Isle of Anglesey County Council is working with the UK Armed Forces Charity to support veterans experiencing financial hardship.
The county council recently secured £580,000 to deliver the Discretionary Cost-of-Living Support Scheme on behalf of the Welsh Government. Part of this funding will be used to support local armed forces veterans.
It is now working with the SSAFA (Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association) Anglesey Branch to ensure that ex-armed forces get help as the cost-of-living continues to rise.
The funding, based on assessed need, will provide a payment up to £300 per household, with the SSAFA’s Anglesey’s branch distributing the payment to eligible veterans.
Kath Eastment, Branch Secretary of Anglesey SSAFA said, “This partnership with Anglesey council recognises the importance of supporting our local armed forces veterans. We work closely with several armed forces veterans and their families across the Island. However, we’re aware that there are more that may require support and haven’t previously reached out to us.”
“We look forward to enhancing the support available to Anglesey based veterans and their families and wish to thank the county council for ensuring this group of people are both recognised for their service and ensuring needs are met throughout this cost-of-living crisis.”
Anglesey’s Head of Housing Services, Ned Michael, added “Anyone who has worked at least one day for any of the armed forces can approach SSAFA to discuss their needs and we encourage as many of our veterans to do so. We thank SSAFA for their passion and ability to support our armed forces veterans of Anglesey.”
Anglesey’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Glyn Haynes, said, “As a council, we are proud to be supporting Anglesey based veterans with this cost-of-living crisis. We will achieve this through a positive partnership with Anglesey’s SSAFA branch, an integral local veteran provider service.”
Veterans requiring more information about this support should contact Kath Eastman on (01407) 861 171 or email Kath.Eastment@Anglesey.ssafa.org.uk
Note to editors
The Welsh Government has provided the ‘Discretionary Cost of Living Support’ scheme to target households it considers to be in most need and which may be excluded from support provided by its main Cost-of-Living Support Scheme.
In June 2022, the council’s Executive approved the additional discretionary scheme which will result in £150 awarded to households in Bands A to D whom are residents but are exempt from Council Tax.
This payment also includes households which are occupied by care leavers, those with severe mental impairments alongside residents living in emergency accommodation, unpaid carers, those affected by the benefit cap and residents in supported accommodation.
It also approved a £150 payment to be distributed to Anglesey residents in higher education that rent or own accommodation on the island. Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and Bangor University will distribute the payment to eligible Anglesey students.