Worcestershire charities unite to help forces veterans during coronavirus pandemic
National, regional and local military charities and veteran services have joined forces across Worcestershire to ensure the county’s veterans receive the help they need during the coronavirus pandemic.
The current Armed Forces Week provides opportunity to evaluate and support the work being done to support the county’s veterans.
National military charities such as SSAFA, the oldest military charity, continue to offer practical and emotional support via phone and online to the Armed Forces family.
Their trained caseworkers, who are all volunteers, operate throughout the county providing advice, guidance, and funding support to individuals in need of physical, financial, and emotional care.
The service extends to those veterans and their families who are serving custodial sentences.
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Age UK has been supporting veterans through its Joining Forces programme, taking more than 1,000 calls from veterans.
As a dedicated project for older veterans they have been providing virtual visitor telephone calls to those who are feeling isolated or concerned.
They are also carrying out guided conversations by telephone.
The guided conversations help to ensure that individuals have the support they need to live as independently as they would like.
The team aims to support people on a range of topics including benefits, help at home, mobility, navigating care, dementia wellbeing and accessing digital technology.
Conservative councillor Lucy Hodgson, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “It has been really heartening to see military charities really coming to the forefront during the pandemic.
“The tireless work that has gone in to adapting their existing services to ensure that veterans get the help and support they need during these testing times has been truly brilliant.
“They remain dedicated in helping our heroes and they are heroes in their own light.”
Stepway, based in Worcester, has taken its support online, with virtual drop-in meetings being held regularly on Skype and counselling sessions taking place on Zoom.
Once lockdown restrictions were lifted to encourage more outdoor activity the charity was quick to respond.
Worcestershire Community Foundation awarded Stepway a Covid-19 grant to part-fund equipment for a Forest Garden and Beekeeping project based at Pitchcroft, Worcester.
A number of their veterans are now attending regularly and safely, giving them a rare opportunity to leave the house, learn new skills and enjoy the outside world.
They are also inviting caseworkers from partner organisations to meet their clients outdoors in a quiet and safe place.
For further information on Worcestershire organisations supporting the Armed Forces veteran community during COVID-19, visit:http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/partnership/armedforcesCOVID19