Ahead of Armistice Day on Thursday and Remembrance Sunday next weekend, North Wales MS and Shadow Minister for Social Justice, Mark Isherwood, has today paid tribute to all those, military and civilian, who have lost their lives in wars; emphasised the need to strive for peaceful resolutions to all conflicts; and expressed gratitude for the significant contribution made by the Armed Forces to the Covid-19 response in Wales,
Speaking in today’s Welsh Parliament debate ‘Remembering and supporting our Armed Forces Community in Wales’, Mr Isherwood also called for more support for veterans.
He said:
“In this Centenary year of the Royal British Legion, it is pertinent that our Cross-Party Motion today proposes that this Senedd ‘remembers and recognises the contribution of all those who have served and continue to serve in our Armed Forces, particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice’.
“As our motion also states, we must welcome and pay ‘tribute to the support that third sector organisations provide to our Armed Forces community in Wales’, which include the Change Step peer mentoring service, delivered by Veterans for Veterans, led by CAIS, now part of Adferiad Recovery; Woody’s Lodge, providing a communications and social hub for the Ex-forces Community in Wales; Alabare and First Choice Housing Association Homes for Veterans; Armed Forces Charity SSAFA; and, of course, the Royal British Legion.”
Mr Isherwood, who tomorrow (Wednesday) will be sponsoring the Royal British Legion’s Centenary Drop-in Reception in the Senedd, added:
“It is 16 years since I first raised the need for traumatised ex-forces personnel to access mental health care and receive priority treatment. Regrettably, my repeated pleas to sustain residential respite and treatment in Wales for those with acute needs fell on deaf ears.
“The Welsh Government did eventually launch Veterans NHS Wales, providing Veterans living in Wales with non-residential assessment and psychological treatment for mental health problems, including PTSD. However, working with the sector, I repeatedly called for its funding to be reviewed over the following years.
“As I said here last November, ‘It is imperative that the hard work of Veterans NHS Wales both continues and continues to expand’ and that ‘Veterans’ NHS Wales Business case for increased funding now is unarguable’. I therefore welcome the increased funding since announced. They tell me they are grateful for this increase this year to keep the staff employed that Help for Heroes funded for 3 years.
“They add, however, there were several other funding requests in their Business case which Welsh Government failed to fund, including NHS employed Peer Mentors and increased Psychiatrist sessions, currently only one day per month.
“Only yesterday, BBC Wales reported Veterans in Wales with PTSD calling for more support.”
Mr Isherwood also spoke of the need to ensure that all public bodies honour the Armed Forces Covenant, and, having first called on the Welsh Government to establish an Armed Forces Commissioner seven years ago, said he welcomed the announcement in the UK Autumn Budget of ‘The establishment of a Veterans Commissioner for Wales, who will work to improve the lives and opportunities of the Welsh veterans’ community, recognising their contribution to UK Armed Forces’.
He added:
“I will conclude by once again expressing gratitude for the significant contribution made by the Armed Forces to the COVID-19 response in Wales; emphasising the need to strive for peaceful resolutions to all conflicts; and remembering all those, military and civilian, who have lost their lives in wars.”
