A ‘significant’ new service for ex-servicemen and women has been launched.
Backed by £2 million from the Ministry of Defence’s Covenant Fund, ‘Veterans’ Gateway’ is designed to help former Servicemen and women of all ages and backgrounds navigate their new lives as civilians.
Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb said: “Pembrokeshire has a proud military history, from RAF Brawdy to the 14th Signal Regiment and is home to a great number of veterans. In my role as a constituency MP, the Veterans’ Gateway will prove invaluable in offering a one-stop-shop for signposting veterans to guidance on housing and employment, finance, mental and physical health.
“The Government’s significant investment honours the nation’s Armed Forces Covenant and draws together all available support for our Armed Forces community together for the first time.”
From advice on housing and finance to help with health concerns, the Gateway will bring together the vast range of charities and support on offer, guiding veterans directly to the help they need, when and where they need it.
The new 24-hour online chat, phone, and text message service brings the Armed Forces support community together in a single place for the first time - delivered by a Royal British Legion-led consortium with Poppyscotland, Combat Stress, Connect Assist, the Ministry of Defence and SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity. The service centre, based near Cardiff in South Wales, is manned partly by veterans to help ensure that callers can speak to someone who can understand their experience.
To contact Veterans’ Gateway Call: 0808 802 1212 Text: 81212 or visit: www.veteransgateway.org.uk