Community Housing has made a pledge to support service personnel, veterans and their families, and signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. It is a pledge that together we acknowledge and understand those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives.

Beverley Hiden has worked closely with the RBL previously and has completed the RBL caseworker training. She was also previously a Veteran Champion before joining Community Housing, working with YSS and the Remember Veterans campaign.

She says: “I understand the challenges faced by ex-servicemen/women who may be reluctant to ask for help and feel overwhelmed by the process of where to start to get advice and support. I hope this is made easier knowing that there are Veterans Champions at Community Housing who are ready to listen and advise.” 

Anthony Woodyatt, who is a veteran himself, understands the importance of this. He says: “A Veteran Champion is a good thing to have within the company because a lot of ex and armed forces personnel come home with physical or non-physical injuries that can be very debilitating and can make civilian life very difficult to live and sometimes impossible. A Veteran Champion will understand the difficulties they face and help to guide them through these and help them to adjust to civilian life”.

Sarah Arnold, who works within the Income Management team is now welcomed as a further third Veteran Champion and says: “I’m looking forward to being part of this and helping to support customers as well as being one of the champions for the company on this important topic.”

We now have three Veteran Champions at Community Housing that serving personnel and veterans can use as a point of contact, as below:-

·         Anthony Woodyatt on anthony.woodyatt@communityhousing.co.uk or 07710 727489

·         Beverley Hiden on beverley.hiden@communityhousing.co.uk or 07971 595871

·         Sarah Arnold on sarah.arnold@communityhousing.co.uk or 01562 733191.