Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the Armed Forces Covenant and the Armed Forces and Veteran support.

The Board was advised that the Royal British Legion had commissioned a significant piece of research in 2014, to identify the size, profile and needs of the ex-service community, to provide forecasts on the future profile. The key findings were summarised in the report. It was estimated that the total of the armed forces community living in the UK in 2014 was between 6.5 and 6.7 million, with 46% now aged 75+. It was reported that this age group faced similar problems to those in the UK population as a whole, of isolation, physical health problems and difficulties with mobility and care.

Of those veteran’s in the younger cohort of 16-34, (some 6% of the ex-service community), it was noted that they were more likely to have a caring  responsibility than the UK general population of the same age. Finance and employment were significant problems for this group with one in twenty having taken out a pay day loan and over half of those of working age unable to make use of their skills or experience in their current job.

          Halton was part of a pan Cheshire Covenant; a voluntary statement of mutual support between the civilian community and its local armed forces community. The Covenant, set out 20 pledges, around five key themes; the Board received an update on each of the following:-

·       Housing;

·       Employment and Benefits;

·       Education;

·       Health; and

·       Wellbeing.

          The Board noted that the Cheshire Community Covenant Partnership, which consisted of the Armed Forces Champions from Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Warrington and Halton, representatives from Health, Job Centre Plus/DWP, 75^th  Engineers and 42^nd Regiments.

          In addition, the Board was advised that the Armed Forces Covenant Fund was a national grants scheme that had been in place since 2012. In 2015, it was reported that the arrangements had been reviewed and revised, with new guidance issued in August 2015. Details and guidance on applications for such grants were given in the report, but there were three key priorities for the fund:-

·       Community integration;

·       The co-ordination and delivery of support to the Armed Forces Community; and

·       Former service personnel in the criminal justice system.

          Members were also updated on wider Halton activity since the last report. World War 1 commemorations commenced on 4 August 2014, with Town Centre events in Runcorn and Widnes taking place, the Lights Out initiative promoted, the gathering of history and WW1 experiences in a project by the Library Service, a tea dance and a joint project with the Imperial War Museum North. On 8 May 2015, to mark VE Day, Halton’s Mayor lit a Beacon in the evening with local veteran support organisations and residents in attendance.

          Members noted details of future plans which included Corporate Covenants to complement the Armed Forces Covenant, the involvement of Reservists in the Covenant arrangements and the outcomes of Mystery Shopping exercises.

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted.