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New Service across GM and Lancs for Veterans leaving hospital

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New Service across GM and Lancs for Veterans leaving hospital

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The Forces Hospital Home Check Service, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, will provide a targeted service for members of the Armed Forces community in the North West to ensure efficient hospital discharge, putting in place any required measures to support people to live independently with an improved quality of life.

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Working Well Offer for the Armed Forces Community in GM

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Working Well Offer for the Armed Forces Community in GM

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Armed Forces Community members are a priority cohort in Working Well and more programmes with significant finance attached are soon to be announced

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Take the first step back to work with Working Well: Pioneer | In Work Greater Manchester | Ingeus

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New Forces Employment programme launches

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New Forces Employment programme launches

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Op PROSPER is an Office for Veterans’ Affairs programme (awarded to us through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust) which will empower veterans and their families the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, enabling them to thrive in society by ensuring equal access to employment opportunities and supporting them into sustainable, valuable careers.

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Suicide Bereavement UK have developed a series of At Your Side guides for those bereaved by suicide in the Armed Forces community.

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Suicide Bereavement UK have developed a series of At Your Side guides for those bereaved by suicide in the Armed Forces community.

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'At Your Side' - Suicide Bereavement UK

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Suicide Bereavement UK have developed a series of At Your Side guides for those bereaved by suicide in the Armed Forces community.

Three guides have been written by the bereaved for the bereaved:

At Your Side guide for veterans

At Your Side guide for families

At Your Side guide for serving personnel

Both the veteran and family guide will be launched on the 17 th April 2024. The serving guide will be launched shortly afterwards.
Who produced the At Your Side guides?
The guides have been produced by Suicide Bereavement UK, an internationally recognised organisation specialising in suicide bereavement research and the development of evidence-informed support materials for bereaved people.

They were commissioned by NHS England and co-produced with individuals bereaved by suicide as well as experts in military mental health, suicide prevention and bereavement.

The guides are based on the experiences and needs of those who took part in the Armed Forces Suicide Bereavement Study. All were bereaved by suicide, having lost a friend, colleague, spouse, partner, adult child, parent or sibling during or after military service.

The guides are free to download.
Dedication
The guides are dedicated to those bereaved by suicide and to those they have lost in the Armed Forces community.

Study which informed the development of the At Your Side Guides

For more information please contact:
Dr Sharon McDonnell
Email: sharon.mcdonnell@suicidebereavementuk.com
Tel: 01706 827 359

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Suicide Bereavement Guides Suicide Bereavement UK have developed a series of At Your Side guides for those bereaved by suicide in the Armed Forces community. Three guides have been written by the bereaved for the

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Allotment for Veterans latest newsletter

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Allotment for Veterans latest newsletter

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Armed Forces Community Support in the NHS

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Armed Forces Community Support in the NHS

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The NHS employs a significant number of healthcare professionals and non-clinical staff who are members of the Armed Forces community.

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Your guide to understanding and supporting Armed Forces reservists in your NHS workforce.

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MVS Emerging situation in Ukraine.Russia 2022 Op Orbital (002)

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Secretary of State for Defence to Review Medal Decision for Nuclear Test Veterans

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Secretary of State for Defence to Review Medal Decision for Nuclear Test Veterans

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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has announced a 'review' of the decision not to award a gong to nuclear test survivors. But Downing Street brushed off calls for a national apology

The government has U-turned on a medal for survivors of Britain's nuclear tests following demands from Labour to end the 70-year scandal.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the Commons yesterday that he had ordered his officials to "review" the earlier decision by a discredited medal committee not to award a gong.

The move came just three hours after the Prime Minister's official spokesman brushed off calls for a national apology to mark the 70th anniversary of Britain's first bomb test later this year.

The chaotic scenes followed the Mirror's report yesterday of Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham telling veterans they were victims of "the greatest injustice of them all".

He said: "The Prime Minister of this country, whoever that is at the time that it needs to be done, needs to stand at the despatch box in the House of Commons and make a national apology to each and every one of you, and every member of your families."

Labour also called for medals, a full compensation package, NHS priority treatment, and medical research into the litany of ill health reported by test veterans and their families.

Yesterday lunchtime, the PM's spokesman shrugged off any suggestion of an apology, telling the Mirror: "These veterans played a valuable role towards developing a nuclear deterrent that has ultimately kept Britain safe for decades.

"The protection, health and welfare of those involved in the nuclear testing operations is a vital consideration, as shown by the detailed, documented safety measures and radio-biological monitoring that took place during operations.

"When it comes to medals, that's a matter for the Advisory Military Sub-Committee which takes those issues into account."

Asked about compensation, the spokesman said: "I'm not aware of any plans along those lines."

We reported last week how the AMSC has refused gongs to five different groups of veterans in the past two years, while its members have been decorated for non-risky service that included charity work, organising the Invictus Games, and running Whitehall budgets. It has refused a service medal for the nuclear tests three times, claiming there was not enough "risk and rigour" to them.

But the government changed its tone later in the afternoon, when Andrew Gwynne, Labour MP for Denton and Reddish, asked the Commons: "The UK is now the only atomic nation with no official recognition or compensation to nuclear test veterans and their families. Ahead of the 70th anniversary of the first British nuclear test later this year, will ministers now do the right thing and give those veterans the recognition they deserve?"

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, a former captain in the Scots Guards, replied: "I hear what the honourable gentleman says and I absolutely recognise that we are now the last country to do so. The recent, the last internal review was in December, I've asked officials to go back and look at that again."

He later told MPs that he could not personally order a medal himself.

The Mirror has campaigned for justice for survivors of the nuclear tests for more than 30 years. Successive governments have refused to compensate them, and no PM since Winston Churchill ordered the first test in 1952 has ever met them.

Boris Johnson promised to meet them in November, but has yet to find time to meet them in Downing Street.

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Tories U-turn on medal for UK's nuclear test veterans in 'greatest injustice'

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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has announced a 'review' of the decision not to award a gong to nuclear test survivors. But Downing Street brushed off calls for a national apology The government has U-turned on a medal for survivors of Britain's nuclear tests following demands from Labour to end the 70-year scandal.

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Nuclear Test Veterans championed by GM Mayor and Local MPs

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Nuclear Test Veterans championed by GM Mayor and Local MPs

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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is calling for "truth, justice, and accountability" from Prime Minister Boris Johnson 70 years after the UK was catapulted into the Cold War arms race

Boris Johnson has been told to issue a national apology to Britain's nuclear test veterans for "the greatest injustice of them all".

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham made the call for "truth, justice, and accountability" at a gathering of survivors and their families, 70 years after Operation Hurricane which catapulted the UK into the Cold War arms race.

Test veterans are routinely denied war pensions, despite high rates of cancer and blood disease, elevated rates of miscarriage in their wives and 10 times the normal rate of birth defects in their children.

The meeting heard emotional testimony from wives, widows, and children, as well as veterans.

In one extraordinary moment, when a group of seven veterans on-stage were asked if they'd had cancer, all raised their hands.

When asked how many of them had lost a child to miscarriage or early death, six raised their hands again.

"This is the greatest injustice of them all, because it betrayed brave people who signed up to serve our country, and it inflicted an ongoing and repeated harm to generations," said Mr Burnham.

"In this 70th anniversary year, the Prime Minister of this country needs to stand at the despatch box in the House of Commons and make a national apology to each and every one of you, and every member of your families, who have suffered through these past 70 years."

He asked how anyone could feel "anything but shame for how these members of our armed forces have been treated?" and added: "This is the year that this country faces up to what was done."

He said that all 650 MPs should "get up off "get up off those green benches, look these veterans in the eye, listen to what they've got to say".

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner called on Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to issue a service medal to all who took part in nuclear tests between 1952 and 1991, a full compensation scheme for veterans and descendants, provide additional medical support, and carry out research into the complex health problems of test veteran families.

"These are not big asks," she said. "It's impossible to deny that these human beings were exposed to an unknown level of risk. These brave veterans were experimented on without consent, and most have reported suffering from medical problems since learning about he extent of the radiation that they were exposed to, causing them and their families untold distress and anxiety. At the very least our nuclear test veterans deserve to be honoured with service medals."

Suzanne Eades-Willis, whose father was a veteran, told of her struggle with multiple autoimmune diseases and being told just a week ago her liver was "dying" and she had not got long left to live. "I am determined to walk my daughter down the aisle in June," she said.

Anne Quinlan, whose father Terry witnessed multiple H-bombs, urged the PM to hurry up. "I can't pin a medal on a gravestone," she said.

John Morris, 84, of Rochdale, was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia, a condition known to be caused by radiation exposure, a few years after witnessing the Operation Grapple tests in 1957. The only safety equipment he was given was a pair of sunglasses.

He told the meeting: "I've applied for a war pension on that basis, and I'm still waiting for a decision, two years on. But not as long as I've been waiting for the government to recognise its duty of care."

He added: "The person who made the bomb and his entourage received full PPE equipment and an insurance policy in the event anything happened to them. I've got nothing."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to meet veterans in November, but so far his office has been unable to provide a date for them to come to Downing Street.

For more than 30 years the Mirror has campaigned for justice for the brave men who took part in Britain's nuclear weapons tests.
What do you think? Have your say in our comments below

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Andy Burnham demands Boris Johnson apologise to nuclear test veterans

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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is calling for "truth, justice, and accountability" from Prime Minister Boris Johnson 70 years after the UK was catapulted into the Cold War arms race Boris Johnson has been told to issue a national apology to Britain's nuclear test veterans for "the greatest injustice of them all".

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Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust have published some paid volunteer roles for service users to be involved with our Advancing Mental Health Equalities work, amongst other opportunities published. They are keen to get people to join this work and provide their views. The service is keen for these to be filled by people from the Armed forces community to enhance the AF voice across our trust.
Details on roles are all available at the link !

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Service user and carer involvement and engagement :: Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

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Role: Advancing Mental Health Equalities Board lived experience member

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Briefing for LAs on the GP accreditation scheme

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Briefing for LAs on the GP accreditation scheme

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rcgp veteran-friendly gp accreditation: a briefing for local authorities

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rcgp veteran-friendly gp accreditation: a briefing for local authorities tickets

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RCGP veteran-friendly GP accreditation: a briefing for local authorities

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Eventbrite - Armed Forces Covenant Team presents RCGP veteran-friendly GP accreditation: a briefing for local authorities - Thursday, 17 March 2022 - Find event and ticket information.

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Definitely worth a read - gives evidence for a permanent AFC officer

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This report is an external evaluation of the Strengthening Delivery of the Covenant Programme.

Under the Strengthening Delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant Programme The Covenant Fund awarded £6.6M through two rounds of funding to clusters of Local Authorities (LAs).

They used the funding to work with other Local Authorities in their areas enabling them to deliver projects linked to needs identified by their Local Covenant Partnerships and find ways to ensure that Armed Forces communities locally could access the right types of services and support.

Projects typically sought to build local capacity and improve awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant. In the second round, funding was also made available to establish drop-in centres in places where these did not exist.

The projects were evaluated by RAND Europe. The report found that the funding had a significant positive impact on delivery of the Covenant

More information on accessibility- accessibility of third party material

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Strengthening and Empowering Delivery of the Covenant: Evaluation of the Strengthening Delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant Programme : Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

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This report is an external evaluation of the Strengthening Delivery of the Covenant Programme. Under the Strengthening Delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant Programme The Covenant Fund awarded £6.6M through two rounds of funding to clusters of Local Authorities (LAs).

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The Armed Forces Covenant: Reflections on a decade of the nation's promise

November 2021 marks ten years since the Armed Forces Covenant was first enshrined in UK legislation, following a campaign led by the Royal British Legion.

Together with our sister charity, Poppyscotland, we've marked this significant anniversary with the launch of an independent report reflecting on the Covenant's impact on the wellbeing of serving personnel, veterans, and their families.

Our report celebrates the advancements in outcomes, understanding, funding and services for the Armed Forces community over the past decade, which have been overseen by government at all levels, as well as businesses and voluntary organisations.

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The Armed Forces Covenant | Campaigns | Royal British Legion

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November 2021 marks ten years since the Armed Forces Covenant was first enshrined in UK legislation, following a campaign led by the Royal British Legion. Together with our sister charity, Poppyscotland, we've marked this significant anniversary with the launch of an independent report reflecting on the Covenant's impact on the wellbeing of serving personnel, veterans, and their families.

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The main recommendations of the carers report include:

The OVA, MoD and DHSC should work in partnership to improve access to statutory-funded respite provision for the Armed Forces community.

The MoD should urgently develop, publish and implement a Tri-Service carers policy that directs serving personnel with caring responsibilities to suitable support and information, and provides clarity on how they are considered in relation to other Service policies. In line with the Tri-Service policy, each Service should develop its own tailored guidance.

The NHS should invest in mental health and relationship support dedicated to carers of veterans with PTSD, and in England should increase awareness of and access to the support offered to families by Op COURAGE (The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service), providing increased outreach support to carers of veterans with mental health conditions.

Overall, the report makes 22 recommendations on how to improve recognition and support for unpaid carers in the Armed Forces community.

The recommendations are aimed at several agencies including the Ministry of Defence, the NHS, and the Office for Veterans' Affairs.

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Unpaid carers in the Armed Forces community | Research | Royal British Legion

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The OVA, MoD and DHSC should work in partnership to improve access to statutory-funded respite provision for the Armed Forces community. The MoD should urgently develop, publish and implement a Tri-Service carers policy that directs serving personnel with caring responsibilities to suitable support and information, and provides clarity on how they are considered in relation to other Service policies.

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Sodexo are Recruiting for Prison Officers

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Sodexo are Recruiting for Prison Officers

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SDX/TP/RF7428/SJS

Package Description
Package Description Starting salary £23,686.82 for the first year, rising to £24,325.11 after 1 years' service. Further increases to £24,897.23 after 2 years' service and £26,977 after 4 years' service.
Additional benefits you can look forward to:

All meals provided whilst on-site

Free parking

Free on-site gym or subsidised gym memberships

28 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays)

BUPA Healthcare

Perks at work employee discounts across hundreds of high street shops for fashion, holidays, electronics and gaming supplies and much more

Job Introduction
Job Introduction
Sodexo are responsible for 5 prison sites across the UK and Scotland, we regularly run campaigns recruiting dedicated Prison Custody Officers to joining our growing teams. These roles will be based at our Manchester based site.

Great Prison Custody Officers (PCO's) are the backbone to our business and play an important part in the smooth operation of our prisons. Every PCO will play a key part in our resident's lives be it on their rehabilitation journey or providing an ear to listen to them and offer support during their time in prison.

Key attributes we look for aren't all about qualifications and employment history as these things we can help develop but more about who you are and the morals you hold.

Are you a dedicated person who is looking for a rewarding career?

Are you reliable and quick to notice things?

Do you treat people fairly and with respect?

If you experience a challenging situation, are you able to move forward and start again fresh?

These are all things that we look for and make the difference between a good and great PCO.
Recruitment process:

Full completion of application form on Sodexo careers website by 20th February 2022.

Assessment Centre: week commencing 27 February 2022
The assessment Centre will be 1 full day and will assess candidates against a number of different role criteria. Full details will be sent once selected.

Start Date of course: 16 May 2022

You will be required to complete a mandatory 10-week training course. No annual leave can be taken during this period.

The training will be Monday to Friday. Including 1 weekend and 1 night shift.

Please note this role is subject to security and recruitment checks which may include a Social Media Check. You will also be asked to provide 5 years' worth of references and request employment history details from the HMRC.

The above dates are subject to change. Please note: initial communication will be via email, please monitor your junk and spam folders to ensure you are aware of next stage requirements. If you have been interviewed for this role within the last 12 months, your application will not be considered.

Main Responsibilities
Role Responsibilities
The role is varied, you will be responsible for range of duties including supporting a team of PCO's on the main wings, supervising residents at mealtimes, managing regular routines (locking and unlocking, recreation time) and supervising movement around the facilities - visiting hours, education and work placements.

Our residents come from all walks of life, some are serving long sentences including life, some have committed serious offences and others are vulnerable, we treat all the same with fairness and respect. On occasion you may experience some challenging situations or unwanted behaviour, full training prior to starting is offered to support with these situations.

The Ideal Candidate
Why become a PCO?
There are many reasons this role could be the role for you, no two days are the same, the role is varied and offers a range of duties. Watching someone leave the facilities, equipped and ready to thrive and enjoy life again is rewarding and to know you have played a key part in their journey is special, even small improvements to someone's life makes a difference.

The role offers a secure, regular and stable role with consistent hours. We operate a shift pattern which allows regular downtime and flexibility to enjoy with your family and friends.
What we need from you
Our great PCOs come to us with all kinds of work and life experience. Some have worked in retail, healthcare, call centers and as taxi drivers. Others are ex-military, police and security services personnel. The work you've done before doesn't matter. What matters is that you're 'made of the right stuff' - the rest you will learn during our intensive 10 week training course and then in the job with the support of experienced colleagues.

As part of this role you will need to have a good level of English and Math's, report writing is part and parcel of the role.

We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be natural, and be the best versions of themselves. We recognise that we're on a journey with regards to diversity and inclusion and would therefore welcome applications for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.

We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

About The Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs around 30,000 people, and partners with clients in many sectors across business and industry; schools and universities; sports and leisure; energy and resources; government and agencies; healthcare; justice and defence.

Sodexo's connected; people-centric approach brings together a diverse range of expertise. The breadth of services it offers ranges from food and hospitality; cleaning; reception; concierge ( Circles); security; property management and technical services through to data driven workplace strategy and design ( Wx); employee engagement and recognition services ( Sodexo Engage) and personal home services through Prestige Nursing + Care and the Good Care Group.

Vital Spaces is Sodexo's value proposition that puts people at the heart of everything we do, bringing together services and solutions and focusing on the productivity and wellbeing of people wherever they are.

Sodexo is committed to being an inclusive employer; we welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities.

We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process.

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SDX/TP/RF7428/SJS Package Description Starting salary £23,686.82 for the first year, rising to £24,325.11 after 1 years' service. Further increases to £24,897.23 after 2 years' service and £26,977 after 4 years' service.

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5 x LGBT+ Veterans Community Workers and a team manager wanted to support the rapidly increasing number of Veterans contacting the organisation.

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Name*

Phone Number

Email*

Veteran*

What service do/or did you serve in?*

Type of enquiry?*

Organisation

Where are you located?*

Message Subject

Message

Consent
I agree to FWP holding my details.

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SHORT NOTICE - Paid Placements Available

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SHORT NOTICE - Paid Placements Available

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WWtW's Op REGEN programme now offering paid placements at £9.90ph - Induction 3rd Feb !

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OP-REGENCity Of Trees SOE Feb_March 2022

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Slides from the NW VPPP launch event 31-1-2022

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Slides from the NW VPPP launch event 31-1-2022

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VPPP NW Portfolio Launch.pptx (sharepoint.com)

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Government launches review into treatment of LGBT veterans - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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Government launches review into treatment of LGBT veterans

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The government has launched a review into the impact of the pre-2000 ban on homosexual personnel in the military.

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ECopy of the First Edition of the GM Armed Forces Covenant Guide

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ECopy of the First Edition of the GM Armed Forces Covenant Guide

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Greater Manchester Armed Forces Covenant Guide (gmforcesdirectory.com)

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Greater Manchester Armed Forces Covenant Guide

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Greater Manchester Armed Forces Covenant Guide

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The Armed Forces Covenant for Front Line Workers (gmarmedforces.com)

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2022 TILS OpCourage North patient info leaflet Approved

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Action Plan for the Government's Strategy for our Veterans released

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Action Plan for the Government's Strategy for our Veterans released

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Veterans' Strategy Action Plan 2022-2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk)