Citizens Advice Telford & the Wrekin has joined the Armed Forces Covenant to help ensure local Veterans, serving personnel and their families could access support they need.
The charity strategized with other organisations and current and previous members of the Armed Forces to plan and deliver a weekly information hub.
Citizens Advice Telford & the Wrekin is committed and recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to their business. They seek to uphold the principles and ethos of the Armed Forces Covenant by embedding them within the Citizens Advice Service across Telford & Wrekin. Advisors are made aware of the additional needs that anyone with a current or historical link to the Armed Forces may have and maximise the use of existing Armed Forces specific resources (charities, national help lines etc) that provide service and support over and above that available to the general population
The charity is dedicated to promoting and raising awareness that they are an armed forces-friendly organisation to ensure Veterans and their families of the help Citizens Advice can offer, including volunteering opportunities.
Due to social distancing measures imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the AFC Hub happens virtually every Tuesday from 11am lasting 1-2 hours and available on the Zoom platform. Those interested can register via Eventbrite or look on the charity’s Twitter; @TelfordCAB to get the link.
Valerie Graham the Project lead said “Everyone is welcome to join, so get a cup coffee and join, we would be delighted to see you. Each week is different there will be presentations from various speakers on topics armed forces community find interesting and relevant for them.
We endeavour to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- No member of the Armed Forces Covenant should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other Citizen
- In some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
As the COVID-19 pandemic meant we could not deliver a face to face service therefore, we turned to social media, e-mail and a phone service.
- Individuals can also contact the AFC Project worker directly and confidentially for information and signposting.
- There is a dedicated email address AFC@telfordcab.co.uk and a phone number 07800 671765 which are monitored by the AFC project worker on Tuesdays and Fridays. The armed forces community members can email or phone the project worker with any issues they require help and support
- Please visit our website www.citizensadvicetelfordandthewrekin.org.uk