Grŵp Arbenigol ar Anghenion Cymuned y Lluoedd Arfog yng Nghymru: 5 Rhagfyr 2024

In person

• Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales (CSTNW)
• Bethan Phillips, Private Secretary to the Cabinet Secretary (BP)
• Liz Lalley, Director, Risk Resilience, Comm Safety, Ops and North Wales (LL)
• Mike Connolly Deputy Director, Community Safey Division (MC)
• Peter Kellam, Head of Armed Forces Branch (PK)
• Peter Evans, Armed Forces Branch (PE)
• Rob Wilson, Armed Forces Branch (RW)

External

• Air Commodore Rob Woods, Air Officer Wales (AOW)
• Col Sion Walker, HQ 160 Brigade (SW)
• Col (Retd) Dominic Morgan, RFCA (DM)
• Col (Retd) James Philips, Armed Forces Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales (JP)
• Adrian Leslie, Royal British Legion (AL)

Online

• Sian Garstang, Welsh Government Education (SG)
• Omer Williams, Welsh Government Housing (OW) 
• Sarah Rhodes, Welsh Government Housing (SR)
• Paul Morris, Police Liaison Officer (PM)
• Sara Smith, Welsh Government Education (SS)

External 

• Comd Stephen Henaghen, Royal Navy (SH)
• Lt Col Adrian Hunter, HQ 160 Brigade (AH)
• Patrick O'Brien, Ministry of Defence (PoB)
• Vicky Brindley, Navy Families Federation (VB)
• Emma Perrin, Army Families Federation (EP)
• Ceri Hutchinson, Veterans Commissioner for Wales (CH)
• Cllr Lis Burnett, WLGA (LB)
• Rachel Morgan, WLGA (RM)
• Brian Chenier, BSO Prosthetics, BLESMA (BC)
• Stephen Boswell BLESMA (SB)
• Shabina Aqil, UK Ministry of Justice (SA)
• Nicola Floyd, UK Ministry of Justice (NF)
• Roy Brown, COBSEO (RB)

Apologies

• Jon Lane, Welsh Government Health
• Matt Downton, Welsh Government Health
• Lucy Hoddinott, Welsh Government Education
• Morgan Price, Office of Veterans Affairs

External

• Cdre Tristram Kirkwood RN
• Brig Nick Thomas, HQ 160 Brigade
• Vanessa Plumley, RAF Families Federation
• Neil Kitchener, NHS Wales
• Briony Simpson, Ministry of Defence
• Jonathan Price, Ministry of Defence
• Darren Millar MS, Chair of Senedd Cross-Party Group on the Armed Forces

The Cabinet Secretary welcomed delegates to the meeting. This was followed by a short round of introductions

The Cabinet Secretary noted in relation to plans for the Draft Budget that he was confident of continued, and increased funding for the Armed Forces Liaison Officers (AFLO) programme for FY 2025 to 2026.

PK gave an analysis of findings from the WG ‘dashboard’ regarding the status of the Armed Forces Covenant in Wales.

Serving community

In relation to personnel currently serving, SW welcomed the assessment provided. He noted that specific issues for Army personnel included increasing commuting from Wales with the partner/spouse remaining at home. The impact of cost of living / fuel costs was becoming more evident. 

Dental access remained a concern. SW had raised the question internally as to whether dental service for serving personnel could be extended to families but noted obvious budgetary constraints within MOD in achieving this. Both the RAF Families Federation and AOW identified dental access as the most prevalent issue raised by RAF Service Families, including at RAF Valley on Anglesey were particularly affected by the lack of access to NHS Services there (a practice which had provided some coverage to the RAF community there having recently closed).  

In relation to the dashboard SW would welcome an education slide. This should cover schools, higher and further education and crossover into transition matters.

DM identified the importance of recognising Reservists within the dashboard with the benefits of a dedicated slide.

The Army Families Federation were running a childcare survey and would share a link for circulation. 

Action: Armed Forces Branch to work with AFEG members to develop specific slides for Education and Reservists for the next iteration of the dashboard.

Veterans

The Commissioner provided a summary of his recent annual report to accompany the slides provided on Veterans’ matters. He stated that Wales was largely a ‘pretty good place to be a veteran’ but with concerns regarding mental health and orthopaedics provision.

He sees England as having moved ahead of Wales in this area. Veterans NHS Wales (VNHSW) operates only a ‘9 to 5’ service. Wales has no substance misuse pathway and provision is lacking for complex mental health issues for veterans who must access crisis teams who are under great pressure. He emphasised his wish to see embedded peer mentors across VNHSW. 

In relation to orthopaedics he identified a regular delay for musculoskeletal issues including female veterans across the service in Wales as a priority issue he would like to see action on.

On housing he identified specific projects being developed via OP FORTITUDE and an interest in veteran’s self-build projects noting plans for a project in Llanelli. 

On criminal justice, the Commissioner noted how there was no OP NOVA equivalent for veterans in Wales, stating that the OP NOVA running in England has resulted in a 70% reduction in re-offending from the people it supports. 

Local authorities

CSTNW in noting the sIide on local authority indicators identified that he would like to see Local Authority Champions and Chief Executives have access to the dashboard. RM for the WLGA related that WG officials had presented the dashboard to the WLGA Armed Forces Champions Forum. 

The Cabinet Secretary offered to attend the next WLGA forum meeting. 

Action: WLGA and WG Armed Forces Branch to provide WLGA with the Dashboard and a readout from the meeting for circulation to Local Authorities via Lead Officers / Armed Forces Champions.

Employment

Spousal employment was identified as an increasing issue and within that Welsh language requirements as an area where those moving into Wales for a posting could be at a disadvantage, including with local authorities and the wider public sector.  It was not clear whether this was a perceived or actual barrier to applying for jobs but it was agreed that the Armed Forces Branch might engage to better understand the issue and the potential for any action to reduce this potential disadvantage.

DM noted that the focus of the employer recognition scheme going forward would be focussing on the Gold and Silver tier employers. 

Action: Armed Forces branch to liaise with 160 Bde to better understand the issue and any supporting evidence and with employment policy colleagues. 

Health

PK identified his intention to work with Health colleagues to develop the health element of the dashboard.

CSNWT was keen share the dashboard with ministerial colleagues. He particularly identified dentistry, spousal employment and potential opportunities for veterans within plans for 20,000 new homes in Wales as areas he would like to raise with colleagues. For future meetings he would like to see all departments with an interest in the Armed Forces Community appropriately represented at the Group.

Action: Armed Forces Branch to work with Private Office on engagement with Cabinet Colleagues.

Action: DD CSD to engage with DDs to secure cross-portfolio senior attendance at future meetings.  

Benchmarking

The AOW asked if there is an UK-wide comparison of data/provision. PE stated that it would be very useful for the group to get and insight, and therefore better understanding of the effectiveness and scope of UK-wide projects.

MC took the Chair from this point, CS TNW having left. MC suggested for this agenda item partners should update the group of any urgent matters arising rather than a general update. This was agreed by the group.

DM for RFCA identified the ‘Denny Report’ on the social value of the Cadet Forces in Wales as a report likely to be of interest to Group members. 

Action: Armed Forces branch to circulate cadet forces report. 

The Veterans Commissioner identified UK Government’s Op VALOUR and the production of a new UK Veterans Strategy as key pieces of recently commenced and fast-paced work for the Group to be aware of, and the importance of Welsh and other devolved nations’ input. It was confirmed that WG officials are engaged with the OVA on this. 

BC for BLESMA provided an update on the Veterans Mobility Fund administered by BLESMA and Help Four Heroes (H4H). Since March 2024, £596,514.00 of funding has been approved to 100 individual veterans. 514 applications of which 196 were not eligible. There had been a reduction in applications from 205 in March to 16 in November 2024. The Armed Forces Branch AF branch had circulated information on the scheme still being open via AFLOs and the charities networks.

SH advised that Brigadier Graeme Fraser RM has left the role of Commander Reserve Naval Forces West and Wales. Commodore Tristram Kirkwood RN his replacement is keen to engage with officials and the wider sector in Wales. MC placed on record thanks to Brigadier Fraser RM and that CSNWT had written to him to offer him his thanks.

The Cabinet Secretary thanked the attendees for their contributions.  He reflected on the opportunity to work with the UK Government in relation to plans for broadening the Armed Forces Covenant, for an Armed Forces Commissioner and on a new Veterans Strategy.   

AOW identified the importance of managing gapped roles, noting the recent loss of the West Wales AFLO to a Reserves deployment. The Armed Forces Branch would be meeting with the Lead Officers for West Wales to understand their plans for the post identified. How business continuity and mutual support is provide was also an area that could be picked up within discussion on moving to a long-term blueprint. 

AL for RBL identified how the plans for potential expansion of covenant may have implications for AFLOs. 

The minutes and actions from the last meeting were agreed.

• Armed Forces Branch to work AFEG members to develop specific slides for Education and Reservists for the next iteration of the dashboard. Armed Forces Branch. 
• WLGA and WG Armed Forces Branch to provide WLGA with the Dashboard and a readout from the meeting for circulation to Local Authorities via Lead Officers / Armed Forces Champions. WLGA/Armed Forces Branch
• Armed Forces Branch to liaise with 160 Bde to better understand the issue and any supporting evidence and with Employment policy colleagues. Armed Forces Branch.
• Armed Forces Branch to work with Private Office on engagement with Cabinet Colleagues. Armed Forces Branch.
• DD CSD to engage with DDs to secure cross-portfolio senior attendance at future meetings. DD CSD
• Armed Forces Branch to circulate cadet forces report. Armed Forces Branch.
• Armed Forces Branch, working group on the AFLO programme to be established with a first meeting early in the New Year. Armed Forces Branch.