The December Issue

The last issue of Veterans WORLD for 2011 is now online. 

In our December Issue you can: take a look at the new St Dunstan's Centre in Llandudno, find out how veterans may be entitled to help with small house repairs or learn about the National Arboretum's future plans in their tenth anniversary year.

From regional initiatives to national services, this issue covers a variety of topics to health care news, employment support to the Community Covenant Grants Scheme.  This is just a taster of what's in the magazine, so take a look today. 

StartHere . . . again!

StartHere provides online signposting for help and support

Our second podcast about the online information service is now available,

If you don't know where to go . . . then you should start here

In this second podcast, presenter Clare Ellis interviews Harvey Tilley, Assistant Director - Welfare Services from The Royal British Legion.

The Royal British Legion is one of the partner organisations working with StartHere

Harvey said:


“Helping our beneficiaries find and locate information to help them help themselves is key to our long term strategy. StartHere provides quality, trusted information that is not easily available anywhere else and it is very easy to use. The Royal British Legion has received extremely positive feedback on StartHere and we aim to build on this as part of our new strategy.”  

The podcast and other SPVA products are available to access on the SPVA Social Media Hub via our website and on various social media sites such as iTunes and YouTube.

If you don't know where to start...StartHere!

Our latest podcasts focus on this online information service.
 
StartHere is an online information service where you can search for information on help and support services that are available locally or on a national basis.

A number of organisations, including SPVA, have been working with the StartHere charity to provide specific guidance for the Armed Forces Community.

Spanning two podcasts; the first podcast is now available. It features presenter Joanne Lowe interviewing Jane Gammage, Community Partnerships Manager from StartHere, as she explains more about this innovative service.

Jane said:

"Providing access to reliable information about the services available to them is a crucial step to help people get the support to really make a difference to their lives. This is what StartHere is all about and we are really pleased to be able to make that difference to members of the Armed Forces Community. After listening to the podcast, take a look at StartHere".

The second podcast will be released next week and features presenter Clare Ellis speaking to Harvey Tilley, Assistant Director - Welfare Services for the Royal British Legion to find out about their involvement.

The podcast and other SPVA social media products are available to access on the SPVA Social Media Hub via the Veterans-UK website, and on various social media sites such as iTunes and YouTube.

Ready to take your call

One of the Helpline Operators taking a call

SPVA provides 'through life' support functions direct to around 900,000 service and ex-Service personnel. This includes two helplines providing information and advice - The Veterans-UK Helpline and the JPAC Enquiry Centre. Both helplines are free.

In a typical week, Veterans-UK FREE Helpline answer on average 4,000 calls. Enquiries relate to War Pensions, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, Service Records, Veterans Badge applications and more. If practical help or assistance cannot be given, the caller will be signposted to Organisations who will be able to help.

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency at Norcross receive on average 600 e-mails and letters a month. These include requests for Service Records, tracing relatives, Service Pension enquiries and information on medals, this list is not exhaustive.
The Veterans Helpline number is 0800 169 2277, additional calling facilities including a minicom(textphone) and overseas telephone number are also available.

Our lines are open between 8.15 am - 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and between 8.15am - 4.30pm on a Friday.

If you are a veteran, need help but don't know where to start . . . start here by ringing 0800 169 2277 and let's see if we can help you.

Please note, you may be offered a call-back if the helpline is particularly busy on the day you ring.

Watch out for a later post on the JPAC Enquiry Centre . . .

Latest issue of Veterans WORLD now available

Veterans WORLD raises awareness of help and advice available to veterans and their families

The latest issue of Veterans WORLD is available online. 

Veterans WORLD is the SPVA external publication, issued thrice-yearly to advisers who meet the public on a daily basis. With an estimated 4.8 million veterans living in the UK, it's guaranteed that they will meet veterans using their services.
Veterans WORLD is a good resource tool, highlighting the help, advice and support available to their veterans and families. This could be anything from a service provided by an ex-Service organisation, an MOD housing initiative to a grant provided by a charity.
There are other 18,000 advisers on our free distribution, from Citizen Advice Bureaux, Resettlement Officers, ex-Service organisations to Local Housing Officers. If you work in an advisory role, then you should consider applying for copies.
The latest issue, number 16, includes a front-page story on Armed Forces Day 2010, an update on the Armed Forces Community Welfare Pathway roll-out and how a flying charity helped a disabled veteran reach for the sky.