Support service for veterans

A new service funded by the NHS is launching in Warrington for veterans who need help with drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, debt, family breakdown or housing issues.
Live At Ease offers free one-to-one support to all ex-forces personnel and their families so they can cope with issues that have occurred during or after working in the services.
This project has been commissioned and funded by Central and Eastern Cheshire NHS Primary Care Trust and it covers the whole of North West England.
Live At Ease will work closely with other agencies in Warrington that support veterans including Warrington Jobcentre Plus, the Military Veterans Forum, Remploy Warrington and the probation office at Warrington Crown Court.
The new service pulls together the services offered by existing military organisations and charities, voluntary groups, the NHS and Probation Service and provides one point of contact for veterans seeking help.
Live At Ease was commissioned after research showed that treatment for conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression were much more effective amongst the ex-forces community if a range of welfare issues were dealt with first.
These practical and emotional issues often arise when people make the switch from service to ‘civvy street’.
Veterans may find themselves drinking too much to cope with big life changes or they might struggle to deal with the strain that resettlement puts on family relationships. Housing is another issue, as many veterans have relied on forces accommodation in the past.
Many ex-forces personnel find it hard to translate military skills to civvy jobs and have problems finding work. Others have difficulty managing money as they find themselves in charge of bills again and often have to survive on a low income.
Anyone who has ever served in the forces and lives in the North West can use Live At Ease. They may have left the military yesterday or 40 years ago. The programme is also available to their families.
Each client has a dedicated caseworker who puts a support plan together and ensures they quickly get the right support.
Michael True, head of service for Live At Ease said, “Cheshire is home to over 70,000 veterans – nearly one sixth of the region’s ex-forces population. Research shows that many of these veterans find the transition to civvy street challenging. Live At Ease pulls together support services and provides one point of contact for veterans seeking help with practical and emotional challenges. If these issues aren’t addressed they can often lead to long term physical and mental health problems.”