Veterans in Cornwall offered social prescribing support

Hundreds of service personnel, veterans and cadets joined a parade in Falmouth on Armed Forces Day on 24 June 2023

A new health programme has been launched to help Cornwall's armed forces veterans and their families find the right kind of support.

Two ex-military social workers have been recruited to offer advice and information on matters including mental health, money and employment.

A two-year trial of the new social prescribing programme that ended last year helped more than 250 people.

More than 30,000 veterans live in Cornwall, council figures show.

The three-year project features two Armed Forces community social prescribing link workers who work to connect veterans to activities, groups and services to help improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

Veteran Royal Navy submariner, councillor Louis Gardner said: "Research shows that ex-service personnel are more likely to present with complex healthcare needs in comparison with the UK general population and around 60% of military personnel with mental health issues do not seek help.

"This is why projects like this are so important. Because the link workers are recruited from within the armed forces community they are able to provide the understanding and empathy necessary to help ex-service personnel and their families with a range of complex needs."

Cornwall has 30,229 veterans, which at 6.3% is one of the highest proportions in the UK.

'They get frustrated'

Ex-RAF Cornwall councillor Martyn Alvey said ex-service personnel faced unique challenges.

He said: "Veterans often do not engage well with organisations that are not designed specifically for them and commonly will not access or engage with people who they feel do not understand what they have seen, done, and are currently going through.

"They get frustrated at having to tell their story repeatedly and being passed from organisation to organisation. They often ask for a single point of contact who could provide access to the right organisation at the right time in a layered or step by step manner, and this is exactly what the new link workers will be able to offer."

The social prescribing programme is delivered by Active Plus and overseen by Public Health, Cornwall Council and the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.