DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has met with representatives of the veterans’ charity, Beyond the Battlefield, to discuss the issue of sustained funding.
The meeting, with the charity’s chairman Rab McCartney, CEO Annemarie Hastings, and team member James Knox, was facilitated by Strangford MP Jim Shannon.
The charity recently opened a specially developed centre in Portavogie giving respite accommodation and support for veterans.
Mr Shannon outlined Beyond the Battlefield had done what many people had thought could not be done, and created a short term space for ex-service personnel to seek respite either with their family or alone.
“The difference that has been made to people’s lives is massive thus far,” said Mr Shannon.
“They have been applying for funding for capital works to extend the facility and make use of the upstairs space, and we know that these rooms will be used as soon as they are available.
“There is also a need for ongoing funding to be sourced and as a veteran himself, and intricately involved with veteran care in his own area, Sir Jeffrey came with a number of possible routes to five year funding which is what the group needs.”
Describing the meeting, held in his Frances Street constituency office in Newtownards, as ‘positive’, Mr Shannon added: “Beyond the Battlefield seek to fill the gap that exists between governmental promises and the reality and Sir Jeffrey has offered his continued support to ensure that the facilities can be a safe, secured and reliable facility for veterans to avail of well into the future.”
