THE borough council has welcomed national funding for Warrington’s Armed Forces Community Support charity based in Orford.
Following a government announcement which pledged £13 million funding for 14 existing veteran centres, three regional charity veteran support organisations – Warrington Armed Forces Community Support, Veterans in Communities (VIC), and Liverpool’s Veterans HQ, were successful in securing funding to deliver VALOUR for the North West for the next three years.
This funding forms part of the UK’s first government funded network of 14 veteran centres, under the wider £50 million VALOUR system, created to connect veterans with co-ordinated support across health, housing, employment and wellbeing.
In recent months, the council has been working with the Armed Forces Community Support charity to bring together a team across the council’s housing, wellbeing, employment support, and public health services, as part of the town’s Armed Forces Community Support (AFCS) Team Around the Veteran.
In February this year, the council also signed its refreshed Armed Forces Covenant, which ensures the council is committed to meeting its commitments to support the needs of the armed forces community.
Deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for veterans, Cllr Jean Flaherty (pictured above) said: “We welcome this government funding, applied for by our local Veteran Charity, which will have a significant positive impact on our local armed forces community. The work of Warrington’s Armed Forces Community Support and the council together is vital in providing support and community for our veterans.
“As a council, we are proud to play our part in supporting our veterans. We must celebrate the work of our Warrington’s Armed Forces Community Support Charity, and I am pleased that we have been able to support their successful funding bid under the VALOUR network.
“I know that this funding will bring huge benefits and make a significant difference to our local armed forces community, ensuring they continue to receive help and support…”
