The first meeting of a group aimed at improving support for the armed forces in Test Valley has been held following the efforts of an Andover councillor.

Cllr Nick Matthews chaired a meeting of a civilian and military forum for Test Valley, attended by commanders of the area’s garrisons, welfare officers, and representatives of bodies looking after housing, mental health and engagement.

The body aims to ensure that steps to support serving personnel and veterans can be achieved, such as helping them seek treatment and transition into civilian life.

Cllr Matthews, a veteran of 24 years, said: “I am genuinely excited and optimistic that real differences will be felt locally, and I am uplifted by the engagement of all those who have now stepped up and joined this new forum.”

The new forum was created as part of a review of the Armed Forces Covenant by Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC). The Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge that can be taken by organisations to help serving personnel, veterans and their families to ensure they have access to the support they need, such as housing provision and wellbeing.

TVBC signed the covenant in 2012, and pledged to support military families in the area. In December 2019, a review of its obligations was commissioned, to be led by veteran Cllr Nick Matthews, to identify areas of improvement for the council.

In February, the review’s recommendations were approved at a meeting of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including the formation of the forum.

At the forum’s first meeting, items including mental health support, community engagement, business and transition were discussed, with an action plan created. A review of progress is planned for June, with the body sitting every three months.

Alongside the forum, a single point of contact on the TVBC website is being created to clearly identify information and advice available for the armed forces community, and help them to access it.

Cllr Matthews said that the 11th Infantry Brigade’s Covenant Team, the South East Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Association and the MoD had all praised the “flagship” plan.

He said: “People can talk, yell, protest and campaign all they want, but to achieve real things and make a difference you require collaboration with the actual people who have the authority to make those changes. The buy in with the correct professionals and authorities is the key to success.

“My role is to instil the passion, tenacity and proactiveness to all the important members of this forum. I am genuinely excited and optimistic that real differences will be felt locally, and I am uplifted by the engagement of all those who have now stepped up and joined this new forum."

"It is no secret that military, my fellow veterans and all their families (who sacrifice so much), is something very close to my heart and I will give everything I have in supporting them."