Armed Forces Welfare Pathway launched in Hampshire
3 Feb 10
The MOD and Hampshire County Council launched the Armed Forces Community Welfare Pathway initiative in Hampshire yesterday to enable serving personnel, their families and veterans to receive help, advice and support.
Councillor Ken Thornber, Leader of Hampshire County Council (left), and Veterans Minister Kevan Jones (centre) sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the Welfare Pathway
[Picture: Graham Harrison, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
Hampshire County Council is the second local authority to pilot the Welfare Pathway following the first one launched by Kent County Council in November. See Related News >>>
The introduction of the Welfare Pathway means that members of the Armed Forces Community will be able to access advice on their entitlements by calling Hantsdirect, the County Council's contact centre, on 0845 603 5630.
The Armed Forces Community will be able to get advice on everything from priority healthcare to housing and education, as well as link with Service and veterans charities and the Citizens Advice Bureau.
This is all supported by a single free national telephone number - 08000 223366 - that provides automated options for both in-Service and ex-Service personnel, their families and veterans to use as an initial port of call, if uncertain of who to contact.
It's not intended to replace existing sources of advice, but it provides a safety net for those who are completely unaware of what is available.
As well as working with the Government and veterans charities to address the key issues affecting the lives of Service personnel and veterans, the County Council will join forces with its partners in the Hampshire Senate, who agreed together last autumn that they would ensure additional support for the Armed Forces Community in Hampshire.
Veterans Minister Kevan Jones said:
"As part of our continued support for the Armed Forces Community, we are committed to improving how our servicemen and women, their families and veterans can access help and advice about the things that are important to them.
"By making one phone call to Hantsdirect [0845 603 5630] or the national telephone number [08000 223366], the Armed Forces Community can access advice on what they are entitled to. The support that our people deserve is out there and we want to make sure that they can take full advantage of that. I thank Hampshire County Council for all their support."
"The support that our people deserve is out there and we want to make sure that they can take full advantage of that. I thank Hampshire County Council for all their support."
Veterans Minister Kevan Jones
Councillor Ken Thornber, Leader of Hampshire County Council, said:
"Servicemen and women and veterans are an important part of the wider Hampshire community and Hampshire County Council is immensely proud to be at the forefront of delivering local services to the Armed Forces Community.
"The Welfare Pathway builds on the initiatives the council already has in place to provide support to the Armed Forces and ensure their families have access to services. The pathway will also strengthen further the partnership between the Armed Forces and public services in Hampshire that has developed through the Hampshire Senate and the South East Super Garrison project."
Rosemarie Ophaus, Acting Royal British Legion County Manager for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said:
"As our role is to deliver Legion benevolence to the Service and ex-Service community, we very much welcome a co-ordinated approach for directing people towards, and helping them get access to, the welfare services to which they are entitled. These services are currently provided by a wide range of charities and government departments, so improving information and communication is always a positive step forward."
Brigadier John Turner, Vice-President of the Hampshire branch of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help, said:
"SSAFA Forces Help is delighted to be involved with Government in developing the Welfare Pathway concept and welcomes this initiative, which aims to provide a seamless welfare service for serving and ex-serving personnel and their families through the use of a single national point of contact."
Several other local authorities will establish similar pilot programmes across the UK. The intention is to roll out a best practice model to cover all areas.
Some of the benefits that serving personnel, their families and veterans can receive are:
- advice about access to NHS services;
- information about help for veterans with mental health problems;
- help and advice about education, skills and careers;
- help with affordable and social housing;
- help with transport, including Blue Badges and concessionary transport;
- advice about, and access to, affordable childcare.
This initiative underpins the commitments set out in the Service Personnel Command Paper, 'The Nation's Commitment: Cross-Government Support to our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans'.