Agenda and draft minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/DisclosuresofInterests

None.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

The minutes of the Panel held on 24 September were agreed as a correct record.

Panel Members provided verbal updates relating to the current and proposed activities, events and workloads of their respective groups and organisations.

 

Poppy Factory

Natalie Mccombe reported that she currently had 18 active clients, the majority of which had been referred via NHS Veterans Wales, she outlined the excellent working relationship between the organisations.  She indicated she had also attended meetings at the “Bulldogs” centre in Baglan.

 

Veterans Club

Sandy Shaw reported that the organisation was now holding 7 meetings a week across various locations in the City. He referred to the link up with the Blind Veterans Group.

 

Special Events

David Price-Deer reported on the success, excellent attendance and positive media coverage of both the “Silence in the Square” and “Pages of the Sea” held on 11 November.

 

British Training Board

Adrian Rabey reported on the development of the “Comrades Programme” being developed for staff leaving the South Wales Police.

 

He indicated that the company had been successful in applying for a £20k grant from the Covenant Fund, which will enable the company to expand its training programme, which is avaible to veterans, their partners, their families and children and also reservists.

 

Help for Heroes

Nick Vanderpump supported the earlier comments made regarding the good working relationship with NHS Veterans, and also referred to the success and usage of the “Bulldogs” facility. He indicated he was looking to develop various future sporting programmes in the coming months including an indoor surfing course.

 

He indicated that the organisations new Facebook and Twitter pages were now up and running and confirmed that the courses provided were now open to all veterans.

 

Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer

Grace Halfpenny reported that the next tranche of Covenant funding was now open, and indicated that any applications should be sent to Spencer Martin for approval prior to submission.

 

She also referred to a new funding programme from the UK Government, relating to Mental Health issues, details of which will be circulated when received.

 

She referred to a recent WLGA Armed Forces network meeting she had attended which discussed a wide range of issues and topics, including the following:- Possibility of Local Authorities holding a All Wales Armed Forces Day Event and the funding possibly available, Issues around veterans from 1950/60s not claiming their appropriate pensions, Gateway Hub programme in Llanharan which is supported by the Royal British Legion and their work(information to be circulated), new Welsh Government funding to be announced shortly, new WLGA training package for front line staff, new UK Government consultation paper which will be circulated to Members of the Panel for comment prior to a response being agreed for submission in February, Service Children in Education presentation(to be circulated).

 

Swansea Council

Spencer Martin reported that he and another member of staff and veteran Stephen Jenkins had attended the award ceremony in London recently to receive the Armed Forces Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme on behalf of the Authority. This is a great achievement for the Authority and its partners.

 

June Burtonshaw reported and congratulated Captain Chris Evans on his recent achievement on receiving the Armed Forces Award 2018.

 

She also thanked Spencer for attending the ceremony in London, and thanked Special Events for the events on Remembrance Day.

 

She outlined the Poppies on Lampposts scheme that had been introduced in 2018, which would hopefully be expanded in future years.

 

Army

Chris Evans reported on the three events being held at the Grange this week for students and potential future employees, which should see several hundred people attending the various days.

 

He referred to the ongoing development of the sporting links with Llandarcy Academy.

 

He confirmed that the Armed Forces Day and the Air Show would be over the same weekend of 6/7 July in 2019.

 

He reported on the proposals to grant the Regiment the Freedom of the City in 2019, which will finish with a Ceremony at the Guildhall in July followed by a march into the city centre.

 

He detailed that the review of the Covenant is ongoing, and should hopefully be updated, expanded and renewed in 2019.