Exclusive: Forces personnel from Hull get help from city

The City of Hull Armed Forces and Veterans’ Charter, which will be signed on October 4, will also be the first of its kind in the country to include support for Merchant Navy personnel and fishermen who have seen active service.

The charter, which has been drawn up by the council, the Hull Military Forum, NHS Hull, the Department for Work and Pensions and others, will complement the Armed Forces Covenant currently going through Parliament in the Armed Forces Bill and will make Hull one of the most Forces-friendly cities in the UK.

As well as providing council tax relief for those on active service, the agreement aims to provide a range of practical support for those wounded in the service of their country, and to ease the transition back into civilian life for all.

Details of the charter are still being finalised but include priority healthcare for veterans suffering a condition linked to their service; free financial advice; debt counselling; advice on employment, housing, education and training; and specialist support from Humber Traumatic Stress Service.

The council has already announced the creation of a forces co-ordinator post to direct veterans and their families to the services they may need.

Capt Malcolm Mathison, vice chairman of the Merchant Navy Association, said: “The Merchant Navy Association would wholeheartedly support the inclusion of Merchant Navy seafarers in the Hull Armed Forces and Veterans’ Charter. Although I cannot officially represent them I am sure that the Hull Independent Merchant Navy Association will also fully support the initiative of Hull Council in including our Merchant Navy veterans. The role of the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets in support of the Armed Forces has too long been forgotten.”

Patrick Mercer, Conservative MP for Newark and a former Army officer, said: “I thought we had done well with the Newark Patriotic Fund, but Hull has gone a lot further than that with a wholly practical and sensible way of recognising our fighting forces’ bravery and contribution to society.”

Coun Steve Walker, who has led the authority’s work on the charter, said: “Hull has a long history of supporting serving and former Armed Services personnel and I am proud that we are taking the lead to offer real practical help to men and women who have risked their own lives to protect freedom in all corners of the world. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.”

He thanked the many organisations in Hull which worked together to bring about the charter