The Armed Forces Community Covenant Panel met on Monday 27 January 2025, where a presentation on fraud awareness was delivered, and updates were provided on regional armed forces covenant liaison officer roles, Ministry of Defence activities, and veterans' mental health services. The panel also heard from various organisations supporting the armed forces community, including the Poppy Factory and Veterans RV.

Fraud Awareness Presentation

Chloe Dennis from Tarion, the Regional Organised Crime Unit, delivered a presentation on fraud awareness. She highlighted that fraud is the biggest crime category in the UK, with an estimated 3.5 million incidents last year, though only 13% were reported. Dennis explained that data can be obtained through data breaches, website cookies, and phishing scams via emails, texts, phone calls, and QR codes. She advised attendees to check for spelling mistakes, poor grammar, unofficial links, and generic greetings in suspicious communications. For phone calls, she stressed the importance of being wary of attempts to rush transactions. Dennis provided key reporting mechanisms: forwarding suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and suspicious texts to 7726. She also detailed banking fraud, including impersonation scams and courier fraud, and advised hanging up and dialling 159 if a call claims to be from a bank. Councillor Wendy Lewis suggested reaching out to veteran groups, as older veterans may be more susceptible to scams.

Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer Update

Finola Pickwell, the Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer for Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, and Bridgend, provided an update on her role. She mentioned that her responsibilities are being reviewed following an evaluation, with discussions planned with the WLGA and Welsh Government. Pickwell highlighted current funding opportunities, including the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust's Serving Families On the Move programme and Major Capital Grants Programme, as well as grants from the Veterans Foundation. She also pointed to the Turn to Us toolkit for finding grants. Pickwell is compiling a database of veteran support organisations and a calendar of regional events to avoid clashes. She raised a concern about a veteran facing homelessness and appealed for assistance in finding accommodation. Upcoming events mentioned were the Armed Forces Festival Day in Port Talbot on 25 October 2025 and the Lord Mayor's Remembrance Concert on 8 November 2025.

Ministry of Defence Updates

Updates were provided by representatives from the Ministry of Defence. Lt Cdr Andy Davies and WO1 Rob Govier spoke on behalf of HMS Cambria, expressing their anticipation for exercising the freedom of Swansea on 1 March and their commitment to supporting local events. Captain Huw Williams, Permanent Staff Officer and Civil Engagement Taskforce Lead for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, detailed the recent activities of the 157 Regiment and 223 Transport Regiment, including Exercise Winter Dragon and participation in remembrance events. He also outlined forthcoming events, such as commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe in May, Armed Forces Day in Swansea on 28 June, and the 80th anniversary of Victory in Japan in August. Williams noted that the annual continuous training exercise has been moved to November, which may impact attendance at remembrance events. Air Commodore Rob Woods, Air Officer Wales, confirmed his availability to support covenant signing events and mentioned he would be hosting a visit from the Minister for Veterans and People, promising to share feedback at the next meeting. He also noted he would be out of office for the whole of February.

Swansea Bay University Health Board Armed Forces 4th

Victoria Williams, Clinical Lead for Veterans NHS Wales, provided an update on the psychological therapy service for veterans with military-related mental health difficulties. She reported 35 referrals in the last three months, with 25 opting in and 18 assessed. Williams noted a recent increase in referrals following work to raise awareness among GPs. The service is also undertaking a research project called SPRING, offering online treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. She highlighted the ongoing need for a psychiatrist and a peer mentor. Williams confirmed that the service operates across all of Wales, with hubs in each health board, and encouraged self-referrals via their website. She also discussed efforts to integrate their service into GP referral systems.

Poppy Factory Update

Andrew Harris, a newly appointed Navigator for the Poppy Factory in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, and Bridgend, explained his role in supporting veterans who require more intensive assistance before transitioning to employment. He works with veterans on issues such as homelessness and addiction, preparing them for handover to employment consultants. Referrals to the navigator service come from professional bodies, and Harris is working to establish better systems of collaboration.

Veterans RV Update

Paul Smith from Veterans RV shared updates on their activities. They have commenced an eight-week study with Swansea University on the benefits of cold water immersion for veterans with PTSD. Veterans RV is also organising a dip at Caswell Bay on Sunday 26 January in memory of Tim Crossings. The Model Club is continuing to operate, seeking to involve blue light personnel and more veterans. Bulldogs are holding a quiz night on 7 February.

Other Updates and Announcements

Richard from the Legion provided figures on welfare and assistance provided in Wales and mentioned the Crossfield House Fund, which has approximately £24,000 available for projects that relieve social isolation among veterans. Wing Cdr Phil Flower gave a brief update on plans for V-Day events, which will be discussed further at a future meeting. He also circulated a list of city centre events for Swansea and noted an upcoming service on 14 September at St. Hillary's Church in Kille for Swansea to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. He also announced that Swansea has been selected as one of approximately 15-20 town shows across the UK in 2025, linked to Royal Air Force recruiting efforts, which is expected to bring additional resources to the city.