In the last newsletter we told you about work that has been ongoing to find out how we can better support our local armed forces community. Our research identified a number of areas where this community can experience challenges, in both the immediate and longer term transition from military to civilian life, and while family members are still serving. We have used the information the armed forces community provided us with to set out our main priorities in these areas.

Work is now ongoing to improve experiences of our local armed forces community when living in, or returning to Barnsley.

The priorities to come from our research can be viewed in the needs assessment document, which is also available on the Armed Forces Barnsley website.

Thank you to all that have contributed to this research, you are helping us to improve services to better meet the needs of our local armed forces community.

The transition from military to civilian life can be challenging for some service leavers and also their families. SSAFA are an armed forces charity that can support with this transition, through their transitional mentoring programme. 

Mentors provide one-to-one, face to face support during transition and for up to two years post discharge. They can help service leavers and their families to navigate this sometimes difficult transition. Mentoring can help motivate, support, build resilience and empower service leavers to fulfil their potential in their new civilian lives.

To find out more and to see how SSAFA could help you, visit their mentoring website.

To explore what other support SSAFA offer the armed forces community visit their website.

Your healthcare provider may be able to offer care better tailored to your needs as a member of the armed forces community. But they can only do this if they know who you are.

Tell your GP practice you are a member of the armed forces community and ask them to add this to your medical records. This will allow medical practitioners to consider your armed forces status as part of any physical and mental health care needs or treatment you may have.

The NHS also provide a step by step guide on how to move from military to civilian healthcare when leaving Service. It tells you what you need to do to help your GP access your military medical records. This can again help your civilian healthcare be tailored to your needs.

We have worked with Barnsley Premier Leisure to help veterans to stay active for less. This can help those that have left Service to continue and maintain their health, fitness, physical and mental wellbeing.

Veterans can now access exclusive discounts on a range of sports and fitness activities at all Barnsley Premier Leisure sites across the borough. This can include swimming, gym access, fitness classes, and more.

For more information and to find out how to apply visit the Barnsley Premier Leisure Card website.

The Barnsley Ex-Service personnel fund is a charitable trust administered by Barnsley Council that aims to help those who have served in our Armed Forces and who are now in need of financial assistance, whether through disability, sickness, old age or poverty. The fund awards small grants to people in need who meet these criteria. Trustees of the fund assess individual applications and make awards to ex-service personnel who meet the eligibility criteria.

The application form can be accessed here. This can be returned, along with supporting documentation to the Council Governance Unit, Barnsley Council, PO Box 364, Barnsley, S70 9GG. A completed application form can also be returned via email to governance@barnsley.gov.uk

Op Prosper is a new Office for Veteran's Affairs programme designed to empower veterans and their families to thrive in civilian society by ensuring equal access to employment opportunities and supporting them into sustainable, valuable careers.

The programme also aims to support the business community to become more veteran friendly, while also creating tailored pathways for veterans into employment.

The Forces Employment Charity will deliver the employment support element, connecting employers with veterans and supporting their recruitment and progression.

To find out more and to register with Op PROSPER visit the Forces Employment Charity website or call the Veteran Support Team on 0121 262 3058.

If you are looking for a new challenge in a rewarding career, the Proud to Care Hub could help. The hub offers support to anybody who is thinking about a career in the Health and Care sector. This includes members of the armed forces community, so if you are looking for a new direction after military service, or want to explore career options as a member of the wider armed forces community the support being offered could help. 

There are lots of different roles in the care sector, so if you love helping people and want to make a difference in someone's life, the Proud to Care hub can support you to start a career in care.

Find out more on the Proud to Care in Barnsley website

We are approaching the period of Remembrance and as always, Barnsley will remember those that fought for our freedom and sacrificed their own lives to protect others.

Remembrance events taking place in the Town Centre include:

• Thursday 7 November, 7pm - Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at St Mary's Church, Church Street, Barnsley - hosted by the Churchfield Branch of Royal British Legion. For further details please contact Vice Chairman, Phil Watson on 07710120992.
• Sunday 10 November, 11am - Civic Remembrance Service at the War Memorial, Town Hall, Barnsley. For further details on how to register to lay a wreath during the service, or taking part in the parade, please email mayorsoffice@barnsley.gov.uk or call 01226 773804.
• Monday 11 November, 11am - Barnsley children's/young person's Remembrance Service at the war memorial at the Town Hall.

There are also Remembrance Services held at the war memorials in several of the borough's towns and villages that are independently organised by local Royal British Legion branches or local Churches.

It may seem a long time off but a lot of work goes into the planning of Barnsley's annual armed forces day celebrations. Planning for Armed Forces Day 2025 is already underway. The event will take place on Saturday 14 June 2025, in Barnsley town centre.

The day will build on previous Armed Forces Day's in 2023 and 2024 and we will use feedback and experience from these previous events to ensure 2025 will be another great family friendly day where we recognise and celebrate our armed forces community.

Further details of the day will follow, closer to the time, in the next edition of the Armed Forces Barnsley newsletter and on the Armed Forces Barnsley website.

Barnsley's Armed Forces and Veteran's breakfast clubs are a great place for veterans and serving armed forces personnel to meet like minded people in a relaxed, safe, social environment for support, general chat and banter while enjoying a great breakfast.

Three locations host the breakfast clubs in Barnsley:

• Manx Arms, 32 Sheffield Rd, S70 1HP - Every Saturday at 9.30am
• The Snap Tin Cafe, 1 Barnburgh Lane, Goldthorpe, S63 9PG - Alternate Fridays at 9.30am.
• The Prince of Wales, 15 High Street, Wombwell, S73 0DA - first Saturday of every month

More details about each club can be found here.

As a Reservist you make lifelong friends, gain skills, and embrace challenge and adventure.

Reservists are ordinary men and women serving part-time in the reserve forces, fitting this around their civilian lives and careers.

Reservists get the chance to serve their country and community, gain confidence and leadership experience, develop as a person, learn new skills, travel, take part in adventurous training and sporting activities, earn military and civilian qualifications, be trained by the best and reach military fitness standards. 

You can volunteer with the Royal Naval, Royal Marines, British Army, and Royal Air Force Reserves. Barnsley's local Reserve Unit is the Army Reserves, 4th Battalion, The Royal Yorkshire Regiment, and they are currently recruiting.

For more information on volunteering with Barnsley’s Army Reserve unit visit their information page or call their recruitment hotline on 07971890378.

Barnsley's Armed Forces Walkway is situated on Westgate, Barnsley, by the College Gardens and provides a space for family and friends to remember their loved ones who have served in HM Armed Forces.

We are currently exploring a programme of improvement works for the walkway. This will improve the look of the site and give it the importance it deserves. We are also hoping to offer a wider range of memorial options, alongside the existing commemorative stones.

As plans progress, further information will be shared in the next edition of this newsletter and on the Armed Forces Barnsley website.

Purchasing a commemorative stone

You are still able to purchase commemorative stones while we work to improve and make additions to the walkway. Commemorative stones can be purchased at any time of the year, for individuals that have a connection to Barnsley and have served in any of HM Armed Forces. Stones can also be purchased to represent a military unit with a clear link to Barnsley.

Each stone costs £300 which is inclusive of:

• VAT
• Engraving
• Positioning on the walkway
• Unveiling ceremony

Annual ceremonies are held to unveil newly purchased stones. If you are interested in purchasing a stone for an individual, or on behalf of a unit, please visit the Barnsley Armed Forces walkway website.

We want this newsletter to be as accurate, useful, and informative as possible. We're keen to get your feedback on the content of these newsletters.

If you have any ideas for future editions or questions about anything included, please contact armedforcescouncilqueries@barnsley.gov.uk