Local Councillor Takes on New Role with Help for Heroes

Help for Heroes is transforming how it provides services for former servicemen and women across Northern Ireland. Banbridge Councillor Glenn Barr has taken on the role of Community Builder with the Charity, which aims to make support more sustainable and accessible, by building on the strengths of the local community. 

Glenn, who has been a Councillor since 2011, says that the Charity is developing an exciting approach to supporting veterans. He said, “We’ve moved away from delivering services from hubs or centres. This was useful 18 years ago, but meant there were geographical limits to who we could support. We’re now more focused on reaching out to veterans in their communities.” 

We are currently supporting 245 people across Northern Ireland. Research released by the Office of National Statistics indicates that almost a third of veterans across the UK are impacted by feelings of loneliness, with those living with disabilities or long-term health conditions most likely to be affected.  This represents a higher proportion of adults than the general population, highlighting an ongoing need to support veterans.

Glenn added: “Isolation can be a problem for veterans, which can lead to other mental health challenges. The Charity continues to provide direct physical, mental and welfare services for former service men and women, along with self-help guides and courses run through the Recovery College. In addition to this, my role is to link veterans into their local communities. We know veterans have a lot of strengths and leadership skills that can benefit local communities – and getting them more involved can help combat feelings of isolation. 

“Since I started in my new role two months ago, I’ve been identifying the groups and networks that already exist in the local community. I can then introduce veterans, who can become more integrated into their communities, and this is in fact, a much more sustainable approach. We’re not just supporting people with a one-off intervention or service.” 

Glenn is now part of a team of ten people, including nurses, case managers and occupational therapists, who are dedicated to supporting veterans across Northern Ireland. Glenn added: “We think there is a real need here. We know that there are around 100,000 former servicemen and women across Northern Ireland, so there are more people who could benefit. Getting veterans integrated into their communities can provide a great resource, as well as helping to combat issues such as isolation and loneliness.”