Guidance

VAPC East Midlands: meeting minutes 17 June 2024

Updated 24 October 2024

Date

Wednesday 17 June 2024

Location

Daedalus Hall Officers’ Mess, RAF Cranwell

Present

• Barry Smith (BS) (Chair)
• Ian Crowe (IC) (Vice-Chair/Health Lead)
• Philip Brooks-Stephenson (PBS)
• Helen Carter (HC) (CJS Lead)
• Graham Heath (GH)
• Andrew Holt (AH) (Industry Lead)
• Stave Melides (SM)
• Thomas Smith (TS) (Housing Lead)
• David Tomlinson (DT)
• Michael Whitehead (MW) (Communications Lead)
• Paul Drury (Co-opted Member) (PD)
• David Houghton (DH) (Secretary)

In attendance

• Gail Craggs (MOD Vets Services)

Apologies

• Ian Bustin (IB)
• Karen Cox
• Ron Moonesinghe
• Brendan Daly (BD) (Co-opted member)
• Bill Dixon-Dodds (BDD) (Co-opted member)
• Debbie Nicholls (Co-opted member)

1. Welcome

The Chair welcomed members to the meeting, and extended his thanks to the PMC and Officers’ Mess staff for supporting the meeting.

The Chair noted that the process to appoint their successor as Chair East Midlands (EM) VAPC was currently on hold due to the pre-election period of ‘purdah’ (now referred to as the period of ‘heightened sensitivity’). As a result, a new Chair will not be appointed until later in 2024.

Members noted that the appointment of relatively new members (PBS, IB, HC, GH and DT) had now been approved and confirmed officially.

2. Apologies for absence

The Chair accepted pre-notified apologies from those who were unable to attend the meeting.

3. Declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest that would affect the work of the committee.

4. Veterans Services (VS) update

The MOD VS representative provided an update on Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), Defence Transition Services (DTS) and Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans (IPC4V) issues.

It was noted that the Welfare Review had been completed and that, subsequently, a number of sub-groups have been established to look at specific areas/topics related to veterans welfare. Members noted that the review will draw VWS and DTS closer together but that, initially, there would still be separate case workers for DTS and VWS issues.

Members were informed that there remain a number of staff vacancies within VS and that, due to continuing MOD-imposed Travel & Subsistence (T&S) restrictions, VS staff needed to submit a business case before undertaking any face-to-face engagement. However, despite the T&S restrictions, VS staffs continued to engage with Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) Stanford Hall personnel.

Members discussed VS’ recent meeting with Army Widows’ Association members (and noted the parallel organisations supporting RN and RM widows and RAF widows). The meeting discussed the utility of the ‘Tell Us Once’ service as a potential method of easing the burden on spouses/partners following the death of their partner. Members were encouraged to publicise the service within their networks.

5. Career Transition Partnership (CTP) update/issues

GH and MW briefed members about a recent meeting they had held with Adrian Peters, CTP Operations Director. It was noted that CTP is paid by results and that CTP’s efficiency/efficacy is assessed on the employment outcomes of Service personnel who use CTP’s services. The main challenges CTP staffs see are unrealistic expectations amongst some Service leavers of the type/level of civilian employment they will find and, in contrast, a lack of knowledge/expectations about what they could do amongst other Service leavers.

Members noted that, while all Service personnel transitioning to civilian life are supposed to register with CTP, c.10% of Service leavers do not seek support from CTP. The meeting discussed the need for Service leavers to receive better/more comprehensive information from resettlement staffs, their Chain of Command (CoC) etc. about the utility of CTP courses.

Post-meeting note

The need for resettlement staffs/CoC/Unit ‘lifestyle’ staffs etc, to better highlight the utility of CTP to Service leavers will be raised in a VAPC Chairs’ Q&A virtual session on 5 July 2024 with Brigadier Patrick Wright, Head Armed Forces & Veterans Services.

6. Minutes of last meeting and actions arising

The minutes of the last meeting were accepted. 

Updates on actions from the meeting held on 19 February 2024 were provided during the individual member reports/updates at Items 10 and 11.

7. Out brief from ministerial engagement and Chairs’ activity - ministerial tasking for 2024

The Chair highlighted the establishment of a pan-VAPCs’ Strategic Working Group (SWG), which was looking into what detail needed to be included in any future VAPC Secondary Legislation (SL). The SWG is focussed on minimising any SL regulations following the implementation of the VAPC Act 2023, by ensuring that as much information as possible is included in a non-legislative VAPCs’ handbook which will be developed with inputs from Veterans UK experts.

While recognising the tenets of the pre-general election period of heightened sensitivity, members noted the need to continue to engage with/inform ministers, shadow ministers et al. in a timely, open and honest manner and, more importantly, to continue to support veterans and the wider AF community across our region.

During this period, the need for clear and effective communications and messaging between and beyond members was recognised by the meeting. To continue to support such messaging, IB had agreed to take-over the role that BDD (who will retire from the committee on 30 June 2024) had carried out so effectively, efficiently and imaginatively for a long period of time.

The Chair highlighted that, subject to formal agreement, the name of each regional VAPC will change to Veterans Advisory Committee (VAC), with the name change likely to be accompanied by a new logo.

The meeting discussed the recent data breach of the contractorised AF payment network, which may affect a small number of veterans. Members noted the advice provided on this matter and undertook to publicise that advice across their networks.

Members discussed the utility/validity or otherwise of veteran ‘status’ being considered a protected characteristic under UK law, alongside the extant protected characteristics of age; gender reassignment; marriage/civil partnership status; pregnancy/maternity leave; disability; race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. The meeting noted that many veterans (and members of the AF community) are already protected within such legislation. The majority of members felt that it was unnecessary (and potentially counterproductive in relation to how veterans are viewed within society) for veterans to be given such protected status.

8. VAPCs’ 2024 Report to Minister

The Chair noted that, given the current pre-election period of heightened sensitivity, the VAPCs’ 2024 Report to Minister had been deferred until April 2025. As a result, Regional VAPC Reports/inputs would need to be completed by February 2025, with a pan-VAPCs’ Consolidated Report completed in March 2025.

Members noted that a focus for the Report remained on addressing the Minister’s specific tasking question for the VAPCs, i.e. ‘capture the lived experience of veterans of the MOD’s veterans support services at local and regional levels’. Members also noted that potentially useful data to inform the EM VAPC elements of the Report may be provided through support being provided by a Veterans’ Places, Pathways and People Programme (VPPP) consultation programme across the midlands, which is seeking information from veterans/AF community members about how a number of MOD initiatives have affected/supported them.

The meeting discussed the problems with accessing meaningful data relating to the implementation of the education ‘due regard’ element of the Armed Forces Covenant from multi-academy trusts (i.e. non-local authority schools), including the outcomes of the children of Service personnel and the use of the Service Pupil Premium across the EM.

9. Toxic Chemical Exposure

Members discussed the issue of UK personnel being exposed to potential toxic chemicals at the Qarmat Ali water treatment facility, Iraq in 2003. TS highlighted the approach taken on this issue by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and members noted that the UK Government considers the broader topic of ‘Gulf War Syndrome’ to be an umbrella term.

The meeting noted that the Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) is investigating a number of potential causes of ‘Gulf War Syndrome’. Members also noted the in-depth expertise of BD on such issues, and welcomed the potential guidance, advice and direction he could provide on such issues.

10. Pan-VAPCs’ Common Interest Groups (CIGs)

Members were reminded that the role of the recently agreed and formed pan-VAPC CIGs (which are aligned broadly with the 6 key themes: community and relationships; employment, education and skills; finance and debt; health and wellbeing; making a home in civilian society and veterans and the law) in the government’s 10-year Strategy for our veterans, was to influence policy makers/decisions by agreeing and tackling key themes within each CIG area.

Members assigned as the EM VAPC representative on the recently-formed pan-VAPCs’ CIGs provided updates on the evolving work of the CIGs.

Employment and Transitioning CIG

SM and PBS noted that, while the Employment and Transitioning CIG had not established its TORs, the focus of the CIG would be on the issues Service leavers face during their transition to civilian employment, and the issues some veterans face in maintaining employment.

Education CIG

The meeting discussed the utility of the SPP issue discussed at item 8.3, potentially forming one of the key strands of work for the Education CIG. It was agreed that this issue should be raised with Education CIG members.

Health and Wellbeing CIG

BD informed the meeting that the Health and Wellbeing CIG had met to discuss the CIG’s TORs, and that the CIG Chair had requested that CIG members put forward 3 issues that they feel the CIG should address. It was noted that the Yorkshire and Humber VAPC CIG member had proposed that the CIG address the issue of asbestosis amongst veterans, and the developing issue relating to helicopter fumes.

Housing CIG

TS informed the meeting that the Housing CIG was awaiting the nomination of a CIG representative from a different VAPC. It was envisaged that, once that nomination had been received, the Housing CIG would meet without delay.

Law and the CJS CIG

AH informed the meeting that the Law and CJS CIG had established robust links with the Police National Lead for the Armed Forces, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes.

Finance and Debt CIG

No update was available in relation to the activities of the Finance and Debt CIG.

Support CIG

DH noted that the Support CIG had evolved from the previous pan-VAPCs’ Secretaries’ Group. The Support CIG had established its TORs, and had agreed to focus on sharing best practice across the VAPCs, administration and internal training issues.

11. Individual member reports

Regional Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Boards (AFCPB)

Members allocated/assigned to individual EM AFCPBs provided updates on continuing work, emerging issues and new initiatives from their respective AFCPBs. The meeting welcomed the productive nature of the LLR Board.

The meeting was also briefed on a successful initiative within Northamptonshire to complete a long-delayed social housing initiative in Corby that will provide 18 new houses (within an existing community) for injured veterans/injured AF members/spouses of those killed in Service.

The housing comprises a mix of: accessible 2-bed bungalows; adaptable 2-bed bungalows; 2-bed flats; 1-bed flats; 2-bed houses and 3-bed houses. Members welcomed the willingness of the North Northants lead for the project, Jacqui Page, to share lessons with other AFCPBs/councils should they wish to make contact via jacqui.page@northnorthants.gov.uk.

Members noted and welcomed the renewed impetus provided to the Derbyshire AFCPB by the appointment of a new Chair for the board, and the intent to ‘streamline’ the offer/processes through which the Derbyshire AFCPB provides support to veterans and the wider AF community. Members also welcomed confirmation that DT would represent the EM VAPC within the Nottinghamshire AFCPB Board.

The meeting congratulated PD on his appointment as the full-time AF Covenant Officer within the Lincolnshire AFCPB area, and noted that the Lincolnshire AFCPB would be holding an Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB)-focussed meeting at RAF Cranwell on 24 June 2024.

Communications

The meeting discussed the utility of using the working links established with CTP to publicise the work/nature of the VAPCs (and other veterans’ support organisations). MW undertook to discuss this issue with his contacts within the CTP.

Health

Members noted that, at present, initiatives relating to tackling mesothelioma and hearing loss amongst veterans were ‘on hold’, but welcomed the continuing efforts of IC et al. to tackle/highlight such important issues.

Industry/Transition

The meeting was briefed about, and welcomed, the various continuing initiatives undertaken by SM and PBS to establish links with the Institute of Directors, the Federation of Small Businesses and Rotary Satellite Clubs, aimed at supporting peer-to-peer networking opportunities for veterans.

Members noted the reduction (from c.1200 to c.1000) in the number of companies across the EM accredited within the AF Covenant Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

Veterans Interaction with CJS

The CJS lead member highlighted work continues to establish a forum within the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners that could be used to support veterans/AF community members.

Health and Wellbeing Hubs

The meeting discussed the formal establishment of the VPPP Phase 2 programme, which will provide each region with c. £1 million of funding.

The Chair briefed members on the outcomes of a meeting recently held in Loughborough regarding the aims of the VPPP Phase 2 Programme, and what will be addressed when the programme’s consultation period ends in July 2024.

12. Any other business

While recognising and acknowledging the busy schedules of all the volunteer members of the committee, it was requested that members seek to respond to emails requesting inputs/information from them in a timely and complete manner.

As noted at item 7.3, this was the final EM VAPC meeting when BDD will be a member of the committee. Members expressed their sincere thanks to BDD for his long-standing, unstinting and highly-effective support to veterans, the AF community and the EM VAPC.

13. Date of next meeting

The next EM VAPC meeting will be a face-to-face meeting, and will take place at RAF Cranwell (TBC) on 21 October 2024 from 10.30am.