Support for Armed forces personnel

A special launch was held in West Lothian Civic Centre for both a Service Leavers Guide to West Lothian and an online learning tool to help frontline staff assist Armed Forces staff and veterans.

The Service Leavers guide was put together by the Lothian Armed Forces and Veterans Project to help those leaving the military access useful information on West Lothian, such as housings, schools, health and amenities.

The online learning tool has been designed to help staff from the council, in particular front line staff better assist Armed Forces personnel and veterans through promoting a greater understanding of some of the challenges they face as well as additional support that may be available to veterans. The tool will also be shared with Community Planning partners.

Councillor John McGinty, who chairs the West Lothian Armed Forces Covenant Group, said: "I'm delighted that we are able to better support of West Lothian's Armed Forces and veterans' community with the launch of these two new initiatives.

"Both will play a part in assisting current and former military personnel who make West Lothian their home.

"Special thanks go to the Lothian Armed Forces and Veterans Project for all their hard work in pulling the Service Leavers guide together." 

Douglas Grierson, the council's Regeneration Team Leader, added: "The council has been signed up to the Armed Forces Community Covenant for a number of years and works closely with local partners and veterans support organisations to offer support between the armed forces and civilian communities in West Lothian.

"These two new projects are good examples of the positive work that has taken place in recent years as part of the community covenant."

More information, including a downloadable version of the Service Leavers guide, is available at Armed Forces Community Covenant , with printed copies given to individuals when they leave the service.