In 2027 we will mark 150 years since the establishment of the Hightown Barracks in Wrexham. The symbol of the proud military history of our city. In both World War One and World War Two, the Barracks were the site of regimental basic training before new recruits were deployed. This is particularly poignant as this week marks the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.
On a recent visit to Hightown Barracks, I met with Colonel Nick Lock to explore the work of the Hightown Barracks today. It was saved in 2013 after a huge community effort led by former MP Ian Lucas and local councillors Graham Rogers and Brian Cameron amongst many others, including myself. I was struck by Colonel Lockā€™s description of the pride that Wrexham feels in its connection with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, embodied by the campaign to save the barracks. Colonel Lock and I also discussed the difficulties our armed forces currently face after years of cuts and in the context of a rapidly changing global situation.
As a former Air Cadet myself and having met current cadets, serving personnel and veterans, I understand the value of a military career, the skills that are developed but also the challenges that can be faced when that career ends.
Earlier this year I was proud to be a member of the bill committee for the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill. The Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for personnel and their families to raise service issues affecting their lives, from kit, to housing, to childcare. The independent Commissioner will have proper powers to investigate issues affecting service life, make recommendations, and report to Parliament. They will also have access to personnel, information, and to defence sites. And we want them to hold us to account, too.
According to the House of Commons Library, there are an estimated 3,450 households in Wrexham who have at least one military veteran. Veteran support is crucial, which is why the UK Government has launched the VALOUR system to ensure easier access to essential care and support. For most service personnel, a career in the Armed Forces sets them up for success and can be a great tool for social mobility. VALOUR aims to help unlock veterans’ full potential and foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities. And where Veterans have complex needs, Valour will help ensure the support on offer is data driven and better tailored to their need.
VALOUR is backed by Ā£50 million of funding, which will help ensure that every veteran, regardless of where they live, can access joined up support. That funding will establish a new network of VALOUR-recognised support centres in every nation of the UK and deploy Regional Field Officers to connect local, regional and national services ā€“ using data to shape better services.
As we mark 80 years since Victory in Europe this week, our grateful nation looks forward to joining our brave Armed Forces and veterans to reflect, commemorate and remember. We are deeply proud of our Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and the families who support them, for the contribution they make to our country. Theirs is the ultimate public service.
These are serious times, with war in Europe, conflict in the Middle East, growing Russian aggression and increasing global instability. The lessons of the Second World War where countries and peoples came together to defeat fascism and defend our freedoms must never be forgotten.
