Lack of veteran support in election manifesto's concerns Salisbury charity
Help for Heroes are calling for political parties to sign their Veterans' Pledge
A Salisbury-based charity says it's concerned that political parties manifesto's haven't gone far enough in their commitment to supporting veterans.
Help for Heroes, which is based in Downton, is calling on all parties to sign it's Veterans' Pledge.
The pledge aims to end continuous injustices veterans and their families face and to ensure this becomes a reality, the charity is demanding the next Prime Minister does the following things:
• Keep the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, led by a cabinet attending minister, giving veterans a voice at the heart of government.
• Commission an independent review of the medical discharge process, to kickstart the reform needed so that all veterans leaving service due to injury or illness get the support they need.
• Remove unfair barriers to receiving benefits and compensation so that every veteran gets the financial support they need and deserve, including those experiencing chronic pain, and to bring an aid to multiple assessments for amputees to qualify for benefits, who often must prove their entitlement every two years even though their limbs will never grow back.
Help for Heroes say these pledges will lead to life changing improvements for veterans if the next government commits to them.
Office of National Statistics data suggests there more than 2 million veterans in the UK. The survey revealed that approximately 11.4 per cent of veterans reported being in bad or very bad health, compared to 6.1 per cent of people who have not previously served.