Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all Members and Officers to the Armed Forces Working Group Committee meeting.

To receive as an accurate record the minutes of the Armed Forces Working Group meeting held on the 30^th September 2021.

It was RESOLVED to approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the meeting of the Armed Forces Working Group held on the 30^th September 2021.

To receive a presentation from the Regional Supporting Service Children in Education (SSCE) Officer for Rhondda Cynon Taf, including an update on the work with schools, children and young people, and Armed Forces families.

With the aid of a Power Point presentation, the Regional School Liaison Officer provided Members with an overview of the purpose of SSCE Cymru towards supporting service children across Wales. It was highlighted to Members that the programme began in 2014 and has been funded by the Welsh Government since 2019. The programme aims to work collaboratively with schools, children, supporting organisations, Local Authorities (LA), Armed Forces families in order to gather views, experiences, build supporting networks, and raise awareness of service children across Wales.

The Regional School Liaison Officer advised Members of the broad definitions of a service child and informed Members of the vital role of SSCE Cymru in encouraging schools to think broadly when identifying their service children. Members were advised that since September 2019 the Project Manager along with the Armed Forces Covenant Trust have employed four Regional School Liaison Officers (RSLO’s); Members were made aware of staffing concerns in relation to RSLO’s in North and East Wales; However, recruitment advertisements have been implemented and the two posts will be filled within the coming weeks.

The Regional School Liaison Officer informed Members of their duties, these involve undertaking regular meetings and visits to schools with service children, ensuring to offer advice, support, CPD training, assistance in filling funding application forms and encouraging engagement with the Armed Forces community. Thus far, the RSLO’s have delivered CPD sessions to 91 participants from 43 schools. The team aims to promote the positives of being a service child, and beneficial impacts a service child towards a school.

The Regional School Liaison Officer informed Members of a project currently being undertaken by the RSLO’s known as the Armed Forces Friendly Status; The project aims at encouraging school engagement in supporting and allocating service children. The Officer confirmed there are in the process of allocating a person within Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) who will work alongside schools in RCT to enable them to achieve a bronze status.

Members were informed of the MOD LAP (Local Authority Partnership) Meeting; the meetings are undertaken in order to set action plans and discuss matters surrounding service children across Wales; It was confirmed that over half of the LA’s within Wales have attended the MOD LAP meeting.

The Regional School Liaison Officer informed Members of the importance of data collection for SSCE Cymru in order to identify the number of service children in Wales. Based on the Power Point presentation from 2020/21, the data collected highlighted that there are over 2500 service children in 550 schools across Wales; 157 are within Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council.  The Regional School Liaison Officer recognised the significance of school responses in providing accurate and reflective data of the service children, however Members were made aware that only 49 schools have responded out of 115 schools. The Regional School Liaison Officer confirmed progress being made in order to encourage engagement from schools as funding from the Welsh Government is distributed to LA’s depending on the number of service children  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To receive a presentation from the Armed Forces Liaison Officer for Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil, including an update on the Veteran Advice Service.

With the aid of a Power Point presentation, the Armed Forces Liaison Officer provided Members with an update on the current services and projects currently being undertaken by the Armed Forces team in order to support the Armed Forces community. To begin the Armed Forces Liaison Officer informed Members of RCT attainment of the Gold award as part of the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme. He confirmed that RCT Council will be re-applying for the award due to the tremendous efforts made to develop the services provided to Veterans with the aim of attaining the award again.

As part of Veteran Support, the Armed Forces Liaison Officer informed Members of the introduction of the guaranteed interview Scheme for Veterans and Reservists which went live in RCT at the beginning of January. The Armed Forces Liaison Officer acknowledged the transferable skills attained within the Armed Forces which would be of value to the Council.

To reach out to the Armed Forces Community, the team have partnered with CTP (Career Transition Partnerships) and Forces Family Jobs, to advertise relevant Council Jobs.

The School Liaison Officer went on by providing Members with an overview of the current events scheduled which include the Month of the Military Child in April which will be hosted by Forces Fitness along with a Residential Weekend. The Officer reiterated the importance of the Month of the Military Child by informing Members that it’s an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge Armed Forces Children throughout the UK.

As part of new projects, the Armed Forces Liaison Officer informed Members of the introduction of the Body and Mind Project. The team have connected with Andy’s Man Club in order to support Mental Health in Men. The Club will deliver free meditation sessions for individuals from the Armed Forces Community with the aim of reducing stress, negative emotions, and support those with PTSD; session are due to start at the beginning of April.

As part of Mental Health support for Veterans, the service will launch Armed Forces Community Park Walks and a Gardening Project in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park with the aim of providing exercise and improved Mental Health across the Armed Forces Community.

The Armed Forces Liaison Officer highlighted to Members the additional supporting services provided to Armed Forces Families; these included the RCT Council scheme which pays for the burial fees for Veterans. Members were informed that RCT Council is the only LA that provides this service.

Supporting services offered also include free access to Leisure facilities, and free swimming for Veterans. The Armed Forces Liaison Officer informed Members of the recent changes to policies which will provide greater supporting channels for Veterans; these included staff reservist policy to include Adult Cadet Instructors, changes to the Housing policy which ensures Veterans still have their priority banding despite being temporarily housed. The Armed Forces Liaison Officer was pleased to inform Members of the donations received as part of the Mayors Charity-Help for Heroes. Thus far £35,000 has been donated which has  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive an update on Armed Forces Day 2022.

The Strategic Manager provided a brief overview of the upcoming Armed Forces Day event scheduled for the 18^th June 2022. He confirmed the event will consist of a Parade within the Park and a family fun day with numerous activities. Infrastructures such as portable toilets, marquees and staging have already been arranged.  The Strategic Manager confirmed advertisements of the events will be distributed shortly detailing event details. To conclude the Strategic Manager welcomed the attendance of individuals and families to the event.

The Chair was pleased with the update and commended the Officer for efforts made for reintroducing the event back to the Community since the impact of Covid-19.

The Armed Forces Working Group RESOLVED:

-       To note verbal update