Council sets up fund for veterans

CITY armed forces veterans are being urged to take advantage of a Veterans’ Fund set up by Swansea Council.

The £25,000 fund was agreed by the council as part of its budget for 2021-22 and armed forces veterans can apply to the fund for help.

The fund is among a range of support available to veterans or serving members of the armed forces under the council’s Armed Forces Community Covenant.

Rob Stewart, leader of the council, said: “On Remembrance Day we should never forget that support for the armed forces is a year-round duty for us all.

“The veterans’ budget aims to provide a little bit of extra support to veterans or serving members of the armed forces.

He added: “The fund will support initiatives which address veterans’ issues and the veterans themselves. The fund welcomes new initiatives/innovations and will seed-fund new ideas. “Charitable or voluntary organisations, those with charitable objectives and notfor-private-profit organisations are eligible to apply. If the grant is to support an individual, the grant will be paid via the applicant organisation – individuals cannot apply for grant funding directly.” Wendy Lewis, the council’s armed forces champion, said: “I meet with veterans and veterans’ groups frequently and I know just how important it is to them that the community around them are supportive.

“I’m confident this new fund will also make a difference to those who need it.”

Cllr Lewis said: “Communities in Swansea have a proud heritage of service in the armed forces. Our support for past and current members of the armed forces is unstinting and year-round.

“As a council, we’ve also made a commitment to adopt our city’s community war memorials and cenotaphs to ensure they are looked after for future generations. It’s been a job the veterans have done for many years.

“But we want to reassure them that their communities are playing their part too for the future.”

The application page for veterans’ fund grants will be going on the council’s armed forces web page in the coming days: www. swansea.gov.uk/article/9934/ Armed-forces-community-covenant

In the meantime, anyone who wants to make an initial inquiry can contact Spencer Martin at spencer.martin@swansea.gov.uk

On Remembrance Day we should never forget that support for the armed forces is a yearround duty for us all Rob Stewart, leader of the council