This week is Armed Forces Week, an opportunity to show our support for the Armed Forces Community across Wales. This community covers those who are serving across our Armed Forces, regular and reserve, past and present. Families are also an important part of this community. Traditionally Wales has provided a significant share of the Armed Forces strength, some 7%, whilst only being 5% of the UK population. Armed Forces Week will be celebrated by a Wales Armed Forces Day at Caldicot Castle this Saturday (28th June) at which James Evans MS will be in attendance in his capacity as the Co-Chair of the Cross Party Group on Armed Forces.
James Evans MS said:
“This week is an opportunity to thank our Armed Forces, serving personnel and veterans, for the incredible work they do in keeping our country safe. Society must be inclusive in welcoming veterans back into civilian life and utilise the skills and values gained in the Armed Forces.
“I have campaigned for many years to make sure that we get Armed Forces-friendly sports clubs. I'm very pleased that the work I did with the previous Minister, Lesley Griffiths, and the current Minister Jack Sargeant, has resulted in Sport Wales signing the Armed Forces Covenant. But there are plenty more sports bodies out there that are yet to sign the armed forces covenant. If we are going to make veterans and our serving personnel have that easier rehabilitation back into our communities, we need to make sure that our sports clubs are inclusive and understand the needs of the veterans community.
"I questioned the Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates MS in the Chamber this week on work Welsh Government are currently undertaking to promote this further and get more sports governing bodies to sign that armed forces covenant to show their commitment to our armed forces across Wales. He assured me that discussions will continue.”
