Chair

Councillor Davie Cullen

Members present

• Councillor David Cullen, Veterans Champion, North Lanarkshire Council
• Archie Aitken, Lead Officer for Veterans Issues, North Lanarkshire Council
• Catherine Johnstone, North Lanarkshire Council
• David McAllister and Andy MacIntosh, SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity
• Lynne Wyllie, Administration Assistant, South Lanarkshire Council
• Bob Reid, Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS)
• Audrey Cuthbertson, Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP)
• Kevin Goodwin, Welfare Manager, Veterans UK
• Mark Carter, Aartic Training Services
• Stuart Roberts, Office of the Lieutenancy
• Adrian Rabey, British Training Board
• Clare Sally, RFEA (The Forces Employment Charity)
• Gavin J Davey OBE, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
• Craig Cunningham, Veterans Champion, NHS Scotland
• Dr Jennifer Ring, Lanarkshire Veterans First Point
• Stuart Craig, Office of the Lieutenancy
• Cat Leatherby, Routes to Work
• Col Sandy Fitzpatrick, Deputy Commander, 51 Brigade
• Kenny Cumming, Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS)

Apologies

• Councillor Mark Horsham, Veterans Champion, South Lanarkshire Council
• Geraldine McCann, Head of Administration and Legal Services, South Lanarkshire Council
• Brian Hendrie, Alcoholics Anonymous

Chair’s opening remarks

The Chair welcomed everyone to the first remote meeting of  Lanarkshire Firm Base.
Outcome(s):  Position noted

Note of previous meeting

The minute of the meeting of the Firm Base held on 25 September 2019 was submitted for approval as a correct record.
Outcome(s):  Minutes approved

Lanarkshire Firm Base website update

L Wyllie advised the group that that due to restrictions imposed in respect of COVID and in particular, no face to face meetings, no further progress had been made in the development of the website at this time. Further expressions of interest were sought from the members to assist in the development in the future.

Action: Members wishing to participate in the development of the website provide details to either Catherine Johnstone or Lynne Wyllie.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme For Veterans update

Councillor Cullen advised the group that both North and South Lanarkshire had developed a Guaranteed Interview Scheme, whereby former military personnel and reservists who met the essential criteria for a post would be automatically guaranteed an interview. The candidate is required to present themself as a veteran by completing a tick box on the relevant recruitment site whether it be My Job Scotland or North and South Lanarkshire recruitment pages. L Wyllie, advised that, since the scheme had been launched in July 2019, 35 veterans had applied for vacancies within SLC of that, 14 out of the 35 veterans had attended an interview due to meeting the essential criteria of the post. One veteran  was offered a position following their interview however declined the offer and withdrew from the recruitment process.

Action: Note position

Virtue Recruitment Services

The group received an oral presentation from Stuart Gordon of Virtue Recruitment Services who advised that:

• the recruitment agency specialised in placing candidates into permanent, temporary and contractual roles across a broad spectrum
• individuals were matched into positions according to the skills they had attained during their term served in the armed forces
• a training academy had been developed which offered a range of driving courses on areas such as Driver Certificate of Professional Competence
• several initiatives were in place with partners and charities who support veterans with issues such as PTSD, homelessness, training and back to work initiatives
• the Service had signed up to  the Armed Forces Covenant and had been successful and awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme(ERS) Bronze Award

Outcome(s): Presentation noted

Armed Forces Covenant Fund – Forces for Change Programme

Consideration was given to a new funding opportunity provided by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund called “Forces for Change Programme” devised to support local Armed Forces communities to address the needs that have arisen as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Grants of up to £20,000 may be awarded for projects supporting Armed Forces communities to become less isolated and engage more in their local area.

Outcome(s): Position noted

Local authority Armed Forces and veterans awareness training

Consideration was given to correspondence received from Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Parliamentary business and veterans

• advising of the development of an e-learning package aimed at frontline service providers to ensure they were equipped with right skills and confidence to support people from across society
• informing that the e-learning module had been rolled out across the four Lothian authorities and NHS Lothian, with approximately 1,500 frontline staff having completed the training
• enclosing a USB pen drive and link to the e-learning module on Armed Forces website

Outcome(s): Postion noted

AOCB

• Councillor Cullen referred to the recent retirement of Gordon Bow and to the outstanding commitment and contribution that Gordon had given to the establishment of the Lanarkshire Firm Base, he advised that, Geraldine McCann, Head of Administration and Legal Services would be attending any future meetings
• Dr Jennifer Ring, LVP and Craig Cunningham NHS provided an update in respect of the services provided to veterans and their families during the pandemic
• Councillor Cullen advised correspondence had been received from Poppy Scotland in respect of the  “Light up Red Poppy Campaign “ seeking support to drive awareness of the Scottish Poppy Appeal to help raise vital funds for the Armed Forces communities
• Lynne Wyllie enquired of the arrangements in place to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. Archie Aitken, Head of Legal and Democratic Solutions advised that discussions were ongoing as to what could be achieved throughout the pandemic, and suggested that he liaise with Lynne directly on the matter

Outcome(s): The correspondence received from Poppy Scotland be circulated to all members