New Support Groups for Military Community
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched a new regional network to help veterans, serving personnel and their families’ access welfare support in their local area.
The one year pilot scheme will see 13 new Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committees (VAPCs) established across the UK.
The VAPCs replace the previous War Pension Committees, and will have a fresh focus and a much wider role, including:
• Acting as advocates for implementing improved cross-Government support, including the services outlined in the Service Personnel Command Paper and the Armed Forces ‘Welfare Pathway’.
• Raising awareness within their regions of the support available to veterans and the Armed Forces community. This includes compensation and pension schemes for those injured, disabled or bereaved through Service, advice services and the work of the MOD’s Veterans Welfare Service.
• Assisting serving personnel, their families and veterans in accessing the above services and other local support. This will include providing specific assistance and guidance to individuals in their areas and ensuring they are put in touch with the relevant organisations who can help. The committees will also provide an independent online pharmacies that do not require a prescription, online pharmacy without scripts easy way to buy viagra Drugstore 20 Off, generic viagra online Canadian Drug Pharmacy element to the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency’s complaints process.
Chairmen and members have now been appointed to all 13 committees. All are volunteers and come from a cross-section of the local community, including health, social care, legal professionals and veterans groups.
Administration support and guidance for the VAPCs is provided by the MOD’s Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.
Jon Parkin, the Agency’s Head of Veterans Services said: “We know from talking to veterans that problems they face can often result from issues affecting a specific area of the country. The new VAPCs will have a vital, on the ground, local knowledge of these issues and will help ensure that Service personnel and veterans needing assistance get the help that’s right for them, wherever they live.”
Lt Col Ray Holland, a Chairman of one of the new Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees added: “The new committees will ensure that the needs of Veterans and their dependants are championed at every level from central government to the local community. We will assist in the implementation of the Military Covenant and work closely with local authorities, primary care trusts and Service charities in the delivery of services and benefits. Located on a regional basis, our local knowledge makes us well placed to serve the veteran community.”
Members of the Armed Forces or Veterans community wanting to contact their local committee should contact the Veterans Welfare Centre for their area (see below) or the Veterans-UK Helpline 0800 169 2277. Alternatively more information can be found on the VAPC web-site www.veterans-uk.info/vets_advisory.html
Veterans Welfare Centres
South East/London: 02392 702 232
Wales/South West: 01452 540 825
Midlands/East: 01562 825 527
Scotland/Ireland: 0141 224 2709
North West/North East, Yorks and Humber, and Isle of Man: 01253 333 494