Hordle dec jan 20.pub

Our Armed Forces
In
Hampshire
30
By the time this article is printed, I shall
have laid several wreaths at memorials and
services throughout my county division
and Remembrance Day will be over. One
service I always find most poignant
happens in Milford, after the main service
in the church, where those who wish to
visit the grave of the Unknown Sailor
(whose body washed ashore at Milford in
October 1917) take a moment to reflect on
what that young man and his family may
have had to endure.
The Navy, Army and RAF are all
represented strongly in Hampshire with
the British Army Headquarters in Andover,
RAF Odiham (home of the Chinook
helicopter) and Her Majesty’s Naval Base
at Portsmouth amongst them. There are
90,000 serving military personnel and
veterans, 17,000 service children and 5,500
Gurkhas currently living in Hampshire –
quite staggering numbers!
Hampshire County Council was one of the
first councils in the country to sign the
Forces Covenant. https://
www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/ The
work of the county’s Civilian Military
Partnership Board underpins the delivery
of the Covenant, making sure that the
needs of veterans and forces families are
met in the areas of health and wellbeing,
housing, education and employment. The
Covenant is required because members of
the armed forces can find it harder to
access public services than the general
population because of frequent moves,
extended periods away and lack of
familiarity with local support available.
The County Council provides specialist help
for forces families and veterans in
children’s, adult and public health services.
Additionally, a ‘Forces Connect’ app has
been developed by Hampshire to signpost
veterans and forces families to services
and organisations giving support and
advice. You can either download the
phone app or google ‘Hampshire Forces
Pathways’ to find the same information
online. Please pass the information on to
forces friends or family.
And may I also take this opportunity to
wish you a very merry Christmas and a
happy new year.
Cllr Fran Carpenter
Hampshire County Councillor
New Milton North, Milford &
Hordle
01425 614665 / 07867 502624
fran.carpenter@hants.gov.uk
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