HMNB CLYDE Armed Forces Covenant Win a Merlin Pass - NFF

Start-up LoansChanges Benefitex-Service PersonnelPersonnel leaving the Armed Forces will be some of the first tobenefit from removing the age limit on start-up loans.Currently around 4% of Service leavers go on to set up theirown businesses and it is hoped these numbers will increasefollowing changes announced in July.The loans, to help people start up their own businesses,were historically only open to those under the age of 30.However, the Prime Minister’s Enterprise Advisor, Lord Young,recommended that these loans be open to everyone whoaspires to start up their own business.Now, ex-Servicemen and women, including those aged over30, will be in the first wave to receive targeted support. X-Forceshave become the first specialist start-up loans delivery partnerfor ex-Service personnel and the wider Forces’ community.The X-Forces team have commercial and militarybackgrounds, and will provide Service leavers, veterans,spouses and reservists with a comprehensive package ofactive support to set up sustainable and successful businesses,including mentoring.Careers Service Launchedfor Injured HeroesInjured and wounded Service personnel are being given access to newcareer opportunities with the launch of the Recovery Career Services.The new services will ensure injured troops have access to the mostcomprehensive range of vocational training, education and workplacements to give them the best opportunity tocompete in the civilian employment market.Iconic car manufacturers, including Aston Martinand Jaguar Land Rover, along with businessessuch as Barclays, have got behind the newscheme to offer competitive work placements forinjured troops. They join over 200 commercialproviders who have signed up to provide sick,injured and wounded Service personnel withexciting opportunities, including working as pitcrew at the World Endurance Championship inLe Mans.For further information,visit www.gov.uk/defence-recovery-andpersonnel-recoverycentres.For injuredand wounded personnelwishing to accesscomprehensive careeradvice and the full rangeof partners supporting thescheme, visitwww.recoverycareerservices.org.uk.The roll-out of the new careers service coincided with the announcementthat the Defence Recovery Capability is now fully operational. The MODledinitiative, delivered in partnership with Help for Heroes and the RoyalBritish Legion, will ensure that all wounded, injured and sick personnelhave access to the full range of key services and resources, includingpersonalised recovery plans, to help them at every stage of their recovery.Start-up loans for ex-Service personnel and the Troops toTeachers programme (see page 39), are examples of howthe Government is supporting the Armed Forces with futurecareers and using their skills and talents to help build oureconomy.To find out more on the start-uploans and X-Forces, visit www.xforces.com.All injured and wounded personnel who come under the Defence RecoveryCapability will receive a personalised recovery plan covering all aspectsof their recovery including medical care, welfare, housing, reskilling,education, work placements, and employment issues and opportunities.Complex or lengthy cases are transferred to personnel recovery unitsacross the UK that deliver consistent and high-quality command and carein order to gain the right outcome for the individual and the Ministry ofDefence.World War 1 – A Century On41The Great War, World War I (WWI), beganon 28th July 1914 and lasted until 11thNovember 1918.During those four years, the death tollof military and civilians stood at over 16million, nearly one million of them Britons.200,000 were killed on one day of theBattle of the Somme.Every single community in Scotland andNorthern Ireland lost someone, and thedeath toll in the Commonwealth was similarlycatastrophic. The then Indian empire lostmore than 70,000 people; Canada andAustralia both lost more than 60,000; NewZealand, 18,000. And as part of the UK atthe time, more than 200,000 Irishmen servedin the British forces during the war, with morethan 27,000 losing their lives.To mark the Centenary of World War 1 and torecognise the sacrifices made the Governmentis working alongside partners, includingthe Heritage Lottery Fund, CommonwealthWar Graves Commission and ImperialWar Museums, on a series of nationalremembrance events, an extensive culturalprogramme and educational schemes. Thesewill include national commemorations forthe first day of conflict, on 4th August 2014,and for the first day of the Somme, on 1stJuly 2016. Together with partners like theCommonwealth War Graves Commissionand the custodians of our remembrance,the Royal British Legion, there will be furtherevents to commemorate Jutland, Gallipoli andPasschendaele, all leading towards the 100thanniversary of Armistice Day in 2018.The IWM (Imperial War Museums) is leadingthe First World War Centenary Partnership andthe Heritage Lottery Fund is looking for ideasfor projects marking the centenary, includingcommunity heritage projects. Whether it isa series of friendly football matches to markthe famous 1914 Christmas Day truce, or thecampaign led by the Greenhithe branch of theRoyal British Legion to sow the Western Front’siconic poppies here in the UK, they would liketo hear from you – www.hlf.org.uk.Visit www.1914.org to find out what ishappening nationally and in your local area.informationAutumn 2013hOMEPORT