This week, we consider the needs profile of veterans and their families and explore what local government can do to facilitate their reintegration into the community, both in the short and long term.
Global Local In Brief: Support for veterans
Support for veterans
| This week, we consider the needs profile of veterans and their families and explore what local government can do to facilitate their reintegration into the community, both in the short and long term. |
At LGIU we want local government to be informed, engaged and connected and this Global Local In Brief newsletter is for sharing.
But upgrade to a full Global Local subscription and for less than $1 a week you receive the subscriber-only, in-depth Global Local weekly newsletter enhanced by access to detailed topical policy briefings.
The sacrifices an armed forces veteran must make set them apart from the rest of us. Whether they’re stationed overseas, at a base across the country separated from loved ones or facing the very real dangers of combat every day, they may experience far more stress and trauma than the average person. Therefore, they require more support from their neighbours, communities and, critically, their local councillors.
Research shows that veterans are more at risk of homelessness, alcoholism, domestic violence, criminal behaviour, relationship breakdowns and untreated mental health difficulties. Additionally, countries define “veteran” differently, which affects support services specifically tailored to them.
This week, we’re looking at what veterans around the world may require and how local government can meet these needs. Direct aid, recovery assessments and fair treatment work in tandem to rebuild these lives in your community. As remembrance and veterans days were marked across the globe, it’s worth thinking about the practical improvements you can make for people who have given so much to their country.
In Brief: featured content
In conversation with Ian Millen of Veterans Outreach Support
By Freya Millard, LGIU
Since 2008, UK-based charity Veterans Outreach Support has provided welfare, wellbeing and mental health support to veterans and their families. Ian Millen, the charity’s CEO, spoke to LGIU’s Freya Millard about the key challenges of re-entering society, helping the relatives of ex-personnel and how local leaders can improve reintegration and veterans’ quality of life.
Upgrade to a full subscription for less than $1 a week
Global Local is a subscriber-only weekly newsletter enhanced by detailed policy briefings, which connects you with a community of like minded professionals who are innovating in the local government space.
LGIU Global Local Highlights
🔒 Needs profiles of veterans across the globe
Most ex-service personnel transition back to civilian life successfully. However, studies reveal that veterans are more likely to encounter problems with relationships, mental health and substance abuse. Our main Global Local briefing examines a wide range of socioeconomic issues that veterans face on their return to society, with needs profiles in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S. We also highlight the UK Armed Forces Covenant’s success and local government’s role in veteran affairs.
Subscribe to Global Local to get the full briefing.
🔒 Local authority regulation to improve supported and “exempt” housing
According to the 2016 Supported Accommodation review, there were over 651,000 units of supported and specialist housing in the UK that year, many of which housed veterans. We look at the debate around increased regulation of specialist accommodation and whether it could improve councils’ service delivery to those who need it most. Subscribe to Global Local to receive this briefing.
Innovation & Inspiration
Curated case studies and news from around the globe
U.S.: Veterans Watchmaker Initiative
Six years ago, the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative opened in New Castle, Delaware. It remains America’s only school dedicated to teaching the watchmaking trade to veterans — particularly those with disabilities — for free. The country government agreed to lease a vacant building in Odessa for 10 years at $1 per annum with an option for renewal. Veterans who learn the trade hope to find immediate employment in a highly-skilled, in-demand profession. There are around 4,000 watchmakers in the U.S. alone with salaries reportedly starting at $85,000.
Subscribe to Global Local for more innovative projects from around the world
Policy & Resources
Toolkit: Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022-24
This resource reveals five focal points for improving the lives of veterans in the UK: delivering a significant change in support; maximising their employability post-service; addressing historic hurts or disadvantages; dealing with trauma from armed forces operations; and ensuring a high standard of support across the country.
Research: Homelessness among Australian veterans
In 2019, the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs commissioned the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) to investigate the extent and nature of homelessness amongst veterans throughout the continent. A consortium of researchers and community representatives, led by the Social Policy Research Centre, spearheaded the study.
Join the Global Local community to get more tips for practical delivery.
This week's Global Local bulletin, next week's In Brief
Our paid subscriber edition this week focuses on the COP27 conference and how local government can address the "knowing-doing gap" when helping to tackle climate change
Thanks for reading!
Join our Global Local community to gain full access to:
- The past archive of all Global Local newsletters;
- Our global policy briefings;
- Our monthly think tank reviews – highlighting the latest research and thinking from people solving global challenges locally;
- Research from our Local Democracy Research Centre;
- And, opportunities to get involved in practical research and networking events.
Cancel within the first two months and incur no charge.
If you would like to share your story, you can fill in this simple form or drop me a line at ingrid.koehler@lgiu.org. Please forward this free newsletter to a colleague or share it on social media to help us reach even more people who value local government globally. We tweet from @GlobalLocalLGIU.
Want more content? Visit our website to access our Global Local briefings, blogs, podcast and more.
Copyright © 2022 LGiU, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
LGiU
251 Pentonville Road
London, N1 9NG
United Kingdom
Add us to your address book
Want to change how you receive these emails? Why not update your preferences to pick and choose the type of alerts you receive. You can unsubscribe from this list (but doing so will mean that you will not receive any content from us, including LGiU daily news and other LGiU policy briefings).
