Citizens Advice to house new veterans support centre

The government is funding 14 new centres to support veterans and their families as they adjust to civilian life.

Among the sites chosen was Citizens Advice Rushmoor in Aldershot, the town that boasts it is the home of the British Army.

The aim is for it to be a single front door for those seeking help with services including housing, debt counselling and even how to navigate the NHS.

The centre was visited ahead of the announcement by veterans' minister Calvin Bailey, who said its selection, as the first of a second wave of Valour Hubs, showed "the importance of this community to our nation".

Lizzy Beresford, who left the army last year after spending nine years as a combat medic, met the minister during his visit.

After her time in uniform, returning to civilian life had been a big transition, with some everyday tasks, like finding a GP or dentist, something she had never had to do before.

She said the new hub had been "needed a lot sooner".

"I think there have been so many people who slipped under the radar who needed support. I was one of them. I didn't know where to turn. I felt very lost," she said.

As well as being home to many army units, Aldershot lies between major training sights at Pirbright in Surrey and Sandhurst in Berkshire.

To the south is one of the Air Force's main helicopter bases, RAF Odiham.

Calum Stewart, chief executive of Citizens Advice Rushmoor, said the organisation was believed to be the first non-military charity to be selected for the role.

He said they would be working with other branches across a corridor covering Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Veterans and their families will be able to access support from Citizens Advice, as well as a range of other organisations.

"We have such a large armed forces community here in the region," Stewart said.

"To be able to tap into the power of the network of Citizens Advice is a very special thing and I'm so pleased that we were able to convince the Office of Veterans' Affairs that it was a good bet."

Twenty-one organisations will share in £13.7m from Whitehall to roll out the new wave of centres.

The one in Aldershot will have a special role in supporting retired former Gurkhas, many of whom have settled in the town in the last three decades.

Nepali speaker Arati Thapa Magar provides advice for them in their first language.

Up to 25 attend regular sessions at the centre every Friday, often needing help with things including medical letters.

"We know that the Gurkhas who have served, our veterans, are only getting older and they need this help more than ever now," she added.