Survey launched to help armed forces
Residents of Rutland, South Kesteven and Harborough with a connection to the British Armed Forces are encouraged to share their views and experiences as part of a wide-ranging survey looking at military life.
The survey is the first of its kind to take place across the three local authority areas.
Regular armed forces personnel, reservists, veterans of all ages and extended members of forces families are all being encouraged to take part in the survey, which launched on Monday, January 14, and runs for three months.
The survey has been developed by Rutland County Council, South Kesteven District Council, Harborough District Council and Healthwatch Rutland as part of their shared commitment to support the UK’s national Armed Forces Covenant.
It aims to gather information that can be used to help improve local services for individuals and families who are connected to the forces and asks questions about type and length of service, physical health, mental health, employment and education.
Coun Richard Foster, Rutland armed forces champion, said service men and women, together with their families, made "incredible sacrifices" in order to protect the country and the local authorities were committed to repaying them by providing help and support.
"This armed forces survey is an important part of this commitment.
"Through it, we want to shed light on any disadvantages of having served and remove barriers.
"This includes housing and employment issues, isolation, loneliness and unmet mental health needs.
"By understanding as much as we can about these issues we hope to overcome them and make sure that forces personnel, veterans and families can all prosper as part of our community."
South Kesteven District Council armed forces champion and council cabinet member, coun Nick Neilson, expressed his appreciation for the role played by the services and the need to ensure they are supported within the district.
“There should be no disadvantages of service and we need to ensure that issues, whatever they are, are addressed.
"I am personally delighted to see us reaching out to the services community working in partnership with our sister councils, and stress SKDC’s commitment to acting on survey findings."
Click HERE to take the survey.
Paper copies of the survey are also available to collect from public libraries and council offices across Rutland, Harborough and South Kesteven and can be returned to:
Healthwatch Rutland
c/o Rutland Community Hub
Lands’ End Way
Oakham, LE15 6RB
As well as gathering information, it is hoped that the survey will help to identify and engage with individuals and raise awareness of local support services that are available to them.
Following on from the survey, a detailed report will be produced examining the areas where more can be done to help current and past members of the Armed Forces and their families.
