Guidance

VAPC south west England: meeting minutes 8 March 2022

Updated 10 January 2024

Meeting time

10am

Meeting location

The Rifles, Taunton, Somerset

Attendance

Committee members attending:

Paul Cartwright – Chair (PC)
Jeff Spencer – Vice-chair (JS)
Charlie Radclyffe (CRA)
Anica Alvarez Nishio (AAN)
Hamilton Elliott (HE)
Ben Obese-Jecty (BOJ)
Chris Rose (CRO)
Duncan Tilley (DT)
Guy Williams (GW)

Guests:

Rachel Brannagan, RFCA (RB)

Apologies:

Lee Bushby (LB)
Andrew Ottaway (AO)
Franklin Owusu-Antwi (FOA)
Tony Thompson (TT)
David Wood (DW)

Declaration of Interest

While the VAPC-SW Committee recognises the importance of avoiding conflicts of interest, it also recognises benefits drawn from the lived experience of its members. We, therefore, operate a policy of naming and noting any activities or
experiences which could be considered conflicts, while concurrently actively drawing upon the widest experiences of its members to inform its work. At all times we endeavour to clarify explicitly when members are acting on behalf of the committee and when they are acting as private individuals. No conflicts of interest declared.

Minutes

Chair’s introduction and welcome

Members introduced and apologies noted. PC’s keen to identify the help that the VAPC-SW have provided to veterans, particularly help that no other body can offer.

Mission analysis

In advance of the meeting, committee members undertook a body of work to consider the VAPC-SW’s role in terms of its Statutory Instrument, the 2021 Terms of Reference (TORs) and the Minister for Defence People and Veterans’ intent (Min DPV). The work considered questions, such as:

• What is Min DPV’s intent and what is VAPC-SW’s part in his plan?
• What tasks are specified and what tasks are implied?
• What constraints are imposed on the VAPC-SW?
• What support is available to the VAPC-SW?

TOR reporting for 2022 (AAN)

Discussed the final work required to prepare the VAPC-SW’s report for May 2022 and the following work over the summer for the main November report. Report sections were allocated to members and reporting timelines agreed (key VAPC-SW deadlines: end-March and end-September)

VAPC national groups (PC)

Highlighted the potentially benefit from these national working groups, whilst the Chair also wanted to recognise VAPC-SW’s members’ workload and ability to engage as much as they wish to with roles they’ve volunteered for. Current VAPC-SW attendance on national groups was noted, along with potential changes in the future.

Secretarial responsibilities (CRA)

Confirmed a number of secretarial roles being allocated between VAPC-SW members, to reduce CRA’s workload. Noted the committee being keen to develop their working relationship with the VWS and DTS, and to plan to invite a representative from both organisations to all future quarterly meetings. Discussed the potential to have VWS and DTS provide reports at monthly virtual meetings, but no decision made about whether that is a reasonable aim.

Introduction to the RFCA and Q&A (RB)

Detailed to overall work of the RFCA and some areas in which the Wessex RFCA and VAPC-SW could support one another’s work. Wessex RFCA is based in Taunton, with approximately 20 staff and operates with county teams. The RFCA is very involved in community engagement (e.g. with local authorities, armed forces champions, service charities, NHS) and leads the defence engagement in the south west. Provided details of an upcoming Regional Command meeting on 12 April 2022, which would include CEO Wessex RFCA, SW Engagement team meeting and other regional representatives. Noted that the Covenant (in March 2022) covers veterans and families but not non-veteran reserves. RB has led employment fairs for veterans and for supporting spouses, and sees the potential for the RFCA/VAPC-SW to work with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to develop a SW event.

David Richmond visit (Independent Veteran Advisor -IVA) (JS)

Since the IVA’s appointment in March 2021, he is undertaking a tour of the UK’s regions, to gather on-the-ground about the veteran landscape. Dates confirmed as 19-21 April 2022. Four key aims of visit:

1. Brief the IVA on southwest collaborative initiatives across the Armed Forces Community (AFC)
2. Meet with VAPC-SW members to discuss strategy and engagement, and the needs of VAPC members considering Min DPVs trial TORs
3. Offer an opportunity for the IVA to meet a broad forum of key stakeholders from across the SW sector, including selected VIPs; Senior Health, Local Government and Charity leaders; a representative forum consisting of SP, Veterans, Families and Reserves; and VAPC-SW members
4. Offer the IVA and VAPC-SW the opportunity to share the messages and intent from the Government and raise awareness of initiatives and intent across the Armed Forces Community.