Gideon campaigns to keep vital veteran services
Gideon Amos MP pledged to fight to protect help for Forces veterans during a visit in Wellington.
Attending the monthly outreach cafe in the parish church room, he heard concerns that a change in funding allocation could see the level of support reduced.
Speaking on behalf of the Wellington Veterans group, Steve Summers, said he felt the outreach work was certain to be affected.
“If the restructuring means key people, who made this work so well from the start, are moved into other positions, then the funding which has finally and rightly been put forward will effectively be wasted.
“The support will break down and eventually dissolve to nothing, meaning the funding will not be used to its full potential.”
Gideon said: “Those who have served in our Armed Forces deserve proper support and I raised the importance of this outreach work directly with the NHS two months ago.
“But the reassurances I received simply don’t go far enough.
“I'm concerned the co-ordinators of this great work will lose their roles and have contacted other Somerset MPs to ensure we take up the cause for our local veteran community – they deserve nothing less.”
The Wellington Veterans group was formed in 2017.
Steve said: “It became apparent that, with others up and down the country, we had to add something to the bigger picture by supporting ourselves.
“The numbers have grown as each year has gone by and the group has nothing to do with politics, religion, or racism.
“The connection we have is we respect each other’s way of life, knowing all of us signed on the dotted line to serve our country.
“Now, as veterans, we try to look out for each other and our families.”
He said having support from Ark@Egwood integrated into the group had achieved so much, not just in helping the veterans and families of Wellington but across Somerset.
“They give support with medical, mental, and financial advice, bridging the gap between the NHS and GP surgeries and the Armed Forces covenant.
“It’s not about jumping the queue, it’s about getting the right help from the right place.”
A spokesperson for Somerset NHS said: “"Our commitment to Somerset's veterans is as strong as ever, and supporting their health and wellbeing will remain a key priority despite our wider organisational changes.
“By working more closely with our partners and the veteran community, we have an opportunity to create a more sustainable and responsive system of support for the future."
