Veterans and their families living in the Daventry district will be able to have greater access to support services offered by the Royal British Legion thanks to a new partnership.
The legion has joined forces with Daventry District Council to offer drop-in sessions in the reception area of the council’s offices in Lodge Road, Daventry.
The first of these sessions was held yesterday (Wednesday) and will now be held on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The sessions will run from 11am to 1pm, with the next to be held on Wednesday, April 22.
The new service is part of nationwide changes by The Royal British Legion to make its welfare services more accessible to armed forces personnel past and present, and their families, across the UK.
There have been a number of new outreach locations in Northamptonshire and Daventry is one of them.
The Royal British Legion will offer a knowledgeable and dedicated support worker as a face-to-face point of contact for those in need of help and advice from the Legion.
As the nation’s leading armed forces charity, the Legion spends £84 million a year on vital welfare work, providing social, emotional and financial care and support to serving and ex-service people and their families.
The Royal British Legion has welcomed the new partnership and believes it could offer a wide range of benefits to the Daventry district.
Mark Collins, Northamptonshire area manager for the Royal British Legion, said: “Whether you are a beneficiary, a member or a supporter, our aim is to make our advice and support services easier to access and more relevant to everyone.
“These local access points, together with the website and national helpline number, make it easier than ever before to contact the Legion to ask for help.”
The Legion does a wide range of things including helping personnel who were injured during a conflict and helping army staff settle back into a normal life. Families of servicemen are also looked after by the charity and can provide valuable help and support.
Cllr Wayne Howard, access and communication portfolio holder for Daventry District Council, said: “We are really pleased to be partnering with the Royal British Legion on this scheme to give people greater access to the vital services it offers to the armed forces community.”
For further information about the Royal British Legion, visit one of the drop-in sessions, log on to www.britishlegion.org.uk, or phone the helpline on 0808 802 8080.