Online help for forces' heroes

Local authorities in Dorset have been working with the military as the Dorset Military Civilian Integration Sponsor Group (DMCISG) to offer the new service.

The web pages are now live and can be found at www.dorsetforyou.com/veterans-support

It is hoped the service will help veterans transition back into civilian life.

John Yerbury, a former Commando Engineer, war pensioner and member of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee and a member of the DMCISG, initiated the project.

He said: “The transition back to civilian life isn’t always easy for veterans and, although there is plenty of information available on the web, it can involve hours of searching.

“Whether it’s learning a new skill, obtaining childcare support, receiving housing assistance or finding out where to go for financial guidance, our aim is for the pages to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for the needs of all veterans and their families.”

The DMCISG supports the principles of the Dorset Armed Forces Community Covenant, which is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local armed forces community.

Debbie Ward, chief executive of Dorset County Council, said: “Through the Armed Forces Community Covenant, the group is working together to maximise the economic and social benefits of the Armed Forces' presence in the county.

“The Community Covenant presents an opportunity for the organisations to combine knowledge, experience and expertise for the benefit of our Armed Forces members, past and present.”

She added: “These web pages underline our commitment to meeting the aims of the covenant and the veterans who make up an important part of Dorset’s community.”

Lt Col (Retd) Stewart Burman MBE from the DMCISG said: “We hope that, by bringing links to the information together on the Dorsetforyou website, the transition into civilian life can be more straightforward for ex-service personnel in the county.”