Vale Council backs campaign to raise awareness for those in Armed Forces

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has backed a campaign to raise awareness of issues that might be affecting those who have served and are serving in the Armed Forces.

Last month, the council in Vale held an Armed Forces Covenant meeting, which had attendees who were both serving forces and veterans of the forces.

These meetings are held every two months and it was in July that the Royal British Legion's Count Them In scheme was discussed.

Addressing this scheme was the legion's public affairs manager for Wales Peter Evans, who hopes that it will increase knowledge of the armed forces population living and working in the UK.

Around ten per cent of the UK are members of the armed forces community, but the Legion has stressed that little is known about where they live. Further to this, it stated that there isn't enough information to dictate if they need assistance and what help they or their families might need.

Members from the Legion feel that by adding questions to the next Census in 2021, they will be able to address this and ensure that steps will be taken to make positive changes.

For example, politicians, charities and service providers should be able to meet the needs of people who are struggling, particularly as a result of leaving the Armed Forces.

Vale council has approved this scheme and in a unanimous move, it will be working to make sure that the members of the Armed Forces community will not be at a disadvantage.

In particular, the council has said that the increased statistical data will assist planning and provision of unique services for these members living in Vale of Glamorgan.

Leader of the council for the area councillor Neil Moore, said: "This council is proud to support the armed forces community and endorses the Count Them In campaign, which calls on the UK government to include specific questions relating to this unique community in the next UK Census to help us understand the numbers, locations and needs of members of the armed forces community, thereby allowing us to deliver the best possible services for people who have served their country."