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There is no summary of this meeting yet. One is written once the council publishes the minutes. The agenda and papers are below.
None.
The Minutes of the Panel held on 20 October 2025 were agreed as a correct record.
Finola Pickwell provided a comprehensive update on the following: - This years Armed Forces Covenant Conference would be held in Portsmouth Guildhall on the 23rd & 24th June 2026 (Armed Forces Week). This year’s Welsh National Armed Forces Day would be held in Pembrey Park on Sunday 28 June 2026. The closing date for the Valour Recognised Centres Development Fund was last Wednesday (21 January). A bid had gone in on behalf of five veteran’s hubs working in partnership from Cardiff to Pembroke, which included both Swansea Veterans Hub and Bulldogs. One of the roles of these hubs would be to work with smaller hubs and organisations to ensure they had the correct governance and were working towards becoming registered organisations. There is a systematic approach to the infrastructure around Veterans support £50m funding: - The establishment of a VALOUR HG was detailed that would capture data and use it to drive evidence-based policy design and MoD Veterans Services casework improvements and included: - The establishment of a UK-wide network of MOD employed field officers to connect services, ensure data flows and share best practise across their respective regions (these are NOT replacing AFLO’s). The development funding for Centres that bring together services that mattered most to Veterans in their area. Interviews were held last week for the Wales Valour Manager and confirmation of an appointment is awaited. Valour is currently building its teams, once the Valour Manager was in post, the Field officers for Wales would be recruited. The Northern pilot phase is currently underway and the full roll out of Valour should begin from April of this year onwards. The word from the OVA is: o VALOUR would be complicated and would take time to get it right. o Systems would need to develop over time as we learn about what works where. o The OVA would continue to work closely with partners across the UK. Please register the .Gov Valour information site for regular Valour updates. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/valour-information-and-next-steps The New Armed Forces Bill had been laid in Parliament. The second reading was scheduled for today, 26 January 2026. https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4065 Last Wednesday saw the MoDLAP Cymru meetings reinstated. The core purpose of MoDLAP Cymru was to draw together Welsh local authorities to work in collaboration to support the education and welfare needs of children from Armed Forces. This was in accordance with the commitments set out in the Armed Forces Covenant - that children and young people from Armed Forces families received the support they need to address barriers to participation, learning and achievement; benefit from the development of a high-quality education which was sustained; and achieved their full potential. I am working with SSCE to improve the support of Military Children in Swansea schools following recent contact from a local grandmother whose grandchildren are all Military Children and a Reservist recently posted to Swansea. Joanna Wolfe added that it was outlined during MODLAP that Welsh Government were intending to change the current definition of a service child. It will now include 6 years post service and supporting military connected young people in education up to 18 years old. A New Veterans support Hub is being established in Clydach at Vardre Road Community Centre, Clydach, Swansea, SA6 5LP and would launch our programme on Tuesday 3rd February 2026. The facility would be available between 10.30am and 1.30pm each and every Tuesday and Thursday, though this would eventually be extended to 4 days and contact would be available 24/7. We aimed to provide support and advice in all fields from Health, Education, Welfare, Financial, Mentoring, Employment etc. Clydach & Area Veterans Network would be working in partnership with such groups as Bulldog Veterans, Alabare and other support services. Stephen Cook stephencook943@gmail.com Integration with Clinical Networks: Victoria Williams suggested inviting Stephen Cook to clinical network meetings to ensure proper integration and oversight. The position situation would be assessed before proceeding. A calendar of events pertinent to the Armed Forces Community will be shared by Democratic Services with the minutes.
Lt Cdr Andy Davies outlined that he had two weeks left in his role and would be replaced in the interim by Lt Cdr Graham Blick. He would continue to attend the meeting until a permanent replacement had been appointed. The new CO visited again after his previous successful visit in November 2025 and visit maritime organisations in the area. Sea Cadet numbers remain the same at the moment and we are looking to get into the schools and other organisations to recruit more young people. Events such as coffee mornings will be arranged to showcase the facilities on offer. WO 1 Rob Govier reported that opportunities were being looked at for HMS Scott to visit Swansea in August / September 2026. The CEO was keen to keep the affiliation with Swansea. It was added that an option would be for local dignitaries and connections to visit the ship in Falmouth. Capt Huw Williams reported that the primary events at the end of 2025 were: a. 20 October was the last Armed Forces Forum which I was unable to attend as I was attending the funeral of one of our WWII Veterans, Mr Idwal Davies. b. Visit to Swansea Prison – 30 October: A very informative visit provided by Tony Strutt and the inmates showing the invaluable work that the inmates undertake in support of VAID. It was heartening to see that veterans who have fallen foul of the law and find themselves in prison being provided opportunities to better themselves and prepare for their discharge and return to civilian life. This was a very informative couple of hours and very worthwhile. Also accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan and the Veterans Commissioner of Wales. c. 9 November 2025: Remembrance Sunday was held across the county borough with masses of the local population coming out to show their support to the uniformed services. A massive thank you to the organisers and County Council for the hard work and dedication that was put into this, the most important day of the year for some of us – we will and must continue to remember Them. d. 11 November – Armistice Day – Annual event held at the Swansea Cenotaph and Boer War memorial. e. Between the 8-22 November 2025, the majority of the Squadron was deployed on their Annual Deployment Exercise across the UK. This year was a field based exercise where the unit was tested in role as a Logistical transport squadron. The deployed troops operated superbly and they achieved a string of passes, achieving an overall GREEN grading, the first ever Army reserve logistic Squadron to achieve this. This deployment meant numbers supporting remembrance were down, but hopefully in 2026, we will be back in force to march through Port Talbot. f. Although outside the county borough, a couple of additional events took place; On the 14 November I was invited to attend a World War 1 memorial unveiling in Pontrhydyfen. I could write pages on the history and manner in which this forgotten memorial was brought back to life. The memorial was found in a building in Pontrhydyfen some months ago and a committee of spirited ladies raised funds to get it refurbished, treated and rededicated. It was a wonderful afternoon and such a poignant event. Thank you to everyone involved. g. On 7 December 2025 we welcomed Kevin Sinfield to Swansea with one of his stops being The Grange ARC. We had a great turn out from local schools, fellow uniformed service representatives, local dignitaries and the public. A big thank you to the SW Police halberdiers and Richard Goodwin and his fellow piper. We really did give Kevin a massive boost in his fundraising and raising awareness for Motor Neurone Disease. Reference was also made to the welcome received by Kevin and the community engagement, which really impressed all those involved. h. Looking into 2026, we will support whatever events are forthcoming. The first event is the Swansea Air Cadets 85th anniversary parade and Minster service, which takes place on Sunday, 8 February 2026. Invitations had been sent to dignitaries and this was an open invite to the public to attend. Scheduled timings were outlined as follows: Western Street closed from 1245, and re-opened at 13:10; Form up at Builders Arms Oxford Street closed from 12:45 to 13:15 Salute at Indoor Market Entrance on Oxford Street 13:05 to 13:20 Oxford Street closed from 14:30 to 15:00 Western Street closed from 14:45 to 15:15 i. Para Association Quiz Night: Mr Dave Singletary contacted me following the meeting, asking if the Quiz Night could be advertised to the forum and distribution list. This would take place on 28 March 2026 in John Chard House. j. VE Day Commemoration: The annual VE Day Commemoration is scheduled for Sunday, 10 May 2026 at the Air Defence Memorial, Tawe Bridge. k. Armed Forces Day / Week was the last week of June and at the moment, the National event is scheduled for Saturday, 26th June 2026 at Pembrey Country Park; details as follows: - The confirmed location being Pembrey Country Park on Saturday, 27 June 2026, 1200-1600hrs. This will be a public facing event that would include a mix of stands from the AF, Cadets, Blue Light services, third sector etc, which would include a display area and stage. Set up would be 0800-1130hrs. There would be a short Veterans parade led by either a mil or cadet band. There would be AFC signings, likely to utilise the stage and part of the overall event and not a sidelined VIP only activity. This would be a free to attend concert that evening for families and Veterans. Free car parking and overnight camping would be available so that families can enjoy the party in a park feel. The event constrained what can be done in Swansea, but we are scoping a similar event to 2025, this time with its location being on the Waterfront Museum on Sunday, 27 June 2026. l. The Wales National Airshow dates had moved this year to over the weekend 24-26 July 2026. Details had been advertised on the Swansea Council website. m. In March, two of our personnel return off tour. They had been away from their families for 10 ½ months and would be looking forward to 6 weeks rest, recuperation and leave. We need to thank these people for holding their hands up to deploy, not forgetting that behind every service person is a family group who sacrifice so much when their mam, dad, partner are away. We thank them for their patience, compassion and fortitude. n. We are supporting other events in and around the area (from NPT across to the West of Wales) and my team would support any events planned.
Victoria Williams provided an update on veterans' mental health services, including referral statistics, waiting times, challenges in securing a psychiatrist and ongoing efforts to expand clinical outreach in partnership with local hubs. The following was provided: - Veterans NHS Wales Service Statistics: It was reported that 32 people were referred to Veterans NHS Wales in the last three months, with 17 opting in and 21 assessed. It was noted that there was a current three-month waiting list. Quality Network and Funding Limitations: It was explained that participation in the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Quality Network for Veterans Mental Health was not possible due to lack of funding, despite its potential benefits. Psychiatrist Recruitment Challenges: The ongoing difficulty in recruiting a psychiatrist for the service, a vacancy persisting for nearly three years, was acknowledged, including the lack of immediate solutions available. Medical Transition Team Collaboration: Discussions were underway with the medical transition team in Brecon to provide education and networking, clarifying referral pathways and appropriate use of veterans' mental health services. Expansion of Clinical Outreach: The plans to establish a weekly clinic at the Swansea Veterans Hub were announced, complementing the existing clinic at Bulldogs, to improve access to mental health support for veterans.
Joanna Wolfe, on behalf of Yasmine Todd, updated the meeting on efforts to improve engagement with local schools regarding armed forces-friendly status, data collection, and funding for service children. The following was discussed: - School Engagement and Armed Forces Friendly Status: It was reported that only one school in the area had achieved bronze armed forces friendly school status, with overall engagement from schools remaining low, ongoing collaboration with local authorities was needed to improve participation. Service Pupil Promise and Data Collection: Initiatives were underway to promote the service pupil promise and collect data on military-connected children, with only a 16% response rate so far and efforts being made to encourage schools to report and access available funding. Funding for Service Children: Only one school had secured £1,000 in funding to create a safe space for service children's mental health and well-being, with hopes for increased engagement and funding uptake in the future.
Community Wellbeing and Outdoor Activities Initiatives Floyd Morgan presented the activities and growth of Green Valley Woodcraft CIC, detailing outdoor wellbeing programmes, partnerships with veterans groups, and efforts to promote green prescribing and community engagement. He outlined the following: - Outdoor Wellbeing Programmes: The range of outdoor activities offered by Green Valley Woodcraft CIC were described, including bushcraft, hikes, archery, and air rifle sessions, aimed at reducing isolation and promoting mental health among veterans and the wider community. Partnerships and Community Events: The organisation had partnered with Swansea Veterans Hub and hosted events such as the Great Tommy Sleep Out and survival weekends for reserves, as well as fundraisers to support their activities. Safe Space and Accessibility: Green Valley Woodcraft CIC offered its woodland as a safe space for wild camping and community camps, supporting service personnel, blue light services and their families, with a refundable booking system to ensure commitment. Green Prescribing Initiatives: Green prescribing by connecting with local GPs to integrate outdoor activities into health and wellbeing strategies for the community was being explored. Swansea Veterans Hub Activities and Support Wayne Jenkins provided an update on Swansea Veterans Hub's recent activities, support for veterans and families, collaboration with other organisations and plans for future events and expanded services. The following were highlighted: - Festive Support and Community Engagement: Swansea Veterans Hub had supported over 25 homeless individuals during the festive period, provided food, clothing, and crisis support and hosted well-attended community events such as the carol service and Christmas party. Connected Forces Cymru Bid: The hub was part of a collaborative bid with three other hubs for the Valour Recognised Centres Development Fund, aiming to streamline support across South Wales under the Connected Forces Cymru project. Expanded Opening and Service Provision: The hub had increased its opening days to four per week, in line with Valour criteria and had secured a dedicated room for NHS Veterans Wales clinics, with ongoing collaboration with various support organisations. Upcoming Events and Outreach: Plans include participation in the Great Tommy Sleep Out and the distribution of new flyers with updated opening times, as well as continued outreach to veterans facing cost of living, housing, and social inclusion challenges.
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