CEREDIGION County Council wants to enter into a partnership with neighbouring authorities in a bid to “increase provision and funding” for armed forces veterans in the county.

Cabinet members were asked to approve the plan, which would see the council working closely with Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to find funding and provide opportunities for veterans.

Since 2012, Ceredigion has had an adopted Armed Forces Community Covenant and a steering committee to look at issues that the county’s veterans have to deal with, and to provide support and provision.

The aim of the community covenant is to “encourage local communities to support the armed forces community in their area and promote understanding and awareness among the public of issues affecting the armed forces community”, and the council said that an enhanced partnership with Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire would mean access to more funding and opportunities.

Cllr Paul Hinge, the council’s armed forces champion, has welcomed the bid to join forces with the neighbouring counties.

In June last year, a joint funding bid by the three councils led to money being available for a Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer to be employed to cover the three counties.

That post will be advertised “in the coming weeks”, the council said, and will be fully funded for two years.

The officer will lead on the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant and project manage specific improvement initiatives.

The three councils, in December, were also successful in applying for Ministry of Defence funding.

The funding of £152,700 over two years will pilot new veterans’ drop-in centres or hubs, and enhance and expand existing ones in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

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