Guidance

VAPC east Midlands: meeting minutes 16 October 2023

Updated 12 March 2024

Date

Monday 16 October 2023

Location

Officers’ Mess, Prince William of Gloucester Barracks

Present:

• Barry Smith (BS) (Chair)
• Richard Hurwood (RH) (Vice-Chair/Health Lead)
• Ian Crowe
• Andrew Holt (CJS Lead)
• Stave Melides (SM) (Industry Lead)
• Ron Moonesinghe
• Thomas Smith (Housing Lead)
• Michael Whitehead (Communications Lead)
• Brendan Daly (Co-opted Member)
• Paul Drury (Co-opted Member)
• Debbie Nicholls (Co-opted Member)
• David Houghton (DH) (Secretary)

In attendance:

• Michael Smith (by telephone) (MOD VWS)
• Graham Heath (potential new EM VAPC member)

Apologies

• John Berry (Alumnus)
• Karen Cox
• Gary Holden
• Louise Briggs (MOD DTS)

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 recently-appointed Co-Opted and potential future new Members introduced themselves to other meeting attendees, and were welcomed to the Committee. 

Members discussed the recently-imposed MOD Travel & Subsistence (T&S) restrictions which have led to many VAPC meetings changing from face-to-face to virtual discussions, and expressed their thanks to the Chair for securing agreement from MOD to allow this meeting to go ahead. However, Members expressed their deep unhappiness about the possibility that the T&S restrictions may affect their future ability to meet face-to-face, which Members considered to be critical to building an effective team of disparate volunteers, and to the effective work of VAPCs.

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. DTS and VWS update

Given the MOD T&S restrictions, the MOD VWS representative was dialled into the meeting by telephone, and presented an update on VWS’/DTS’ current activity in the EM region. Members noted the work under way as part of the Independent Review to potentially align DTS and VWS more closely, although it was highlighted that there is not yet any timeline for the completion of such a potential change. The meeting discussed the potential implications of such a change for VWS/DTS staffing levels and noted that, while there was no anticipation of job losses as a result of any future reorganisation, personnel could be redeployed to different functional work areas.

Members discussed the issue of veterans’ potential access to priority healthcare for Service-related conditions, and veterans’ access to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). 

However, it was noted that veterans need the support of their local MP to access the PHSO and that, in common with other ombudsmen organisations, veterans will need to have followed the relevant Vets UK complaints procedure before a complaint will be considered by the PHSO: What to do before you come to us.

5. Minutes of last meeting and actions

The minutes of the last meeting were accepted. 

Updates on Actions from the meeting held on 19 June 2023 were provided during the individual Member reports/updates at Item 7.

6. Out Brief from Ministerial Engagement, Subsequent Chair of Chairs Activity and feedback from pan-VAPCs’ annual report to Minister

The Chair thanked Members for their inputs to the 2023 Annual Report to Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families The Rt Hon Andrew Murrison MP, and noted that the Report had been well-received. However, it was also noted that the potential value of the Report will only become more apparent when the Report’s recommendations are addressed. The meeting noted that Members allocated to the various EM Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Boards (AFCPB) had shared elements of the EM VAPC element of the Annual Report with their relevant AFCPB Chairs. 

The Chair highlighted the significant recent/imminent engagement with Ministers et al., including a recent meeting with Labour’s Shadow Defence Team Rachel Hopkins MP, a Teams meeting with the MOD Covenant Team scheduled for 25 October 2023, and a planned meeting with Minister for Defence People and Veterans on 8 November 2023. The latter meeting should act as the ‘green light’ to re-start the pan-VAPCs’ strategy work, which had been put on hold pending the Minister’s consideration of the Annual Report. 

The meeting welcomed the granting of Royal Assent for the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Act 2023: Parliamentary Bills: Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Act.

However, it was noted that the enactment of this Bill now needs to act as a catalyst for relevant secondary legislation to be put in place to support the current activities of the VAPCs. 

Members were advised that a pan-VAPCs’ Sub-Group will be established to look at what such secondary legislation is required. Members were requested to send their brief (bullet point-type) thoughts about what secondary legislation is required (e.g. veterans in the Criminal Justice System?) to the Chair by the end of 2023.

7. Individual member reports - updates

Policy and governance

Members allocated/assigned to individual EM AFCPBs provided updates on continuing work, emerging issues and new initiatives from their respective AFCPBs. It was noted that, while the Lincolnshire AFCPB had been relatively ineffective for some time, the recent installation of a new Chair and the agreed funding for an Armed Forces Liaison Officer-type Post should, hopefully, result in improvements to the effectiveness/utility of the Lincolnshire AFCPB. 

It was noted that the Derbyshire AFCPB also has a new Chair, and that that AFCPB was developing a new structure whereby a small ‘strategy team’ would develop proposals and initiatives that would then be taken forward by a wider ‘delivery network’. Members were encouraged to investigate whether such a structure may be appropriate for other AFCPBs. 

The meeting was briefed on a recent redevelopment of Northamptonshire’s housing allocation processes/rules, which Members of the Northants AFCPB were able to provide input to in order to ensure that the rights and needs of the AFC were woven into the new policy. The meeting also noted that Members of the LLR AFCPB will be meeting with the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, and would be using that opportunity to raise key recommendations for the recent VAPCs’ Annual Report. 

Members noted that the performance and utility of the various EM AFCPBs remains variable. In order to try to drive improvements across all the regional AFCPBs and share potential best practice, the Chair undertook to look at the possibility of instigating focussed Cross-EM AFCPB Meetings.

Communications

The Communications Lead highlighted the continued use of the VAPCs’ X (Twitter) platform. Members may also wish to note that, should they wish to highlight the work of the EM VAPC to potential new Members, copies of the minutes of previous EM VAPC Meetings are available online.

Health

The meeting was informed that Op COMMUNITY has now launched, with 6 pilot/trial sites established across NHS England. The meeting also noted and welcomed the recent introduction of Lincolnshire’s Military Maternity Project. 

The meeting was briefed about the pilot work undertaken in the North East, Cornwall and Dorset on social prescribing. It was noted that Cornwall integrated care board (ICB) now has funding to take forward the social prescribing model, and Members were encouraged to discuss with their local ICBs how such a model could be taken-forward in their areas.

Members were briefed on developments in the hearing initiative, with a particular focus on how best to direct referrals for veterans under this initiative. It was noted that the Business Case linked to the initiative will be reviewed later in October 2023, with a view to the current community provision hopefully being extended. 

More broadly, the meeting discussed the potential implications of the ‘Barry v MOD’ ruling regarding military noise-induced hearing loss. The effects of that ruling may require the MOD to ensure that Service leavers undergo robust hearing tests/examinations prior to leaving the military. Given the recent closure of the Defence Audiology Centre, Gosport, such testing, if put in place, would undoubtedly have to be conducted to a greater or lesser degree using existing NHS systems. In their interactions with veterans, Members may wish to be aware of the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation.

Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) – Future Engagement

The meeting noted the enduring and frustrating lack of awareness of the ELC entitlement amongst veterans, although the continuing requirement for ELC courses to be Level 3 or above undoubtedly remains a barrier to entry to the ELC system for many veterans: What qualification levels mean.

Transition

The Industry Lead Member briefed the meeting on his recent work with the Federation of Small Businesses, noting that, while they have many skills sets that make them valuable to potential employers, veterans are often poor at articulating those skills in ‘civvie speak’ to employers. This can be particularly important when veterans are submitting CVs, many of which are now filtered by AI algorithms. The Industry Lead undertook to discuss with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) Regional Director how the CTP’s CV writing support could be amended to take into account this new reality. 

The Industry Lead Member also briefed the meeting on his continuing work supporting Rotary Satellite Clubs and Masonic Veterans Lodges. Both these initiatives are seen as potentially excellent ways for veterans to network with, and learn from, experienced industry/business individuals.

Veterans interaction with CJS

The CJS Lead Member briefed the meeting on the 7 September 2023 Greater Manchester Police (GMP)-led Conference that aimed to share lessons from GMP et al. relating to interactions with veterans within, or in danger or entering, the CJS. It was noted that Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Chris Sykes is the national lead for veterans-related initiatives. Despite raising the importance of the GMP-led Conference at various regional AFCPBs, Members were extremely disappointed to learn that no representative(s) from the Leicestershire, Lincolnshire or Northamptonshire Police Forces attended the Conference. Members were requested to raise this issue with the appropriate representatives from the relevant AFCPBs.

 The meeting was also briefed on a Veterans and the Law Sub-Committee Seminar scheduled to be held in London on 30/31 October 2023. That Conference will aim to develop relevant workstreams to take the GMP-led project forward. ACC Sykes will be at the Seminar, which will also be attended by Service-related charities who will be able to provide input into the workstream formulation work. Initial ideas for workstreams include: training and accreditation for Police Armed Service Champions to help equip them for dealing with veterans in crisis; better recognition of specialist skills acquired in the Armed Forces (e.g. intelligence analysts); opportunities to recruit the partners of veterans to help promote transition for veterans.

Mental health of veterans in prison

The meeting discussed various initiatives that could potentially help to address and support the mental health of veterans transitioning from prison to the outside world. Members noted the possibility of a Phase 2 programme for Op NOVA, aimed at increasing the capacity to support the mental health of veterans in custody.

Health and wellbeing hubs

There was general agreement amongst Members that the drop-in hubs now being used across much of the EM were proving to be useful.

Recruitment update

The Chair informed the meeting that, following the recent advertisement on the Public Appointments website, 6 applications to join the EM VAPC had been received. Panel interviews of the candidates will take place in November 2023, with an announcement regarding the appointment of any new Members expected before the end of 2023.

Training

The meeting was advised that training requirements for new/current Members is one of the pan-VAPCs’ Strategy Working Group workstreams, and should begin work in the near future (see paragraph 6.2).

8. Update on Planned EM Housing Conference at RAF Cranwell

Members discussed the pan-EM Regional Veterans’ Housing Forum agreed as a priority at the last EM VAPC Strategy Meeting. While it had been planned to hold the Conference in November 2023, the MOD’s restrictions on T&S mean that it will now not be possible to hold a face-to-face Conference. 

While Members were frustrated by such a restriction being placed on this important Conference, the meeting discussed whether a virtual meeting in November 2023, drawing together key stakeholders (e.g. housing staffs from each EM county; housing developers; key regional housing association representatives; Armed Forces Outreach Service representatives; Head AF and Veterans Services could act as precursor for a face-to-face Conference in March 2024 when MOD T&S restrictions have been lifted. Members agreed that such a two-step approach was pragmatic in the current climate.

9. Potential for Annual Strategy-Focussed Meeting at Whatton House in December 2023

Members discussed the high value they place on their annual strategy-focussed meeting, noting that previous such meetings have been critical in deciding upon key priorities for the year ahead, and Members expressed their universal desire to hold such a meeting face-to-face in December 2023. 

Given the current MOD T&S restrictions, the Chair undertook to seek permission from MOD for the strategy meeting to take place face-to-face, rather than online.

Any other business

There was no other business.

Date of next meeting

Subject to confirmation that T&S will be allowed for the meeting, the next EM VAPC meeting will be a hybrid meeting, and is planned to take place at the EM Reserve Forces and Cadet Association (RFCA) on 19 February 2024 from 1pm.

Should MOD T&S restrictions still be in-place in February 2024, we may seek to hold the 19 February 2024 as solely a virtual meeting, noting that such an arrangement would be most unsatisfactory for effective team building and in-depth group discussions.