Fair provided wealth of information to veterans
The inaugural Veterans Recognition Awards took place on Thursday 25 July 2024 at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Canterbury. The event, which was staged by East Kent Mind, also brought together organisations from across the Canterbury and Thanet districts to host a Veterans Information Fair. East Kent Mind is a leading supporter of the veteran community and delivers a range of wellbeing support to ex-military personnel, reservists and their adult family members.
The awards recognised the outstanding contributions of the winners to supporting veterans in their local communities in a variety of settings including: Veterans Hubs, the Ramsgate Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club, the Royal Naval Association Ramsgate, Walking With the Wounded local authorities and the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions).
During the event I had the opportunity to walk around the venue and see veterans and members of their families engage with the different organisations that had information stands and find out what kinds of support that they are able to access locally. I also got to speak to some of the stallholders to learn about their organisations.
Kelly White and Lisa Cooksley-White attended the event to showcase the work that the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) based at the Veterans Village in Aylesford is doing to support veterans and their families.
After a military career veterans may need extra assistance to help them navigate the path to civilian employment. This is where Lifeworks an intensive four day employability skills course run by the RBLI can help. Currently this course is available only to veterans but provision will soon be expanded to include their families and family members of serving military personnel.
Nikki Ward a Community Engagement Worker for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund who covers the whole of Kent and South East London came to the event to help raise the profile of the work that the organisation does for RAF veterans.
Richard Morgan QVRM (Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal) who won a Veterans Recognition Award for his exemplary work in setting up and running the Isle of Thanet Armed Forces Veterans Hub based at the Royal British Legion Ramsgate Club.
“At the hub we are primarily there to signpost veterans onto organisations who we have direct contact with if needed”.
They also follow up with these veterans to make sure that they are getting the help that they need whether that is a placement or accessing NHS services. Richard also praised fellow award winner Mel Cooper who is the local Armed Forces Champion at the DWP for the support that she gives to local veterans.
Richard is also a proponent of the Military Civil Partnership in Thanet which was set up eighteen months ago in order to remind organisations across the district of their obligations under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Mark Deveson from the Financial Hardship Team at Kent County Council told me about the advice, guidance and support that they provide to households across the county who are struggling with the impacts of the cost of living crisis from vouchers to assist with food costs and gas and electricity. They also partner with organisations through the Refer Kent platform to help people with their mental health, physical health, employability and digital champions to help people get online.
It is hoped that this will become an annual event so that East Kent Mind and other organisations will be able to continue to highlight and reach out to more veterans across the Canterbury and Thanet districts, especially those who may not have engaged with support services before.
If you are interested in finding out more about East Kent Mind’s work with veterans please contact Karen Brinkman the charity’s Armed Forces Connector at: karenbrinkman@eastkentmind.org.uk
