To tackle this and promote mutual support, our Band of Brothers Fellowship provides an opportunity for veterans to meet and share experiences, often around specific, structured activities. Our Band of Sisters Fellowship provides support and events for close family members.

> Sports

Our Sports Recovery Programme is a great way for veterans to motivate and challenge themselves, keep fit and manage their condition. Whether they want to explore a new activity, join a local club or even have their sights set on representing their country again, we can help.

For further information on Help for Heroes, or to get support, visit helpforheroes.org.uk and watch our Help for Heroes film

https://www.facebook.com/ HelpforHeroesOfficial https://twitter.com/HelpforHeroes

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ help-for-heroes/

HELP FOR THE RAF COMMUNITY

The Royal Air Forces Association has, for more than 90 years, championed a simple belief – that no member of the RAF community should ever be left without the help that they need.

So, if you or your spouse served in the RAF, either full-time or as a reservist, for at least one day, then the RAF Association is here for you.

Our services provide practical, emotional and financial support to tackle loneliness, isolation, worry and poverty among all generations of serving and veteran RAF personnel and their dependants.

Every year, we help around 85,000 people, many of whom live in Lancashire. Our projects include: Connections for Life telephone friendship; retirement accommodation; Finding it Tough? mental wellbeing training; Navigating Dementia resources; holiday properties, and bespoke casework support.

Connections for Life

The RAF Association Connections for Life service aims to ease loneliness and isolation among older members of the RAF community by building telephone friendships between volunteers and isolated individuals.

Among those benefiting from the project is Marie Findlay, whose RAF veteran husband died shortly after they moved house in 2018.

Marie (71) said: “Brian’s death was a real shock, and, not having any local friends, I could have easily ended up alone if I hadn’t heard about Connections for Life.”

Within a month of contacting the RAF Association, Marie was getting regular phone calls from volunteer Mal Hodgson, a retired RAF Chief Technician.

Mal (74) said: “Volunteering keeps me busy and helps me to make a real difference to people’s lives.”

RAF Association volunteers come from all kinds of backgrounds and, while an RAF connection can be helpful, it isn’t necessary for working with us.

Connections for Life Manager Sam

Squire said: “The main thing is that our volunteers are happy to chat about a range of topics, and use their conversations to brighten people’s day.”

Our volunteers are asked to give a regular commitment of at least a couple of hours per month, and online training is provided.

Marie Findlay benefits from the RAF Association’s Connections for Life service.

Mal Hodgson is an RAF Association Connections for Life volunteer.

Please get in touch with the RAF Association if you’d like to find out more about volunteering, or you feel you could benefit from a regular chat with someone like Mal.

Retirement accommodation

For people looking to start the next chapter in their retirement accommodation journey, we may have just the place!

The RAF Association’s four beautiful independent-living complexes enable tenants to retain their independence while living among like-minded people sharing an RAF connection.

Each complex features self-contained apartments, available for an affordable monthly rent to RAF veterans and their spouses, widows or widowers aged 60 and over.

All apartments comprise a bedroom, bathroom and sitting area, along with space for a fridge and microwave. With shared lounges, dining rooms and gardens, there’s plenty of space to socialise, too.

We have availability at our properties in Rothbury in Northumberland, Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, Storrington in West Sussex, and Moffat in Scotland.

More information is available on the RAF Association’s website.

Finding it Tough?

If you or someone you care about is struggling to cope with life’s ups and downs, our Finding it Tough? mental wellbeing training could help.

Specially designed for RAF veterans and their partners, along with the spouses, parents, siblings and adult children of serving RAF personnel, our free online course will teach you the practical steps needed for building resilience.

More details about the course are available on the RAF Association’s website.

Navigating Dementia

Research has shown us that many members of the RAF community are experiencing the challenges of dementia, either as a carer or as someone living with dementia.

Our Navigating Dementia website (dementia.rafa.org.uk) offers a wealth of information, and provides links to more specialist help and advice.

Holiday properties

The RAF Association runs several holiday homes where members of the RAF community can enjoy a lowcost break in pleasant and relaxing surroundings.

More information about all of our properties can be found on the RAF Association’s website.

Casework support

We all face challenging situations from time to time, and occasionally we need a little extra help or advice from a professional. The RAF Association’s casework team can assist with anything from applying for an emergency grant to sourcing and understanding specialist information needed to help solve a problem.

If you think we could help you, please drop us a line.

Staying connected

As a membership organisation, we keep more than 70,000 members of the RAF family connected with each other and with the RAF through our local branch activities and the publication of Air Mail magazine.

Although subscribing to the Association brings some additional benefits, membership is not required in order to access our services. So, if we can help you in any way – or you would like to help others by volunteering with us –please get in touch.

enquiries@rafa.org

0800 018 2361

rafa.org.uk

https://twitter.com/RAFAssociation

https://www.facebook.com/ RAFAssociation

Contacting the RAF Association

THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT FUND TRUST

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) supports the Armed Forces Covenant by delivering funding programmes that create real change to Armed Forces communities across the UK.

We are a charity as well as a NonDepartmental Public Body (NDPB). Our sponsor department is the Ministry of Defence. We look after the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, worth £10million each year. The Armed Forces Covenant Fund has four broad funding themes now and in future years.

1. Non-core healthcare services for veterans.

2. Removing barriers to family life.

3. Extra support, both in and after Service, for those that need help.

4. Measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the Armed Forces community to participate as citizens.

We also work with HM Government to run other funding programmes that have a positive impact on Armed Forces communities.

In 2021/22 the Armed Forces Covenant Trust funded over 500 projects to support Armed Forces communities, awarding £25million.

Projects that have been supported so far

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust awards grants through specific funding programmes, each with its own aim(s), often based on community consultation.

Each of our open programmes has its own specific programme guidance, which you should read carefully before deciding whether or not to apply. Our guidance documents explain the eligibility for the programme, and the checks that we will carry out.

If you have existing grants with us we may use information from these as part of our assessment and decision

making. We may also look at how much funding we have awarded your organisation and the proportion of how much funding from us makes up your overall income.

Projects we have funded:

Our Board of Trustees makes decisions to support applications based on assessments our grants team produce, taking into account programme criteria and ensuring a good spread of funded projects.

ARMED FORCES COVENANT FUND PROGRAMMES:

SUSTAINING DELIVERY OF THE COVENANT - 20 Grants totalling £500,000.00

SUSTAINING SUPPORT PROGRAMME30 grants totalling £975,000

SUPPORTING ARMED FORCES IN ACUTE HOSPITAL SETTINGS - 5 grants totalling £569,450

STRATEGIC PATHWAYS - Six grants worth £1,650,752 were awarded under the Strategic Pathways programme, with a further award of £300,000 made to Help for Heroes under the Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, the over-arching fund.

TACKLING LONELINESS PROGRAMME - 60 grants of £70,000 awarded, worth £4,200,000.

ARMED FORCES COVENANT FUND: FORCE FOR CHANGE PROGRAMME - 57 grants were awarded, worth £524,008.00

FORCES COMMUNITIES TOGETHER100 awards made worth £859,739

ARMED FORCES COVENANT FUND: LOCAL GRANTS PROGRAMME - round 1: 32 grants were awarded, worth £526,243 round 2: 27 grants were awarded, worth £452,281

TACKLING SERIOUS STRESS IN VETERANS, CARERS AND FAMILIES PROGRAMME - 8 grants awarded, worth £4,263,084

HM TREASURY FUNDED PROGRAMMES:

VETERANS PLACES, PATHWAYS AND PEOPLE - £7,898,456 to 10 organisations

ONE IS TOO MANY PROGRAMME - Eight grants awarded, worth £2,135,157

VETERANS’ COMMUNITY CENTRES PROGRAMME - 46 grants awarded, worth £2,401,043, including 17 large grants worth £1,761,029.

STRATEGIC PATHWAYS PROGRAMME AWARDS - Six grants worth £1,650,752 were awarded under the Strategic Pathways programme, with a further award of £300,000 made to Help for Heroes under the Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, the overarching fund.

POSITIVE PATHWAYS PROGRAMME AWARDS - 85 grants were awarded, worth £2,965,230

VETERANS SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN PROGRAMME AWARDS - 119 grants , worth £2,044,698 were awarded.

OFFICE FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AFGHANISTAN VETERANS FUND - 17 Grants totalling £595,000

NAAFI FUND - Grants worth £1,199,037 were awarded in October 2021.

You can see details of projects we have funded near you at https://covenantfund. org.uk/find-a-project-in-your-area/

For information on current programmes please visit https:// covenantfund.org.uk/programmes/

Supporting the Armed Forces community through funding real change

Chair: Helen Helliwell; Chief Executive: Anna Wright

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Limited (CRN11185188) acting as the trustee of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund (CC1177627)

Registered Address: 95 Horseferry Road London; SW1P 2DX

https://covenantfund.org.uk

https://twitter.com/CovenantTrust

https://www.facebook.com/ CovenantTrust/

http://www.instagram.com/ armedforcescovfundtrust

FIRSTLIGHT TRUST

Who we are:

FirstLight Trust works to provide a safe route back to independence for those who have left the Armed Forces and Emergency Services impaired by either physical or psychological injuries. For an unlucky few, the traumatic change they sustain leaves them desperately in need of many types of support. FirstLight delivers this by individual introduction to their services through five regional community hubs. These hubs offer a safe space where individuals in need can get to know our members of staff in a safe environment and, as trust is developed, gradually obtain the more personalised, in-depth support that will help them to recover and empower them to live a life of purpose once more.

The Lancaster Café Hub

Visit our Lancaster café hub at 63-65 Market Street, Lancaster LA1 1JG, call us 01524 587068 or email us at lancaster@firstlighttrust.co.uk

We are located at the top of the pedestrian precinct and are open normal working hours.

Here are some of the activities we support or provide:

• Gardening

• Guided walks

• Model making

• Social retreats

• Adventure retreats

• Coffee and chat

• Football

• Quiz Nights

For more information on what activities we have available, please contact the hub or check out our Facebook page.

Who we help:

• Any veteran from the Armed Forces, including Reservists and the Merchant Navy

• Anyone who has served in the Emergency Services

• Any personnel who are about to leave or is leaving the Armed Forces and Emergency Services

How we help:

• Housing

• Making sure you have the right benefits, allowances and pensions

• Supporting you to access the right medical treatment

• Sorting out problems around debt

• Support with dealing with addictions

• Volunteering work

• Writing CVs and getting you back to work

About FirstLight

The problem for many veterans is that they have no idea where to access the services available to them. FirstLight Trust developed its café hub model based on veterans’ needs and requests. In creating an accessible veteran-friendly café hub on the high street we create an ‘easy’ access point. This is backed up by other contact points such as the web, telephone and a UK network of available support - and of course by collaboration with other charities and agencies.

And FirstLight Trust supports all veterans, including: those from the Reserves as well as the Emergency Services; those who have completed one day’s training through to those who have served 30 years or more; those who completed National Service.

Our café hub also supports and provides activities for veterans to get involved in to support their everyday lives, learn new skills and help with integration back into the local community. These are arranged on a needs basis and are varied so as to be able to provide everybody with the best opportunity to succeed.

FirstLight Trust believes that every individual matters, which is why we are on the High Street and operate an Open Door policy. We treat everyone as an individual; we listen, and then we aim to provide the right type of tailored support. This is supported by our hub staff plus our teams of Support and Activity coordinators. Within this safe space, every individual and every cup of coffee matters.

We are a non-profit venture/charity so every penny that gets spent in our hubs goes towards supporting the work we do. Something as simple as buying just five cups of coffee from FirstLight Trust can provide a struggling veteran with a support session or a hot meal. 20 cups could cover the cost for a night’s stay in a B&B for a homeless veteran whilst our team work on getting them the support they need.

Because what we do matters, we have partnered with Redemption Roasters, the very first ’behind bars’ coffee company. By offering education and employment, they have made it their mission to help prison leavers successfully reintegrate into society.

Therefore, every cup of coffee sold at our café hubs not only supports veterans but powers Redemption to support prison leavers to find work as well!

All our hubs have their own allotments and gardens where we reuse the otherwise unwanted coffee grounds from our machines to help them flourish. Gardening is great for our mental wellbeing as it offers physical exercise, which reduces depression and anxiety, whilst offering companionship and support for our clients. Our veteran volunteers often get involved in growing fresh vegetables to supply our hubs with ingredients for cooking. Coffee grounds are a great fertilizer, adding nutrients to the soil whilst also keeping pests such

as slugs and snails away from our fresh produce. We always have plenty of coffee grounds to go around and welcome any local gardeners or community groups to come down and pick some up for their own projects.

Through collaboration and the power of communities, we are dedicated to offering support to those who need it most.

Fund us online www.firstlighttrust. co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/ firstlighttrust

https://twitter.com/FirstLightTrust

https://www.instagram.com/ firstlight_trust/

EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (ELHT)

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is proud to say our hospitals are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Family and wider community. We strive to be an exemplar of the best care for veterans, their families and serving personnel. Patients are encouraged to inform their clinicians if they have ever served in the UK Armed Forces or national service, so that we can best support their care needs. ELHT is committed to learning from our patients and their families to improve quality of care.

ELHT incorporates five hospitals – Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Teaching Hospitals, and Accrington Victoria, Clitheroe, and Pendle Community hospitals. The trust employs over 9,000 people across all sites, and includes numerous community and district teams.

East Lancashire is steeped in military history dating back to the original East Lancashire Regiment circa 1881. The regiment merged over the years with other Lancashire regiments to form the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment and eventually evolved into the current Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

Our catchment area covers approximately 350 square miles and has a patient base of around 500,000. Statistically, it is said that on average, 5% of the population are veterans. That makes it around 25,000 veterans in this area.

ELHT has both an Armed Forces Champion and an Armed Forces Veterans Advocate. The advocate role followed a successful grant application by ELHT from the Armed Forces Covenant and this new project aims to improve provide support to veterans who present at any or all our five hospital sites. It is actively encouraged within the Trust for all colleagues to ask patients, “Have you ever served in the UK Armed Forces, including National Service?” If they respond that they have, this then triggers a referral process and both the Advocate and Champion are notified via the hospital’s electronic patient management system.

We are proud that following a recent audit (Jan 2022 – Jun 2022), 318 Armed Forces Veterans of varying ages (shown in the graph below) have been identified and supported during their patient journey; thus providing safe, personal and effective patient-centred care planning, which is the central ethos of ELHT.

The Champion and Advocate attend all hospital wards to calm and emotionally support patients as well as to promote and develop self-care strategies with a range of tools and resources available. They will arrange to speak to the patient to help identify services and support and enable referrals to a range of military and non-military organisations.

but also external veteran organisations/ charities who can provide support beyond their hospital treatment. This pack is tailored to each individual’s needs and geographical location.

As each patient is visited by the Advocate/Champion, a personalised information pack is given out which incorporates not only how ELHT can support the patient whilst in our care

ELHT is proud to have been awarded Veteran Aware Status in 2021, by the Veteran Healthcare Alliance, for our continuing commitment to the Armed Forces Community. In 2022 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust was recognised and awarded the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.

ELHT supports the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or, who have served in the UK armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. Our commitments are:

• The Armed Forces community should enjoy the same standard of and access to healthcare as that received by any other UK citizen in the area in which they live.

• Family members should retain their place on any NHS waiting list, if moved

around the UK due to the service person being posted.

• Veterans should receive priority treatment for a condition that relates to their service, subject to clinical need.

• Those injured in service should be cared for in a way that reflects the nation’s moral obligation to them, by healthcare professionals who understand the Armed Forces culture.

ELHT has created and developed lasting links not only with local Veteran Organisations and Charities but also national organisations such as Op Courage to provide additional help and support beyond the patient’s hospital journey.

ELHT values the benefits that military service brings to our organisation and actively encourage recruitment by advertising in Civvy Street, Forces Family Jobs and the Career Transition Partnership. 60% of the Trust’s roles are non-clinical - this enables both local and national serving personnel, an employment opportunity in a dynamic NHS trust, following transition from service.

To further promote and establish the Trust’s commitment and services, we advocate support and respect to the Armed Forces community by having displays at the entrances to our hospitals and hold Armed Forces Day events and remembrance services.

www.elht.nhs.uk

www.twitter.com/EastLancsHosp

www.facebook.com/ EastLancashireHospitals

For further information email: armedforcesveterans@elht.nhs.uk or visit

Support for Veterans: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (elht.nhs.uk)

VETERANS IN COMMUNITIES

It’s not about being separate to the experience and community development

Identifying those in need of our service is achieved through regular outreach dropins across the areas we work in, as well as working with other specialist charities, and statutory services such as health

from building planters and sheds, to marshalling events and supporting remembrance activities. Members gain a sense of belonging to their local community, a sense of achievement and of giving back, as well as the opportunity to use and share skills learned during their service.

Our activities, services and support aim to help reduce social isolation, improve self-confidence and self-esteem, support improved mental and physical well-being, and promote a sense of belonging.

The Impact

VIC does not seek to provide therapy, but instead offers services, activities and support that are therapeutic to those participating. We have over 500 members registered at present, and this figure changes as people move in and out of the service depending on their circumstances and needs. On average we identify 12 new members per month.

To celebrate Small Charities Week in 2021, volunteers and VIC members were asked to write why they loved VIC:

• ‘‘The company of like-minded veterans helps with my wellbeing.”

• “They help me when I’m in need.”

• “They save lives.”

• “They have saved my life and always care.”

A common theme across the responses was camaraderie, support, friendship and social interaction.

Charity Number 1151194

Company Limited by Guarantee 8230197

HEALTHIER HEROES CIC

Healthier Heroes

Healthier Heroes CIC provides support to ex-service personnel, their families and carers who are struggling with an array of complex requirements and support, as well as members of the NHS and other blue light services. The support offered to our service users includes housing, education, employment, tackling isolation and health & wellbeing. Partnering with statutory and other third sector organisations, we ensure our service users receive the support they need, using a collaboration approach. From consultation through to delivery, our service users drive us. We pride ourselves on co-designing all our delivery programmes in joint consultation with our beneficiaries.

Andrew Powell is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Healthier Heroes CIC, with his wife Rio. Andrew has 16 years’ military service with both the Queen’s Lancashire regiment and the Duke of Lancaster’s regiment. He has worked with community groups and organisations within the North West for a number of years, with great and amazing success.

Andrew and Rio are very proud and excited to be able to provide their services to support the wider Armed Forces community and blue light services across Lancashire

We are running a programme called UNITE INSPIRE BELIEVE which aims to tackle the complex needs of those who need help. We opened our state-of-the art HQ, Bancroft House in Burnley, in the middle of the pandemic in December 2020. This means we are now able to support the Armed Forces community across the North West. We are very excited to be able to house homeless and vulnerable veterans, as well as those who have left the criminal justice system, that may also be in need of support to help. This will help to stop the cycle of reoffending, while providing 24-hour care and support to those that will be accommodated with us.

Our intervention menu and range of activities are tailored to deliver first-class support in six key areas:

• Physical Health and Wellbeingfitness, nutrition, and outdoor activity

• Emotional Health (feeling) - stress and anger management and bereavement support

• Personal Growth (being) - peer mentoring, education, training, and employment

• Mental Health (thinking)counselling, risk management and mental health advocacy

• Social Health (relating) - social inclusion activity, social events and team building days

• Welfare - housing, welfare and benefits, offending, financial and legal support, and adult social care

Bancroft House, Burnley

Healthier Heroes provide a safe housing environment for veterans via a supported housing programme for those that find themselves homeless and have a range of complex and support needs.

We aim to rehome, rehabilitate, and reconnect veterans and their families, regardless of whether they recently left the army or left a long time ago. Primarily, this is providing supported accommodation at Bancroft House.

We also support veterans who have left, or are still in the criminal justice system. Using a peer-mentoring programme, we help them to rebuild their lives and find jobs. With our combined lived experience and our person-led approach to the programme, we are striving to help veterans and their families overcome barriers that restrict aspects of their lives.

> Location

The accommodation consists of four houses in Burnley, all within walking distance of the town centre with all the amenities required. Bancroft House has 21 double en-suite rooms and in addition, we run three community houses, one with four bedrooms and the others with two. These ‘move on’ properties help transition veterans back into the community.

> Staff

Our homes are fully staffed 24/7. We have seven members of full and parttime staff as well as seven full-time volunteers, that work as additional support staff.

> Referrals and Eligibility

Referrals are accepted directly to us and a referral form can be sent on request. We take referrals from Local Authorities, the NHS, Project Nova, NPS and prison offender managers, as well as other charities and organisations.

All residents must have served in the British Armed Forces, and must be homeless, with no permanent fixed address. We will assess and manage all risks and support required on receipt of the referral form, before agreeing to accommodate the veteran. Unfortunately, we cannot accept couples at this time.

> Support Given/Community Outreach

All residents are allocated a support worker on arrival and work together to create their own individual support plan based on what their needs are, to enable them transition back into their community. We work with all residents

and external partners and agencies, including counselling services, drug & alcohol agencies and support groups, volunteering groups, the DWP and NHS services.

> Community Outreach Support

We provide community outreach to any member of the Armed Forces community across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Healthier Heroes staff will support the whole family in any way we can, from befriending, to offering additional complex support. The staff are also drug and alcohol workers with lived experiences, so are able to support holistically with referrals to drug and alcohol services to help with all veterans’ complex needs.

> Community Support

The project is supported by many Local Authorities, local MPs and local ward councillors, as well as local businesses and many local fund raisers within the community. We have also been awarded funding from The Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund, Veteran Foundation, the National Lottery Community Trust Fund, and many very generous individuals.

UNITE as one - INSPIRE each otherBELIEVE anything is possible.

UK Registered Learning Provider: 10085418

www.healthierheroescic.co.uk

@healthierheroescic @heroescic

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/ 01282 966730

RAF BENEVOLENT FUND

The RAF Benevolent Fund supports current and former members of the RAF and their families, through practical, emotional and financial help.

From relationship counselling to financial grants, we provide a range of services for the RAF Family. Most of our services can be used by both serving and former personnel and their partners and children. This includes one-off grants to help with unexpected expenses such as a broken boiler or home adaptions, respite care and bereavement support.

Each case for financial assistance is considered individually and depends on a person’s financial circumstances. We carry out a full, comprehensive assessment, considering someone’s needs and whether there are other ways we can support them.

We know that life can throw up unexpected challenges. We’re here for everyone in the RAF Family, whenever they need us. Whether you’re a member of the RAF Family, or you’re a caseworker supporting someone in need, we can provide help under our five key areas of support:

1. EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

If you’re feeling anxious, depressed, stressed or overwhelmed, it can be helpful to talk to someone. We provide a confidential Listening and Counselling Service for adults and for children and young people aged five and over, to support you with whatever you’re going through.

We also offer bereavement counselling to those who have lost someone close to them.

Find out more: rafbf.org/wellbeing

2. FRIENDSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS

If you’re feeling lonely or isolated, we can help you to connect with other members of the RAF Family. Our free weekly Telephone Friendship Groups are a great way to make new friends.

We also have Community Engagement Workers on hand to help you get involved in new social activities and opportunities. They can introduce you to new activities and assist you in overcoming any transport issues you may have.

Find out more about making friendships and connections: rafbf.org/friendship

3. FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIPS

We provide free family and relationship counselling, including face-to-face sessions, a telephone or video calling service and a live chat option.

It can be stressful when a relationship breaks down, but you don’t have to face it alone. We can assist with the cost of mediation to support you through a separation or divorce.

Find out more about family and relationship support: rafbf.org/relate

4. INDEPENDENT LIVING

We loan mobility scooters and wheelchairs, subject to an occupational therapy assessment. Orthopaedic beds and riser and recliner chairs can also be funded.

Once your local council has considered your eligibility for a Disabled Facilities Grant, we can assist with the cost of essential adaptations to your home.

We may also be able to assist with the cost of essential property repairs. Our advocates can advise and support you with housing issues, care in your own home or care home top-up fees.

We also offer support for carers including respite breaks and access to the Digital Resource for Carers with tools and advice.

Find out more about independent living support: rafbf.org/independent

5. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

If you’re struggling to cover day-to-day living costs, we’re here for you. We can provide financial support with household essentials, priority bills, funeral expenses and care costs.

For those of pensionable age and on a low income, we may be able to offer regular financial assistance through a quarterly income supplement.

HOW WE HELPED REG

Reg Lawrence, 89, served in the RAF from 1951 to 1954. He is now a proud member of one of our Telephone Friendship Groups. At the same time each week, he joins in a call with up to six other members of the RAF Family, all from the comfort of his own home. These calls are facilitated by a trained volunteer.

Reg says: “I am alone now, no family, no children, and I just needed someone to talk to. I get a great deal of satisfaction from the calls and look forward to the conversation.”

We have also supported Reg by providing him with mobility aids, such as a scooter and a recliner riser chair. These help him to be more comfortable and independent in his day-to-day life.

We may also be able to help with home care or care home costs once your council has carried out a care needs assessment.

Our advisers can provide information on benefits and help you to claim what you’re entitled to.

Find out more about financial assistance: rafbf.org/finances

GET IN TOUCH

The Fund’s support continues to evolve and change. Please check our website for the latest information rafbf.org/help

To get in touch about any of the support we provide please call us on 0300 102 1919

welfarenavigators@rafbf.org.uk.

You can also use the live web chat facility on our website.

https://twitter.com/RAFBF

https://www.linkedin.com/ company/raf-benevolent-fund/

https://www.facebook.com/rafbf/

https://www.instagram.com/rafbf/

FORCES EMPLOYMENT CHARITY

With a stunning track record, the Forces Employment Charity is uniquely positioned to offer long-standing expertise with a modern approach to recruitment. We also increasingly work with families, veterans in the criminal justice system, wounded, injured and sick Service leavers and more through an unrivalled range of programmes and practical tools all tailored to each individual. We offer a unique experience bespoke to the specific requirements of our clients.

Find out more below about the range of support we provide.

Supporting veterans into employment

We provide veterans with life-long career advice and support sourcing job opportunities from employers who understand the true value of exmilitary recruitment.

Using regional advisors, many of whom have served and all of whom have

mental health first aid training, we can provide expert knowledge on regional job markets as well as a personalised service. Our advisors offer honest and considered guidance and advice that is tailored specifically to each individual and the pathway that they wish to take.

Whether advice is needed in the early stages of transitioning into civilian life or each time you take the next step in your career, we stand by all veterans and will always be there to support you.

Support for military partners and families

We are supporting veterans, military partners and for the first time, their children in the Surrey and Hampshire areas by focusing on growing a skilled population in digital enterprises, medical technology, medical science, gaming, sustainable construction and the space and satellite industries. Our aim is to provide specialist employment support to aid economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Forces Employment Charity’s teams understand the needs of the Armed Forces community and caseworkers, therefore, work to provide support that is designed to suit individual participants’ needs.

Our teams are vast and comprise of a range of specialist advisors who all have

tremendous amounts of life-experience as spouses and veterans, as well as professional experience within the Forces employment sector. As such, they are able to draw upon their own life experiences whilst raising the aspirations of others.

Supporting vulnerable veterans

We offer help to veterans who have been arrested and enter Police Custody. We also support veterans who have self-referred or been referred by specialist police teams or other statutory organisations, because they are at risk of arrest. We currently provide this support for vulnerable veterans across South Yorkshire and Humberside, the North East, North West, Midlands, South West and East of England. In Lancashire we work in partnership with Lancashire Police and other organisations who refer veterans to our service.

Upon receiving a referral, our caseworkers undertake a needs assessment to establish what support is required by the individual, followed by practical support offered through a network of local charities. Our caseworkers understand the experiences of ex-Service personnel both during and after their military careers – empathy which gives veterans the strength they need to make changes to their lives and access support through health and specialist services.

Find out more about how we can help you at www.forcesemployment.org.uk

0121 262 3058

info@rfea.org.uk

or follow us on social media

@ForcesEmploy

Forces Employment Charity

Forces Employment Charity

Forces Employment Charity

forcesemploymentcharity

All images UK MOD © Crown copyright 2022. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Want to volunteer while transforming young lives?

Sea Cadets is the place for you!

Why Sea Cadets?

Sea Cadets gives young people the best possible start in life through nautical adventure and fun. Our 9,000 dedicated volunteers make a positive difference to 14,000 cadets, helping them fulfil their potential and develop the skills and confidence they need for a successful launch into adulthood.

But if we’re to reach all the young people who need help navigating through today’s challenges, we need even more volunteers – particularly in vital leadership roles, where you could be part of a small and friendly management team running one of our 400 units as a trustee.

How Sea Cadets can help

As a Sea Cadets trustee, you will be leading on initiatives that will increase learning and training opportunities for nine to 18-year-olds. Whether you become a chairperson, treasurer, secretary or fundraiser, you’ll develop management and communications skills through partnerships with local government, businesses and schools –raising your profile with the support of a like-minded team of fellow trustees. You’ll also build up your CV, and with the backing of the Sea Cadets’ National Support Centre, you’ll be able to access training and gain recognised qualifications.

If you can spare at least six weekday evenings a year, with an overall time commitment of around five hours per month, you could make a real and lasting impact on the lives of young people near you. We’d love to hear from you, so please fill in our online form at sea-cadets.org/volunteer gdw@ms-sc.org

SEA CADETS

In just over two years, volunteer Maddison Brown, at 26 years of age, has shown the massive impact local Sea Cadets trustees can have by transforming the fortunes of Barnsley Unit. Starting with a damp and leaky headquarters in need of urgent attention, she took on the key role of chairperson with a personal mission to save the building, a local landmark.

‘I spent hours scouring the internet, writing to businesses, and creating a strong network of contacts,’ says Maddison. ‘About three months later, we got our first large grant payment which would pay to repair our roof.’

Building relationships with the local council, who generously provided a significant grant, Maddison also approached the South Yorkshire Funding Bureau for support. By highlighting the unit’s successes – including helping its members achieve nearly 1,000 qualifications in a typical year – she showed how better facilities would translate into even more achievements.

‘From there we started to reap the rewards,’ reports Maddison, who has raised a stunning total of £70,000 since 2020. ‘Every couple of days we were getting grants approved which meant we could completely renovate the bathrooms and classrooms.’

The unit now provides a welcoming learning environment where young people and volunteers want to spend time. But while learning new skills is a big part of being a cadet, opportunities for fun and adventure are just as important. ‘We want to fund as many experiences for young people as possible,’ Maddison explains. ‘This year’s grants will pay for a full weekend adventure camp for around 30 kids.’

Giving something back

A major reason behind Maddison’s passion for the cause is her first-hand

knowledge of the support Sea Cadets can give. Joining Barnsley Sea Cadets at 13, the group helped her overcome her shyness and academic struggles. The experience was so life-changing that, as an 18-year-old, she decided to become an adult volunteer fundraiser and teacher with the unit.

Beyond her own story of personal development, Maddison had witnessed the unit’s remarkable track record of steering young people away from antisocial behaviour and towards further education, service in the Armed Forces or meaningful civilian careers. Now, as the youngest chairperson in the history of the unit, she has been nominated for the Proud of Barnsley awards, bringing

positive local media coverage to Sea Cadets and increasing her own profile and influence as a community leader.

‘Cadets has become part of my life and helped me in so many ways,’ she reflects. ‘Even as an adult, I’ve been able to use my experiences as chairperson to put myself forward in my career.’ With Maddison at the helm, it is clear that Barnsley Sea Cadets will achieve her vision as ‘a place for every kid in Barnsley to get the same experience and opportunities I did - regardless of income, background or gender.’

The power of persuasion: how a Sea Cadets trustee became a community hero

LANCASHIRE CONSTABULARY

Armed Forces and joining Lancashire

“Where I did find myself at an advantage

“One of the major concerns I had was the then career length of 30 years and my previous pensionable service. I was quickly able to clarify that the 12 years adult (pensionable) HM Forces service translated to 9 years’ police pension,

PENNINE CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

other NHS Trusts and military service charities. We give timely support and advice, and link veterans, reservists and families into the most appropriate service, as quickly as possible such as:

• helping you transition from military to civilian life by providing mental health care with Defence Medical Services (DMS)

• helping you recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems, as well as more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma

• providing support and treatment for substance misuse and addictions

• helping you to access other NHS mental health services if you need them, such as finding an NHS talking therapies service and eating disorder services

• liaising with charities and local organisations to support your wider health and wellbeing needs, such as help with housing, relationships, finances and employment

Every year, we provide NHS veterans’ specialist mental health services to over 900 British ex-serving personnel (including reservists and families) who are experiencing mental health difficulties, related to their time and experiences in the Armed Forces.

NHS Military Veterans’ Service is our community-based specialist psychological therapies service for British Armed Forces veterans, reservists and soon-to-be veterans who live in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

OpCOURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, Armed Forces veterans and their families. This service can help if you’re finding life difficult after leaving the military. Working together with Armed Forces charities, Op COURAGE will help you get the right type of specialist care, support and treatment for your specific needs. Pennine Care host this service across the North West of England in a provider collaborative with

• supporting Armed Forces families affected by mental health problems, including helping them to access local services

A veteran-friendly Trust

We’ve been named a Veteran Aware Trust for our commitment to improving NHS care for veterans, reservists, members of the Armed Forces and their families. The accreditation, from the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), acknowledges our work to ensure the Armed Forces community is never disadvantaged compared to other patients. Relevant staff are trained on veteran needs, and we support the Armed Forces as an employer.

We support employees who are reservists, with up to 3-weeks’ paid leave for their required forces training and recognise the transferable skills Armed Forces personnel can bring to the organisation.

Now, and over the next few years, we’ll be looking at more ways we can support the Armed Forces community – through increased employment opportunities, reducing health inequalities and ensuring the voice of our patients shape our every decision.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, presents colleagues from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust with our Veteran Aware Trust accreditation

Our partnerships

We’re proud to work in partnership with Walking With The Wounded and our team includes individual placement support workers and veterans liaison support officers. They work alongside us to support veterans who have had mental health support to get back into work and with welfare support and coordination of case work.

Tom Knight, Regional Manager at North West, Walking With The Wounded, said: “My role is to support with the delivery of employment, mental health, care coordination and volunteering programmes in collaboration with the NHS to get those who served, and their families, whether mentally, socially or physically wounded, back on their feet and making a positive contribution once more.”

Made me a friend of the world again

Peter served in the RAF from 1984 to 1989 and was posted to the Falklands when he was 19 years old. He is currently receiving support from the Military Veterans’ Service.

“I got help from the Military Veterans’ Service at Pennine Care. I needed someone to trust and finally, someone kept a promise and called me back. The staff were able to connect with me and not only that; they were able to make calls to people on my behalf. I started to feel connected to people that cared.

The service has given me someone to rely on, who will not let me down. The biggest thing for me is that I can call Rachel and I know that she will call me back if she is not available. No other service does that. I no longer felt alone. Rachel gave me a way forward and the encouragement, genuine care, support and nudges in the right direction when I needed it. Rachel visited me and met my mum, she walked with me and laughed with me, shared my woes and put a smile on my face when times were rubbish.

They saved my life and made me a friend of the world again. I no longer drink to excess and I am a better friend and carer to my mum. I laugh a lot more. I now want to live and I can see a glimmer of a future. Above all else, I don’t feel alone now.

For anyone who finds themselves in a similar position, don’t feel guilty about asking for help. Reach out and keep trying until you find the right people/person for you.”

Who we are

Here are some members of our team:

Chris Barry, highly specialist psychotherapist, MVS

“I’m passionate about delivering psychological therapeutic interventions to military veterans, having done so since 2010. I have also been involved in setting up and developing NHS veteran mental health services.”

Alie Salford, Regional Services LeadMVS & Op Courage

“My role is to lead services to deliver specialist mental health treatment and

support to veterans, reservists, those transitioning out of the forces with a discharge date and their families/ carers. Our aim is to make this as accessible, seamless, and coordinated as possible.”

Rachel McDonald, Substance misuse pathway nurse, MVS “I’m a registered mental health nurse with a particular interest in addiction and substance misuse. I am an advocate for the Armed Forces community and I help people access the treatment they need for their recovery and reintegration back into a life that has meaning, where they feel connected to society.”

How to contact us

penninecare.nhs.uk/militaryvets

0300 373 33 32 = Referrals Op COURAGE NORTH 8am-8pm, 7 days per week

0300 323 0707= existing clients open to Op Courage NW / MVS or professional liaison:

OpCourageNORTH@cntw.nhs.uk /

@PennineCareNHS

@MVS_Lancs @PennineCareNHS

LANCASHIRE FORCES ONLINE DIRECTORY

The Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub are proud to be supporting this directory of support organisations, charities and supporting businesses. The aim is to have a central database to help the forces veterans have easy access to key organisations across the Lancashire region, as part of the commitment of the Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub.

The directory works on all devices with a browser including mobile, tablets, PC, Laptop, Smart TV, Xbox and PlayStation. Simply visit the website www.lancsforcesdirectory.com on any device to view the businesses and organisations listed for support. This will be continuously updated and added to.

There is no download or app to install. Simply visit the website and save this to your home screen for future use. Or you can scan the QR code to link to the website.

If you’re a business selling products or services that will support veterans, a charitable organisation or health organisation in the Lancashire region, you can add your details directly, free of cost, by clicking on the add business/organisation button in the top menu. It will take around 48 hours to go live.

www.lancsforcesdirectory.com

My Business Client Ltd is proud to be working with the Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Hub to help deliver the Forces Guide and Directory for Lancashire.

North West Fire Control receive all 999 calls for our partners in Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service. Fire Control is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

We are responsible for mobilising fire engines and resources to incidents, liaising with the incident ground and recording important details.

North West Fire Control is an accredited Disability Confident Employer Our organisation is seeking to lead the way in our community, by supporting and developing the skills of colleagues with a disability

We are proudly committed to equality, diversity and inclusion for all its sta and communities. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability

C AREERS

North West Fire Control has a number of di erent types

The majority of our sta work within the main answering 999 calls, providing support and guidanc supporting ongoing incidents. Our sta use one advanced mobilising systems in the country to firefighters are dispatched speedily to any incident the to attend.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS CONSIST OF:

Operational Support / System Support who provide support for the e ective and e cient operation of the NW Fir primarily through the provision of audit, performanc and learning and development to achieve Standards and Service Level Agreements

Business Support provide administrative and professional the business via e ective coordination and implementation of o procedures

For more information and to see our current Vacancies visit www.nwfirecontrol.com