Wigan Council joins forces with MOD for Armed Forces Community Welfare Pathway

The MOD and Wigan Council joined forces today to launch the Armed Forces Community Welfare Pathway initiative in Wigan to enable serving personnel, their families and veterans to receive the help, advice and support they need from the people best placed to provide it.

Wigan Council is the third local authority to pilot the Welfare Pathway. Members of the Armed Forces Community will be able to access advice on their entitlements by visiting council offices or calling 01942 244991. The Armed Forces Community will be able to get advice on everything from priority healthcare to housing and education, as well as link with Service and veterans’ charities and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

This is all supported by a single free national telephone number – 08000 223366 – that provides automated options for both in-Service and ex-Service personnel, their families and widows to use as an initial port of call, if uncertain of who to contact. It’s not intended to replace existing sources of advice, but it provides a safety net for those who are completely unaware of what is available.

Lord Peter Smith, leader of Wigan Council said:
“Wigan Council is delighted to be only the third local authority in the UK to pilot this joint initiative between local and central government. Wigan has strong links to the Armed Forces; Service men and women and veterans are an important part of the wider Greater Manchester and Lancashire communities.

"Here, in Wigan, we have a dedicated team of people ready to help. If there is a problem with what people are entitled to, there is now a simple route to raise issues and get things resolved. This council is immensely proud of the contribution of service men and women from the borough. We are pleased that we will be at the front line of helping to deliver services to members of the armed forces community.”

Several other Local Authorities will establish similar pilot programmes across the UK. The intention is to roll out a best practice model to cover all areas.

Some of the benefits that Serving personnel, families and veterans can receive are:
•advice about access to NHS services,
•information about help for veterans with mental health problems,
•help and advice about education, skills and careers,
•affordable and social housing,
•help with transport including Blue Badges and concessionary transport,
•advice about, and access to, affordable childcare.

Other local authorities which are signing up to this initiative include Fife (with the support of the Scottish Government) and North Yorkshire.