Armed Forces Week 2021: Welsh Secretary and Minister for Defence People and Veterans learn about Change Step services for veterans during Cardiff visit

To mark Armed Forces Week (21- 27 June 2021) Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart and Minister for Defence People and Veterans Leo Docherty today visited Adferiad Recovery’s Cardiff office to learn more about the vital work being done for veterans across Wales by the Charity’s Change Step service.

Armed Forces Week offers the public the chance to discover more about the work of the UK Armed Forces and show their support for serving troops and their families, cadets and veterans. During their visit today, Mr Hart and Mr Docherty had the opportunity to meet veterans supported by Change Step which provides a range of veterans’ services across the country tackling issues such as mental illness, addiction and loneliness. Change Step also supports organisations to access Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund (AFCFT) Positive Pathways Programme funding, going on to support and mentor the projects that are successful.

Adferiad Recovery’s Director of Specialist Services Lisa Shipton said: “We were delighted to welcome our guests to the Cardiff office and update them on the many ways in which Change Step is supporting veterans across Wales.

“Armed Forces Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the contribution people in the forces make to their country, but also to remember that following their years of service, veterans can face a number of challenges.

“Change Step provides services across Wales which directly support those veterans. Many of our services are peer-led as we know veterans work well with others who have been in service; they also take an innovative approach: for example, we are about to launch a new veterans’ service promoting surf therapy, we provide online art therapy, and our Troop Café community hub brings together veterans from across north Wales.

“It was a pleasure to introduce Mr Hart and Mr Docherty to some of our clients who have benefitted so positively from these much-needed Change Step services.”