Consultation aims to create Armed Forces Community Hub in Telford and Wrekin

Telford & Wrekin Council made a commitment as part of its recent Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report to explore opportunities to establish a local hub as a one-stop-shop for support for the local armed forces community.

To identify how best the hub could support serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans and families in Telford and Wrekin, the Council is now launching a public consultation, with an online survey supported by face-to-face events around the borough for the Armed Forces community and for the wider public to have a say.

The consultation opens on Thursday 16 January, with the launch of the online survey and a drop-in information session in Dawley. This will be followed by ten further face-to-face information and consultation sessions, open to all.

Councillor Raj Mehta, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Inclusion, Engagement, Equalities and Civic Pride, said: “Through the Armed Forces Covenant, Telford & Wrekin Council has made a strong commitment to support the armed forces personnel, veterans and their families living in our borough.

“We offer a wide range of support at various locations around Telford and Wrekin, but now want to look at how we can make this a more permanent offer by working with our partners to create an Armed Forces Community Hub, ideally as a Community Interest Company, through grant funding.

“The Hub will be a one-stop-shop for our armed forces community, providing support as well as signposting to and helping to access other services, creating a single location, with less travel, less form filling and help that’s tailored to meet local needs. We hope it will also create a social space where armed forces personnel, veterans and families can meet with other like-minded people in a safe environment.

“The face-to-face consultation sessions, and the online survey, are open to all, so everyone can have a say, but we particularly want to hear from people with an armed forces connection, whether that’s serving personnel, veterans or their families, to help us identify exactly what the new Armed Forces Community Hub should offer, and where it would be best located.”

Consultation

The online survey can be completed online from Thursday 16 January at https://online1.snapsurveys.com/b1850f and face-to-face consultation sessions are being held:

- Thursday 16 January, 2pm to 6pm at Dawley House, 22 Burton Street, Dawley

- Friday 17 January, 9.30am to 1.30pm at Newport Library, 53-55 High Street, Newport

- Tuesday 21 January, 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Leegomery Community Centre, Leegate Avenue, Leegomery

- Thursday 23 January, 1pm to 5pm at Tesco, Park Avenue, Madeley

- Friday 24 January, 8.30am to 12.30pm at Wellington Leisure Centre, Tan Bank, Wellington

- Saturday 25 January, 8.30am to 1pm at The Wakes, Theatre Square, Oakengates

- Friday 31 January, 9am to 1pm at the Princess Royal Hospital, Apley Castle

- Wednesday 5 February, 4pm to 6pm at Turreff Hall, Turreff Avenue, Donnington

- Monday 10 February, 2pm to 4pm at Dawley House, 22 Burton Street, Dawley

- Thursday 6 February, 10am to 12.0pm at the Sambrook Centre, Stirchley

- Friday 7 February, 12pm to 4pm at Southwater 1, Southwater Square, Telford

The consultation closes on Tuesday 11 February 2025, after which all feedback will be taken into account to help to develop the new Armed Forces Community Hub.