The idea was taken from ‘A Country of Memorable Honour’ by Thomas Firbank, a veteran. Firbank’s army career began as a Coldstream Guard in the Second World War.  At the war's end, as Lieutenant-Colonel, he commanded the Airborne Forces Depot on the Isle of Wight.  He received the Victoria Cross during his service.

In his book, Firbank describes his walk from north to south Wales and recorded the conversations of those he talked to along the way, and in the process of discovering his Welsh roots.  In a similar way, the veterans taking part in this summer’s activities spoke to people they met during their walk/cycle ride, about veterans’ mental health. The veterans then recorded these conversations in journals of their day.  We plan to collate and publish these records in a book to raise awareness of veterans’ mental health.

Finola Pickwell

We are a small team based at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.  We have been awarded funding to conduct research for the purpose of identifying ways to assist public sector and charitable organisations in overcoming barriers and improving access to services for female veterans. This work is funded by the Office for Veterans Affairs, UK Cabinet Office,

 

We have an important opportunity to suggest practical and feasible suggestions for improvement that will make a tangible difference to services for female veterans, and we are keen to hear views on what improvements could and should be made.

 

If you are involved with any charities which support female veterans and are willing to be interviewed please send us an email  to: femalevetsresearch@rgu.ac.uk.  The website for this project can be found by following this link:

  Supporting Female Veterans | Projects | RGU

You are being invited to take part in a research study by Queens University Belfast and Kings College London to understand the emotional wellbeing and support needs of Ex-Armed Forces families. Before you decide to take part, it is important that you understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take your time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. If there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information, please contact us via the link above.

We are now offering families £20 Amazon vouchers to each respondent when two or more from the same family complete the survey AND use the LinkID code given to them in the survey to link their responses. 

 

For example: a spouse/partner completes the survey and passes on their code to their veteran partner who completes the survey – each receives a £20 Amazon voucher. They also ask their adult children to complete the survey – they also receive a £20 Amazon voucher EACH

 

We hope this will attract veteran family members living in Wales, particularly Spouse/partners and adult children, who are currently underrepresented in the survey.

Woody’s Lodge Breakfast Club now open in West Wales. Our support teams and volunteers will be on hand to offer assistance if needed and a friendly face.

Where:

📍Aberystwyth Football Club, SY23 1PG

⏰ 09:30

On the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month until further notice.

More info to follow.

For more information or any questions please contact;

Michael Leather

📞01559 361328

💻MickL@woodyslodge.org

We look forward to welcoming you all.

 

To find out more information about your local health boards veterans staff click on the health board name.

   •   Aneurin Bevan (for Newport, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire)
   •   Betsi Cadwaladr (for Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Conwy, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham)
   •   Cardiff & Vale (for Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan)
   •   Cwm Taf Morgannwg (for Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf)
   •   Hywel Dda (for Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion)
   •   Powys Teaching Board (for Powys)
   •   Swansea Bay (for Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot)

Covering the Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Local Authority areas