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Service leavers' website
launched
A website with a wealth of advice and
support for personnel leaving the Armed Forces is being launched by Liverpool
City Council.
The website;
ServiceLeaversLiverpool.Co.UK; has been developed, as part of the Armed
Forces Covenant in conjunction with Liverpool Veterans Centre, to help those
whose service has ended.
Councillor Ian Francis, Armed Forces Champion for Liverpool, said:-
"Leaving service is a daunting time and affects not just the service leavers but
also their families. Our Armed Forces make tremendous sacrifices to keep us all
safe and it is absolutely vital that we do all we can to help them re-enter
civilian life and make the best decisions. The website contains lots of
information about the services that the Council, its partners and other
organisations can provide and is part of a package of support we are offering
across the City."
Bob Blanchard, Chair of Liverpool Veterans' Project, said:- "It's
important to remember that many service personnel entered the forces straight
out of school and so when they come to leave it will be the first time they have
had to do many of the things we take for granted. Finding a job and
accommodation are 2 of the biggest challenges, but even things that we all do
without thinking about it such as paying Council Tax, registering with a GP and
sorting out a TV Licence may be new to service personnel."
Earlier this year. Kev Archer, 43, left the Army following 22 years of service,
latterly as working with the families army welfare service. He is now working as
a families officer at Liverpool Veterans Centre, helping support those who are
leaving the forces. He said:- "I was fortunate in that I gave myself time
to prepare for leaving and had a good CV ready and had also planned out where my
family was going to live. As well prepared as I thought I was, I still
remember going to the Job Centre and being shocked that the system was all
online. I was expecting rows of jobs boards with vacancies pinned to them and
when I mentioned this I was laughed at by a member of staff who said I must have
been living on another planet. Some personnel have to leave the service due to
illness or injury or get discharged and it all happens very quickly and leaving
the forces family can be like a bereavement. It is really important that they
have easy access to advice and support to make sure they and their families have
a stable transition."
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