Mayor Bev Craig visits Wigan to set out plans to support veterans
Mayor Bev Craig has set out her plans to expand support for veterans across the city region, including a new 'Greater Manchester gold standard' of support, building on Greater Manchester's support for veterans through the Armed Forces Covenant.
Ahead of Remembrance Day, Mayor Bev Craig has set out her plans to expand support for veterans across the city region.
The Mayor visited the Armed Forces Community HQ in Wigan to announce a new ‘Greater Manchester gold standard’ of support for veterans including; expanding support from Greater Manchester’s A Bed Every Night scheme, greater access to social and affordable housing, and better access to mental health, welfare advice and advocacy support.
This housing package for veterans plans to build on Greater Manchester’s support for veterans through the Armed Forces Covenant.
Lessons will also be taken from the Armed Forces Community HQ (AFCHQ) in Wigan which the Mayor visited, and has helped 123 veterans into permanent homes across Greater Manchester.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, said: “As Mayor of Greater Manchester I want to be clear – nobody who has served our nation should ever face a life on the streets.
“Here in Greater Manchester, we have led the way in tackling rough sleeping and we know that, especially for veterans, that means more than just a roof over your head. It means proper wraparound support, including care from mental health specialists who understand the needs of veterans, advice and access to long-term housing that is affordable, and a simple route into services that veterans can find in their local community.
“This will be a new Greater Manchester gold standard of support for our veterans and we’ll take lessons from places like Armed Forces Community HQ in Wigan who are already pioneering successful support for veterans.
“In a country as rich as ours, nobody should ever find themselves without a place to call home – especially those who have protected our freedoms in uniform. Today, we make a clear commitment to our veterans that we will serve you as you served us - every day of the year – not just on Remembrance Day.”
The Mayor visited veterans to hear first-hand, their experiences of life after the armed forces and how they had been helped to find their feet.
The Armed Forces Community HQ in Wigan is Greater Manchester’s VALOUR Recognised Centre, delivering a pioneering service with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Wigan Council and other local services.
The service connects veterans with mental health, welfare, advocacy and peer support, bringing existing council, housing, health and voluntary-sector services together.
Laura Ingham, Managing Director at the AFCHQ said: “Veterans are facing homelessness, financial hardship, poor mental health and circumstances that can make finding or keeping a home incredibly difficult.
“We believe that every veteran deserves a key to their own front door at the earliest opportunity, a safe and secure place to call home that is the foundation to achieving better life chances.
“This means turning the Covenant into practical action: ensuring that services are trauma-informed and Armed Forces aware, recognising the complex and interconnected challenges, removing barriers to support and intervening earlier rather than waiting until somebody reaches crisis point.
“We are proud to be working alongside partners across Greater Manchester to make that a reality.”