Swansea Labour administration establish fund to support city's veterans
City armed forces veterans are being urged to take advantage of a Veterans' Fund set up by the Labour-led Council.
Cllr Wendy Lewis and WW2 Veteran Mr Richard Phelzer
The £25,000 fund was agreed by the Labour administration as part of its budget for 2021/22 and armed forces veterans can apply to the fund for help. The fund is among a range of support available to veterans or serving members of the armed forces under the council's Armed Forces Community Covenant.
Labour Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said: "On Remembrance Day we should never forget that support for the armed forces is a year-round duty for us all.
"The veterans' budget aims to provide a little bit of extra support to veterans or serving members of the armed forces.
He said: "The fund will support initiatives which address veterans issues, and the veterans themselves. The fund welcomes new initiatives/innovations and will seed fund new ideas.
"Charitable or voluntary organisations, those with charitable objectives and not-for-private-profit organisations, are eligible apply. If the grant is to support an individual the grant will be paid via the applicant organisation, individuals cannot apply for Grant funding directly."
Cllr Wendy Lewis and WW2 Veteran Mr Fred Jeacock
Labour Cllr Wendy Lewis, the council's armed forces champion, said: "I meet with veterans and veterans' groups frequently and I know just how important it is to them that the community around them are supportive.
"I'm confident this new fund will also make a difference to those who need it."
Cllr Lewis said: "Communities in Swansea have a proud heritage of service in the armed forces. Our support for past and current members of the armed forces is unstinting and year-round.
"As a council we've also made a commitment to adopt our city's community war memorials and cenotaphs to ensure they are looked after for future generations. It's been a job the veterans have done for many years.
"But we want to reassure them that their communities are playing their part too for the future."
“I’m confident this new fund will also make a difference to those who need it.”
The application page for grants will be going on the Council's Armed Forces web page in the coming days: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/9934/Armed-Forces-Community-Covenant
