Forces of Change is back...and this time ..businesses, we need you!
This could be a UK first in the run up to Armed Forces Day.
Last updated 5th May 2022
We are on a mission to encourage as many businesses as possible to join us for a mass signing of the Armed Forces Covenant in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on June the 20th, 2022 at the Swansea dot com Stadium. The declaration is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families are treated fairly.
Forces of Change 2019
Former Veterans Minister Julie James (centre right) Swansea East MS Mike Hedges (centre left) with event organisers and sponsors Hugh James
Welsh Government is supporting our networking event for those involved with the armed forces and veterans community. Deputy Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn will open proceedings. UK Government's newly appointed Veterans Commissioner for Wales Colonel James Phillips will be amongst the guest speakers. He told us: "I really welcome the Forces of Change initiative in terms of bringing the veteran community together to ensure they talk. If we communicate, if we ensure we can identify veterans needs and gaps then we can really increase the chances of successful integration of veterans into the community and have less of those that fall through the gaps in terms of provision and that really need special care."
Colonel Phillips was appointed in March and started his role in April. He says: "The whole point of my position is to be a spokesperson and ambassador for the veterans. I need to understand particularly the issues that Welsh veterans and their families face. They may be different, in different areas of Wales, they may be different in Wales to Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. We need to level up across the whole of the United Kingdom, to ensure where there are good ideas, in terms of veteran support, that we copy and replicate them. I am sure that there is some best practice in Wales, which I can transfer across and give that advice across the United Kingdom too."
The Forces of Change event which brings together organisations, charities, education and training providers, employers and those in the health and care sector, as well as all the forces and emergency services is seen as a fantastic opportunity to connect. Audrey Hamilton- Nealon is the Regional Employment Engagement Director for the Armed Forces Covenant in South Wales. She also represents Defence Relationship Management. The Armed Forces Covenant and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme are her main focus in Wales coupled with support for Reservists. She told us: "It's a really great opportunity to bring everyone together to share ideas and best practice and really get a sense of the close community we have here in Wales. It's great for people to know that they are being supported and that veterans have not been forgotten over the past few years. We are so lucky that we have so many supportive organisations. It's really exciting to get so many people in one area and get them on board with what is going on."
Our bid to create the largest group signing of the Armed Forces Covenant by businesses is being supported by Captain Ian Moore from 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh. He says: "It's unique in the United Kingdom. It's a first for us. It will probably be a flagship for the UK. I think it will be unique to get a number of businesses together in support of the Armed Forces, in light of the current situation. we have a lot of Welsh soldiers deployed abroad and a lot of their families live in the home base and any support that the families are given is very important. They are part of community and part of our life in Wales."
There are around 30,000 reservists who support the regular forces and Captain Moore says the covenant plays a key part in their lives: "Each of these soldiers have an employer and that employer is very important to that soldier. If that employer is supportive of the soldier deploying it makes their lives so much better. Which is another reason to encourage businesses to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant, to support our reserve forces."
Former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer, MP who recently returned from Ukraine and filmed a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary about his trip, is set to share his experiences. He will also take questions from the audience.
It's 40 years since the Falklands War and cartoonist and veteran Will Kevans who is working on a TV drama will be travelling from France for the event. He will be sharing his story and might sing one of his songs, as we pay tribute to the Class of '82.
If you wish to be amongst the businesses signing the Armed Forces Covenant on June the 20th you will need to fill in the paperwork in advance. Please contact Audrey Hamilton- Nealon, the Regional Employer Engagement Director for the Armed Forces Covenant in South Wales, for guidance and support with your application on 07970 493086 or via email on wa-reed@rfca.mod.uk