Provides support to veterans that are experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their current home. Veterans can be helped to find suitable accommodation, which may include housing with an element of support if this is appropriate. The team can also support veterans that may be at risk of homelessness to maintain their current home. 

The dedicated team has strong links with the veteran charity sector that provides support to address underlying causes of homelessness.

Following an assessment of need and guided by the veteran's own choice, veteran's are matched with appropriate supported housing, or activities to prevent homelessness occurring are offered.

More information can be found on the Op Fortitude website here.

Referrals can be made through several agencies or by veterans themselves and can be made online here or by calling 0800 9520774.

The NHS Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service providing specialist support to veterans who have physical health problems as a result of their time in the armed forces.

Support is available regardless of when a veteran's Service related physical health problem first appeared and no matter when they left the armed forces. It can also help family members access appropriate support services.

The service has access to a network of clinicians with a military background and/or an understanding of the military and these clinicians work closely with GP's, specialist NHS veteran services, and military and non-military charities and organisations.

The service is accessed through GP referral only so it is important to make your GP aware of your Armed Forces Community status.

A specialist NHS mental health service to support serving personnel who are due to leave the military, reservists, veterans and their families.

The service works with armed forces charities to help get the right type of specialist care, support, and treatment for your specific needs.  The service is supported by trained professionals from, or with experience of working with the armed forces community.

You can access the service yourself or you can ask you GP, healthcare representative, or a charity to refer you.

For more details of how the Op Courage service can help and details of how to contact your local service please follow this link.

Delivered by the Forces Employment Charity, commissioned by the NHS. Support for veterans in contact with the justice system, providing emotional and practical support, enabling veterans to access specialist support in areas such as health, housing and employment

Support is available pre and post custody with veterans able to self-refer or be referred by specialist police teams or other statutory organisations.

Op Nova caseworkers understand the experiences of ex-Service personnel both during and after their military careers. Support provided helps veterans build the strength needed to make changes to their lives and access support through health and other specialist services.

More information about the service and the referral form for organisations can be found on the website here.

Veterans can self refer by calling 0800 917 7299 or emailing opnova@forcesemployment.org.uk Organisations can also use this phone number and email address to make referrals.

In partnership with The Ripple Pond, the Poppy Factory offer one to one employment support for adult family members who support or care for a member of the armed forces community who has, or has recovered from a health condition.

You will be supported and empowered to overcome challenges you may face as an armed forces community family member when trying to access work that suits your circumstances.

Support can be delivered by phone, email and video call.

For more information about what type of support is provided and how to register for support visit the Poppy Factory website.

A government initiative to support service leavers identify any adjustments or additional requirements that may support you in civilian employment. The passport provides Service Leavers with a record of adjustments and/or additional requirements you may need in civilian work.

The passport is specific to you and moves with you through your civilian employment journey and helps to start those conversations with employers about any required 'in-work' support you may need.

For more information visit the government website here.

A government scheme to help get into, or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability. 

Support is dependant on your needs but can include, for example:

• A grant to help pay for practical support with your work.
• Support with managing your mental health at work.
• Money to pay for communication support at interviews.

Although this is not an armed forces community specific support scheme, it may help members of the armed forces community get into or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.

To find out more information, check eligibility criteria, and make an application to the scheme visit the government website here.

There are many forms of sexual violence, with any unwanted sexual act or activity being classed as such. This can include rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, forced marriage, so-called honour based violence, female genital mutilation, sexual exploitation and others. The Barnsley Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Service (BSARCS) delivers a range of support to victims and survivors of sexual harm. 

The first step to seeking support for sexual abuse may be challenging, but BSARCS are there to support men, women, and children every step of the way. They also offer help to those that may have experienced sexual violence many years ago but have not yet reached out for support.

For more information please visit the BSARCS website.

The services mentioned in this newsletter are a very small proportion of support out there for the Armed Forces Community, it would be impossible to list the full range of support available, so this newsletter has focussed on a few key areas of new and existing services you might not be aware of.

Barnsley Council's armed forces website provides details of a more comprehensive list of support available to the armed forces community in several areas, including:

• Community and relationships
• Employment, education and skills
• Help with finance and debt
• Health and wellbeing
• Making a home in civilian society
• Veterans and the law

To see what other support is available to the armed forces community please visit Barnsley Council's dedicated armed forces website.

The Ministry and Defence and Office for Veteran's Affairs are working on the delivery of a digital verification service to apply for a HM Armed Forces Veteran's Card.

The HM Armed Forces Veteran Card will allow veterans to quickly and easily prove their veteran status where required, allowing simpler access to key support from government, charities, local authorities, and other organisations. This service will be available for those that left Service prior to December 2018, as ID cards were not automatically issued as part of the discharge process prior to this date.

Roll-out will be in phases according to service years to manage the volume of requests and prevent any potential delays resulting from demand exceeding capacity.

Testing started this summer, and cards are expected to become available to veterans later this year. A paper-based application process will also be made available for veterans who are unable to use the online service.

We will bring more updates on the progress of the rollout as they become available.

We are fast approaching the period of Remembrance and as always Barnsley will remember those that fought for our freedom and sacrificed their own lives to protect others.

Remembrance events taking place in the Town Centre include:

• Friday 10 November, 11am - Barnsley children's/young person's Remembrance Service at the war memorial at the Town Hall.
• Thursday 9 November, 7pm - Festival of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Church Street, Barnsley - hosted by the Churchfield Branch of Royal British Legion.
• Sunday 12 November, 11am - Town Centre Remembrance Service at the war memorial at the Town Hall.

There are also Remembrance Services held at the war memorials in several of the borough's towns and villages that are independently organised by local Royal British Legion branches or local Churches. 

Veterans Tri Services CIC are once again hosting Armed Forces Day Penistone on Saturday 22 June 2024 from 12-4pm. The event will be held at Penistone Showground. 

The group are looking for volunteers to support across the weekend, covering Friday 21 through to Sunday 23 June. Volunteer roles will include:

• Putting up signs in the area
• Marquees and tent set up
• Marking out of field 
• Gate marshals - taking payments and checking tickets
• Field marshals
• Car park marshals
• Incident reporting
• Directing participants on arrival
• Clearing down of field

If you would be interested in supporting the group to deliver the Armed Forces Day 2024 celebrations or would like to support the group as a committee member please email info@triservicescic.co.uk 

Barnsley Council are extremely proud of our local armed forces community, with the Armed Forces Walkway providing a space dedicated to honouring those that have served, and those that are still serving. The walkway is situated on Westgate, Barnsley, by the College Gardens and provides a space for family and friends to remember their loved ones.

Families that have recently purchased a walkway stone, and attended one of the annual unveiling ceremonies have said:

‘It was a lovely poignant service & good to see so many there’.

‘Last Saturday's ceremony was perfect, poignant, personal, superb, amazing. A massive thank you to you for making it special I can't tell you how much it means to me, our journey started with the army and now I have closure of our final journey with the stone’.

‘Thank you for organising a lovely unveiling ceremony’.

The honed granite stones feature the name, rank, and service number of the individual being honoured. Stones can also be purchased for armed forces units that have a connection with Barnsley. If you would like to make a dedication to your loved one in this way, or purchase the perfect Christmas gift for someone, with a permanent reminder of their loved one who has served, or is still serving in HM Armed Forces, and for more information please click the button below.

We want this newsletter to be as accurate, useful, and informative as possible. We're keen to get your feedback on the content of these newsletters.

If you have any ideas for future issues or questions about anything included, please contact armedforcescouncilqueries@barnsley.gov.uk.