Wigan’s MPs are backing a bid by the country’s first veterans’ council, based in the town, to become a facility for veterans across the region.
Wigan Borough Veterans Council is the only group of its kind in the UK and in just a little more than a year, since it was launched, it has seen the demand for its services go through the roof.
And now, following countless requests for an extended service, it is campaigning to roll the facility out across the North West.
Its members are preparing to lobby the Government as part of the expansion campaign.
Des White, chairman of the charity, said: “Since we launched the council everything has happened so quickly there has been so much demand for our services, not just across the borough but much further afield too.
“We have now launched a campaign to extend the council out across the North West, so we will be a centre for the whole region, and next week I am due to have a meeting with the Government to discuss the next step for the council.

On Sunday 20th February it is the 20th Anniversary of the 1st Gulf War. To commemorate this event the Wigan Borough Veterans Council (WBVC) are holding a remembrance service at Leigh Parish Church, from 12 noon - 1pm.

Local dignitaries have been invited.

Meet & Greet 11am - 11.45
Refreshments 1pm - Finish
The Boars Head Pub
2 Market Place
WN7 1EG

For any further information please contact WBVC on:

01942 861 019
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.veteranscouncil.org.uk

Platt Bridge Community Zone, 81 Ribble Road,
Platt Bridge, Wigan, WN2 5EG

There is also a poster with details of this service available to download here. We encourage you to print it off and spread the word.

The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) is appealing to veterans to have their say about the services it delivers.  The Agency’s Veterans Customer Satisfaction Survey is launched online, and via a hard copy postal distribution to 12,000 veterans, on 10 January, with replies requested by 28 February.

SPVA, part of the Ministry of Defence, provides vital support services for HM Armed Forces and the veterans community.  These include pensions and compensation for injury/disablement or death due to Service, Armed Forces occupational pensions, the national Veterans Welfare Service, a free helpline and the issue of all medals for Service dating back to WWII.  The Agency is looking for feedback from those who have had dealings with it during the past year, on what services people were happy with and what should be improved in the future.

The survey is entirely anonymous and no-one will be contacted by phone or sent mailings as a result of completing it.  The survey is accessed by visiting www.veterans-uk.info and following the link to the ‘Veterans Customer Satisfaction Survey’.  For a printed copy of the survey, call 02392 702382.

The full article can be found here

Children of service personnel killed in action are to get £8,200 a year to put them through university

As reported in The Sun, from today, they will receive £3,200 for tuition fees and £5,000 for living expenses under an education scholarship scheme.

Payments will continue after fees rise up to £9,000, meaning some children will get £14,000 a year. Universities minister David Willetts said the scheme gave service personnel "protection for the education of their children".

He added: "Even when money is tight and with tuition fees rising, we are committed to this scheme."

It is available to children of military personnel killed since 1990 and is expected to help around 100 at any one time. Mr Willetts said spouses of those killed or seriously injured in action may also get help with education costs.

Meanwhile, a senior Lib Dem MP was yesterday given the job of selling the tuition fees hike to young people. Deputy leader Simon Hughes was appointed advocate for access to education.

The full article is available here