East Lancashire Areas

East Lancashire

Veterans In Communities (VIC) works across East Lancashire to support those who have served in any of the branches of the Armed Forces, Emergency Services and their families.

We offer a range of activities which are run by veterans or retired members of the emergency services. The range of activities include;

Our Peer Support activities and projects are being delivered by veterans for veterans. Our community projects, outdoor activities and outreach services have been designed and developed by VIC members who understand the needs of veterans. Although many of our members have served in the Armed Forces or Emergency Services or have an association with the Armed Forces through family, VIC is not exclusive to veterans, and many of our Peer Support activities include those who haven't served. Our members are an integral element of VIC.

EAST Lancashire areas

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A selection of areas we cover:

Hyndburn

Accrington
Rishton
Great Harwood
Oswaldtwistle

Ribble valley

Clitheroe
Gisburn
Whalley
Ribchester

Pendle

Colne
Nelson
Barrowford
Barnoldswick

Burnley

Burnley
Hapton
Padiham
Holme Chapel

Rossendale

Haslingden
Helmshore
Rawtenstall
Newchurch
Bacup
Stacksteads
Whitworth
Edenfield

The Armed Forces Covenant

VIC sit on the board of two of the Armed Forces Covenants in East Lancashire; Pendle Armed Forces Group and Burnley.

The purpose of these regular meetings are to bring together the Local Authorities, third sector armed forces groups and charities, health representatives from the local area and other organisations who are involved in working with veterans.

‘The Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the nation, the government and the armed forces. It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to members of the armed forces and their families, and it establishes how they should expect to be treated.
The covenant’s 2 principles are that:

the armed forces community should not face disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.
special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

The covenant exists to redress the disadvantages that the armed forces community may face in comparison to other citizens, and to recognise sacrifices made.’

Veterans Priority Treatment

The Military Covenant is an agreement between the Armed Forces Community, the Government and Nation. On November 3rd 2011 The Military Covenant was enshrined in Law and put into the Armed Forces Act.

What this means to the health professional is that they need to offer ex-service personnel (Veterans) 'Priority Treatment'.

In simple terms this means that if a veteran is suffering from a health condition that can be attributed to their military service then they should be given priority treatment. However to prioritise, this does not mean they would jump to the front of the queue. If people already have a clear clinical need they should be prioritised, but if those waiting have an equal clinical need then the veteran should take priority.