Supporting our veterans
Ards and North Down Borough Council signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2015 in recognition of the cross-party support for our local Armed Forces personnel. This covenant is our public pledge to continue to support the local Armed Forces community: the Army, the Naval Service and the Royal Air Force.
We are committed to supporting veterans in our council area. Many veterans face challenging times after leaving the Armed Forces and we want to ensure that all veterans receive the support and care they deserve. Working closely with the Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland, Danny Kinahan and The Northern Ireland Veterans' Support Office, the council has put together this web page to ensure that our local veterans can access support and services to assist them in adapting to civilian life after retirement.
Support
Existing support in Ards and North Down (and across Northern Ireland) can be accessed via this link: Support Organisations - Northern Ireland Veterans Support Office | NIVSO
Access the Mental Health Guide via this link: A Guide to Veterans' Mental Health Provision in Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Veterans' Support Office (NIVSO) is based in Belfast and is the lead support and signposting service linking veterans, veterans' groups, statutory and non-statutory bodies, and charities supporting veterans in Northern Ireland. They build the capacity to deliver the Armed Forces Covenant in Northern Ireland, and educate key players within local communities regarding the needs of veterans, offering solutions to problems, suggestions and ideas, advocacy, signposting and practical help on issues including:
- Financial support
- Health and wellbeing
- Pensions and benefits
- Housing
- Legal
The committee has produced a Veterans' Handbook which is designed to be a signpost to local agencies.
Veterans' Champion
A Veterans' Champion is a volunteer role held by an elected member of the council. There are 11 Veterans' Champions throughout Northern Ireland, representing each constituency across the province. Veterans' Champions have a deep-seated passion for aiding and uplifting veterans. They serve as a point of contact and support for veterans and their families, understanding the unique challenges veterans may face, and working to bridge the gap between veterans and their communities. These champions are advocates, connectors, and sources of advice and support.
The Veterans' Champion in Ards and North Down is Alderman Trevor Cummings.
Contact Trevor on 07889 678490 or trevor.cummings@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
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