Note of meeting held via Microsoft Teams on 1 February 2023

Chair

Councillor Mark Horsham

Firm Base Group members present:

Councillor Bob Burgess, Armed Forces Veterans Champion, North Lanarkshire Council

Rachel Blair, Legal Manager, North Lanarkshire Council

Catherine Johnstone, Operations Manager (People), North Lanarkshire

Yvonne Hinshelwood, Operations Co Ordinator, North Lanarkshire Council

Lynn Watson, Operations Co Ordinator North Lanarkshire Council

Andrew Craney, Corporate Communications, North Lanarkshire Council

Geraldine McCann, Lead Officer for Veterans Issues, South Lanarkshire Council

Maureen Greenwood, Members’ Services Officer, South Lanarkshire Council

Lynne Wyllie, Administration Assistant, South Lanarkshire Council

Caroline Belch, Welfare Support Officer, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Claire Sally, Forces Employment Charity

Audrey Cuthbertson, Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP)

Eric Foy and June Weir, Skills Development Scotland

Emma Gration, Outreach Officer BLESMA

Kenny Cumming, Veterans Welfare Officer, Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS)

Peita-Anne Paterson and Madalina Amaritei, REMPLOY

Stuart Roberts, Office of the Lieutenancy

Shaun Cauvin, Veterans Scotland

Craig Cunningham, Veterans Champion, NHS Lanarkshire

Barry Haldane, CPT

Alistair Gemmell, Veterans Welfare service

George Ross, Who Dares Cares 

Lynne Davidson, Welfare Support Worker

Scott Muir, Project Nova

Apologies:

Helen Hanlon, Partnership Manager DWP

Colonel Ted Shields, Lowlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Assoc

Andy Siddaway, Veterans 1st Point

Mark Spowart Armed Forces Champion for South West Scotland

Archie Aitken Lead Officer for Veterans issues North Lanarkshire Council

Gavin Davey OBE, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Captain Andy Blair, MOD, C Company (6 SCOTS)

Dave Gibson, Fares4Free

Brian Hendrie, Alcoholics Anonymous

Steve Burton, Support Officer, BLESMA

Tom Little, Head of Corp Comms South Lanarkshire Council

 

Chair’s opening remarks and introduction

Cllr Horsham welcomed everyone to the meeting and requested that everyone introduce themselves.   

Outcome(s): Position noted.

 

Note of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of the Firm Base held on 5 October 2022 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Outcome(s): Minutes approved.

 

‘Decade of the Covenant’- Review by First in Mind Trust (FiMT)

Cllr Horsham informed the group of his appointment as Informing Scotland Project Officer, Veterans Scotland.  He referred to “Our Community, our Covenant “document that came into force in 2012 and of the review that had been undertaken by First in Mind Trust (FiMT) focussing on the delivery and impact of ten years of the Armed Forces. 

The publication of the report, 11 years after the introduction of the Covenant, coincides with the introduction of a legal duty on councils, the NHS, and schools to “have due regard” to the Covenant in relation to healthcare, education, and housing. An awareness session for local authority champions had taken place with discussions focussing on the toolkit and role descriptions.

Craig Cunningham, Veterans Champion NHS Lanarkshire informed the group that guidance was available in terms of the expectations of the health service.

Outcome(s): that the link to the “Decade of the Covenant“ be issued to all members of the Group.

 

Employment for Veterans Transitioning from Services

Claire Sally, Employment Forces Employment Charity advised that the charity were in the process of arranging an event to be held in the West of Scotland to encourage veterans and early service leavers to attend and employment opportunities that they contact Barry Haldane direct to discuss.

Thereon, Claire intimated the background to the Forces Employment Charity and of the recent changes that veterans into employment can be registered from seven months post discharge, and anyone can register for employment support. The charity supports veterans and spouses with the view that this be extended to looking at supporting dependence in relation to  courses, training, CV’s and events in respect of employment relations.

Councillor Horsham referred to the guaranteed interview scheme currently operated by both South and North Lanarkshire and of the concern at the low figures.  In respect of South Lanarkshire statistics for the previous month indicated that that nine veterans were invited to attend an interview with six failing to show.  He then asked if there was anything further that could be put in place to assist and support those having trouble in attending.

Eric Foy, Skills Development Scotland intimated that an attempt was being made to engage with as many veterans as possible and that the organisation would assist and provide technique workshops for interview skills and that a pre formal interview might be something to consider reducing anxiety prior to attendance. He also advised that he delivers PACE, that aids individuals who have been made redundant, and through his experience there is an extreme lack of confidence, and pre-interview process should be considered.

Outcome(s): that the matter be discussed further at the next meeting.

 

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme– Silver /Gold Award

Cllr Horsham informed of expressions of interest being sought from the Ministry of Defence for organisations to be considered for the Employee Recognition Award, and that both authorities were in the process of applying, North Lanarkshire for the silver award and South Lanarkshire for Gold Award.

Outcome(s):  that the position be noted.

 

Any other competent business

REMPLOY – Open Day

Peita-Anne Paterson, REMPLOY advised that to support employability, they were in the process of arranging an open day each month to be held in Quarry Street, Hamilton and that would allow groups of individuals to meet in a relaxed environment.  A Jobs Fayre had also been arranged to take place on 22 March and would include a multitude of sectors from care, retail, and hospitality.

Outcome(s): Noted.

 

Lanarkshire Firm Base – Proposed change of name

Cllr Horsham suggested that it may be beneficial the name of the Group be reviewed and requested that the matter be investigated further as to the feasibility of, and any legal implications and processes to be undertaken if the Group agreed that the name be changed.  

Craig Cunningham, Veteran’s Champion, NHS  confirmed that that the name would require to include a veteran’s reference.

Outcome(s): that the feasibility of the name being change be explored and discussed at the next meeting of the Group.

 

Armed Forces Day

Cllr Horsham advised that South Lanarkshire Council were in the preliminary stages of arrangements for the Armed Forces Day.  Councillor Burgess confirmed that he would ascertain the arrangements being considered by North Lanarkshire Council and provide and update at the next meeting.

Outcome(s): Noted.

 

Date of next meeting

It was proposed that the next meeting of the Firm Base be a hybrid meeting being held on 31 May 2023.

Outcome(s): It was agreed that the next meeting of the Firm Base be scheduled as a hybrid meeting on 31 May 2023.