On Friday 29th May 3 members of the Provincial Armed Forces (AF) Working Group (Carl Rich, Mick Grehan & Paul Mann) visited the Veterans’ and Community Gallery at Haverfordwest. The VC Gallery is also based at Pembroke and is a "single point-of-access" welfare, support and social hub prioritising Veterans. The Gallery uses art and other mediums for reducing social exclusion and increasing self-confidence.  At the Province’s signing of the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) in March, the PGM presented the Founder of the VC Gallery, Barry John MBE, with a cheque for £45,000 to assist with the continuation and expansion of their good work. 

The Visit was combined with a charitable networking event which helped meet part of the Province’s AF Strategy objective to identify Veteran related charities operating within our area, to understand their aims, their funding links and how the Brethren of the Province may be able to assist. The Brethren met Col (Rtd) James Phillips, Wales’ first Veterans’ Commissioner, they met the Welsh lead for the MOD's ‘Valour' Programme, CEOs of Bulldogs and the Swansea Veteran’s Hub, the Co-Founder of Woody’s Lodge and the Manager of their establishment at Penrhiwpal, Llandysul.  Woody’s Lodge appears to be an excellent match for the type of locally based Veterans’ support project that the Brethren of the Province may be able to support through volunteering and possible funding support - a future visit will be planned.

The Brethren met a number of Veterans taking part in activities at the Haverfordwest walk-in centre and I (Carl) was able to interact further during a follow-on visit to the Gallery’s exciting Woodland Wellbeing Project, based on land owned and managed by the Gallery close to Milford Haven.

If any Brother is aware of a Veteran related charity in their area, or if you wish to volunteer your time to such projects, or already do, please inform me via afc@wwmason.com.  As the Provinces’ AF Coordinator, it is my Role to implement our 3-year Provincial AF Strategy, which includes increasing the Province’s awareness of Brethren involvement whilst potentially coordinating effort to increase the possibility of support - both by manpower and financial assistance. If you are a Veteran and believe you may benefit from any of the support activities provided by these projects, or others, and prefer not to contact such agencies direct, then I would be pleased to introduce you, or assist in any way I can.

W Bro Carl Rich

AF Coordinator

Province of West Wales

afc@wwmason.com