Rishi Sunak has given his backing to Northallerton Citizens Advice’s bid to become a recognised centre for veterans’ support.
The Richmond and Northallerton MP visited the charity’s Northallerton branch, where he met staff, volunteers, partner organisations and a local veteran, as the team outlined their application to join the national VALOUR scheme.
As part of the bid process, Mr Sunak has formally supported the application, which, if successful, would see Northallerton Citizens Advice become a VALOUR Recognised Centre. The status would help bring together a range of services for veterans and the wider armed forces community that are often delivered separately.
The VALOUR scheme is designed to make it easier for veterans to access coordinated, in-person support, covering areas such as health, housing and employment, alongside wider advice on finances, wellbeing and welfare. Support would be delivered through a joined-up local hub, following a “no wrong door” approach to ensure people are quickly directed to the right help.
The programme, funded by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, will award grants of up to £1 million to centres across the country. Its aim is to reduce the “postcode lottery” in access to veterans’ services and improve coordination between charities, community groups and statutory providers.
During the visit, representatives from Citizens Advice, MIND, CarersPlus and local veterans’ organisations discussed how existing partnerships could be strengthened to provide more effective, joined-up support. A local veteran also shared how Citizens Advice had already made a positive difference and how a recognised hub could simplify the process for others seeking help.
Mr Sunak said: “Veterans and their families have given so much in service to our country, and they deserve support that is easy to access and joined up. What Citizens Advice and its partners are hoping to build here in Northallerton is exactly the kind of coordinated, community-based model that can make a real difference to people’s lives. I’m pleased to support their application and the work they are doing to ensure no one is left to navigate complex systems alone.”
Rachel Allen, Deputy Chief Executive of Northallerton Citizens Advice, said the visit had been a welcome boost for the organisation.
She added: “We are excited about the opportunity of becoming a VALOUR veterans’ hub and what it could offer to people who need our support now and in the future. Working with partners including CarersPlus, MIND and our wider network, we could go even further in providing critical, wraparound support.”
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