Guidance

VAPC south east England: meeting minutes 6 May 2025

Updated 7 August 2026

1. Attendees:

Graham Cable (Chair)

John Scivier (JS)

Patrick Lyster-Todd (PLT)

Kate Steels (KS)

Ian Talbot (IT)

Robin Draper (RD)

Gary Cass (GC)

2. Apologies:

Clive Hunt (CH)

3. Absent

Keith Malcolm (KM)

Ali Grant (AG)

Craig Jones (CJ)

4. 1. Apologies

Received from CH

5. 2. Welcome

The Chair thanked everyone for logging into the meeting. He explained that after the standard agenda items, the meeting would then take the form of a free discussion centred on the situation with discussions with the CVC and the Minister for Veterans and People (Min V&P) regarding the future of the VAPCs.

6. 3. Minutes of previous meetings

All present accepted the previously forwarded minutes as a true reflection of the meeting on 27 January 2025.

Matters arising:

• Removal of P from VAPC – Due to the current situation and the fact that we don’t know the future structure or labelling of the current VAPCs, this item is on hold

• Housing CIG – PLT confirmed that the situation with regard to this CIG remains much the same. The future of the VAPCs will drive the requirement of CIGs. Item on hold.

• Hampshire Military and Civilian Partnership event took place at RAF Odiham. KS organised the event and JS attended. Item complete.

• Concerns regarding efficiency and output from the AFVS – all concerns, in an abbreviated form were included in the SEVAPC report to the CVC. Item complete.

• Thrive Together – The video brief by Ian Millen (CEO Veterans Outreach Support) was distributed to committee members following the previous meeting.

7. 4. Open Discussion Session

• The Chair gave a short brief on the CVC meeting with the Min V&P and members of the OVA and AFVS teams. The meeting took the form of a briefing from the CVC to the minister, covering the points raised in the combined VAPC report (previously sent to the Minister). The Minister then told the CVC about the plans for Valour and how there was potential for the VAPCs to ‘dock’ into the programme, although there was no specific detail on how this would happen.

• The Minister then invited the CVC to effectively justify the continued existence of the VAPCs and gave a six-week period to present a paper and evidence for consideration. At the time of this meeting, that process has been commenced and the SEVAPC members had been canvassed for comment.

• The Chair briefed members on the current situation with regard to SE membership. Sadly, Debra Soper has handed in her resignation from the committee with immediate effect. Dan Brooks has now timed out after a six-year stint and one year extension and the Chair thanked him in his absence for his contributions. We have also lost Colin Howe and Craig Jones from the permanent membership although Craig, thankfully, will be remaining with us as a co-opted member.

• A discussion then followed with input from all of the members present. Rather than provide a transcript of the conversations over a 45-minute period, it is just noted here that concerns were raised on a number of issues regarding the current situation and the potential outcomes of engagement with the Minister. The overarching feeling amongst the SEVAPC was frustration – both of the lack of direction over the past 18 months or so and of the fact that after years of positive contribution to the Government, we were being asked to justify our existence.

• KS posed the question of whether we would/could/should have a role supporting the Armed Forces Covenant, The Chair did not have a direct answer but suggested that the AFC may be re-written to encompass the implementation of Valour. GC asked if the Minister was appraised of the depth of feeling amongst the whole VAPC community, particularly the way in which we have been asked to put up a case for our continued existence.

• The Chair said that this point was made but there had to be a diplomatic balance between informing the Minister what we do and could do and telling him how disillusioned we are with the way we have been treated over the past 18 months (at least).

• CIGs – A short discussion was had, largely with input from RD and PLT, about the efficacy and justification of the various CIGs. As with everything VAPC, the CIGs have been adversely affected by lack of members, lack of direction and a sense of lack of purpose. The Chair commented on the fact that until we know exactly how Valour is going to operate on the ground and what the role of the VAPCs will be, the role of the CIGs is not at all clear.

In summing up the discussion, the Chair thanked all for their comments and reiterated the fact that we can only do as much as we are doing and our future is now in the hands of the Minister. He promised to keep the Committee appraised of information as and when it comes in.

8. 5. Any other business

There were no points raised in any other business.

9. 6. Date and location of next meeting

The next meeting is subject to the outfall from the meetings with Min V&P. Should the VAPCs remain as is, the usual quarterly meeting will be scheduled for September.