Work has been ongoing to gather information to tell us where our local armed forces community can experience challenges. This includes during the immediate and longer-term transition from military to civilian life, as family members of current and former serving personnel, and any additional challenges linked to being a member of the armed forces community.

We would like to thank all those that have taken part in surveys, focus groups, and provided information to help us find out how we can better support our armed forces community.

We are in the final stages of producing a reader friendly document outlining how we intend to improve things for this community, based on feedback received. This will be made publicly available so keep an eye out for updates in upcoming editions of this newsletter.

A challenge highlighted in survey and focus group feedback was access to appropriate housing when leaving Service.

Berneslai Homes manage Barnsley Council’s social housing stock. Their lettings policy has recently been updated and came into place April 2024. The new policy can be accessed here. Amendments made to address challenges accessing social housing when leaving Service include:

• Extension of the period in which Service leavers can obtain Band 2 priority for rehousing prior to leaving service .
• A higher relative priority in Band 2 under the new policy due to the restriction of numbers in Band 1.
• Potential Band 1 priority in emergency situations i.e. a service leaver will be imminently homeless.

The allocation process outlined in the lettings policy ensures current or former members of the armed forces community are not disadvantaged by:

• Offering reasonable preference when allocating priority bands.
• Removing local connection criteria for those applying within 5 years of leaving Service.
• Disregarding ongoing or lump sum injury or disability payments when assessing priority.

Former armed forces personnel (including surviving partners) will still be allocated Band 2 priority if they are in need of social housing.

The Berneslai Homes website also offers information and signposting to a range of alternative housing options.

It is recommended those in need of housing apply at the earliest possible opportunity.

If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless contact Barnsley Council’s Housing Options team as soon as possible.

Health is another area the armed forces community can experience challenges. Your healthcare provider may be able to offer care better tailored to your needs as a member of the armed forces community. But they can only do this if they know who you are.

Tell your GP practice you are a member of the armed forces community and ask them to add this to your medical records. This will allow medical practitioners to consider your armed forces status as part of any physical and mental health care needs or treatment you may have.

The NHS also provide a step-by-step guide on how to move from military to civilian healthcare when leaving Service. It tells you what you need to do to help your GP access your military medical records. This can again help your civilian healthcare be tailored to your needs. 

Armed forces families can also experience challenges.

Barnsley’s family hubs are looking to run several ‘Parent Participation Panels’. This will be an opportunity for military parents and carers to join peers on our panels to share experiences, ideas and voice their suggestions in relation to the Barnsley Family hubs and Start for Life offer. If you are a parent or carer of a child resident in Barnsley, with at least one parent currently serving in the military we would like to hear from you.

You will be able to tell us what challenges you experience as a military family and how you might be better supported. It may also be an opportunity to support other military families in your local community.

For more information and to register your interest in taking part in the Parent Participation Panels and getting your views heard please contact Hayley Perry, Family Hubs Parent Participation Officer at hayleyperry1@barnsley.gov.uk.

Barnsley Council’s armed forces website has recently been updated. The website contains lots of useful information for members of the armed forces community. This includes information relating to available support in specific areas the community tells us they sometimes find challenging, as well as available support in other areas.

It also includes details of social groups the community may find beneficial, a long list of armed forces discounts, details from Barnsley’s Armed Forces Covenant Board meetings, and relevant updates useful to the community.

Visit the refreshed website to see what information may be useful to you.

An HM armed forces veteran ID card is a way to prove that you served in the UK armed forces. Those that left Service prior to December 2018 can now apply for an ID card. Those leaving Service after December 2018 will automatically get an ID card issued as part of their discharge process.

The card can make it quicker and easier to apply for support as a veteran. It can also be used to confirm your identity as a UK armed forces veteran for other things such as discounted services and other veteran schemes and initiatives. It is free to apply and there are options to apply online and over the phone.

If you cannot apply online contact the Veterans UK helpline who can send you a postal application. Email veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk  or call free on 0808 1914 218. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 8am - 4pm.

Barnsley has army, sea, and air cadet forces within the borough. As a cadet force adult volunteer you can help make a real difference to young people's lives by leading, inspiring and guiding.

As a cadet adult volunteer you can meet like minded people while having fun, learning new skills, potentially gaining new qualifications and developing your leadership potential.

If having lots of fun, taking part in action and adventure, while also giving back to the community, engaging in self-development and inspiring our younger generation is for you, why not visit the cadet forces websites and explore their adult volunteering opportunities:

• Army cadets
• Sea cadets
• Air cadets

Barnsley's Armed Forces Walkway is situated on Westgate, Barnsley, by the College Gardens and provides a space for family and friends to remember their loved ones who have served in HM Armed Forces.

Turner Signs Ltd, of Carlton, Barnsley, have recently supplied and fitted our new walkway lectern, with Turner's owner being a veteran himself. The lectern, which includes a braille plaque, explains that Barnsley is proud to support our servicemen and women and gives thanks for the brave work they have done, or are doing.

There are 4 new stones to be unveiled at the next walkway ceremony, taking place Saturday 15 June 2024 at 2pm. This will be part of Barnsley's Armed Forces Day celebrations taking part in the town centre on the same day. Stones being unveiled include:

• Yorkshire Volunteers, 3^rd/4^th Battalion, Barnsley D and A Company.
• Sergeant JZ Sobanski, Royal Corps of Transport.
• Sergeant R Heath, 44 Rhodesia Squadron.
• Corporal C Gosz, Kings Own Light Infantry, 2^nd Light Infantry.

Purchasing a stone

Stones can be purchased at any time of the year, for individuals that have a connection to Barnsley and have served in any of HM Armed Forces. Stones can also be purchased to represent a military unit with a clear link to Barnsley.

Each stone costs £300 which is inclusive of:

• VAT
• Engraving
• Positioning on the walkway
• Unveiling ceremony

Annual ceremonies are held to unveil newly purchased stones. If you are interested in purchasing a stone for an individual, or on behalf of a unit, please visit the HM Armed Forces Walkway page.

The last armed forces newsletter stated Barnsley's Armed Forces Day 2024 would be held in Penistone, arranged by Penistone Tri Services CIC, with support from the Council. Penistone Tri Services CIC have ceased to operate and so this year, and all subsequent Armed Forces Days will be arranged by Barnsley Council.

This year's event will take place in Barnsley Town Centre on Saturday 15 June 2024. The day will begin with a dedicated veteran's breakfast in Market Kitchen at 8.30am. This will be followed by a marching parade, mustering on New Street at 10.10am, and ending in the Glass Works Square.

This will be followed by a full day of family friendly activities, stalls and performances, all taking place in the town centre/Glass Works Square and surrounding areas.

The day promises a fantastic schedule of fun and exciting events and activities to celebrate our Armed Forces. There will be something for everyone so come on down and have a great day!

The next Armed Forces Walkway unveiling ceremony, detailed above, will also be held on 15 June, as part of the wider Armed Forces Day celebrations. 

Further details of the day's planned activities will be shared on the Armed Forces Barnsley website and social media sites, so keep your eyes peeled for updates.

6 June 2024 marks the 80^th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944.

To mark this anniversary a remembrance service, organised by the Council, will take place at the war memorial in front of the Town Hall.

The ceremony will begin just before 11am where a 2 minute silence will be observed, followed by a short service.

Barnsley's Armed Forces and Veteran's breakfast clubs are a great place for veterans and serving armed forces personnel to meet like minded people in a relaxed, safe, social environment for support, general chat and banter while enjoying a great breakfast.

Two locations host the breakfast clubs in Barnsley:

• Manx Arms, 32 Sheffield Rd, S70 1HP - Every Saturday at 9.30am
• The Snap Tin Cafe, 1 Barnburgh Lane, Goldthorpe, S63 9PG - Alternate Fridays at 9.30am.

More details can be found here.