The Commissioner’s Office, in conjunction with Rainbow Bright Training, is currently facilitating a number of mental health and suicide awareness training sessions to members of Royal British Legion branches, Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Associations. Many veterans experience poor mental health and reaching out can be difficult because, despite many advances, there is still […]
A couple of weeks ago the Northern Ireland Veteran Commissioner’s Office was contacted by 15 year old school girl Emily, who asked for advice and support in fundraising for this year’s nominated charity by the London Season Committee, ‘Scotty’s Little Soldiers’, a UK charity for bereaved service children. Emily is a year 12 (fifth form) […]
The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner’s Office held its ninth in a series of Veterans’ Information Roadshows in the historic town of Carrickfergus recently, and was kindly supported by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The aim of the Information Roadshows is to better inform veterans of ‘veteran friendly’ services and organisations within their local and […]
Read More… Veterans Information Roadshow arrives in Carrickfergus – 21 February 2023
I was disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised, to learn that Sinn Fein representatives on Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council have lodged a ‘call in’ legal challenge to a motion passed by a majority of councillors to pay tribute to the women who served in the the Ulster Defence Regiment, commonly known as the Greenfinches. […]
Read More… NI Veterans Commissioner supports ‘The Greenfinches’.
02/02/2023 I note the outcome of today’s sentencing hearing for veteran David Holden. It was not the intention of Mr Holden to cause the death of Aidan McAnespie on that tragic day in February 1988. We must remember that the security services stood as the protectors of all the people of Northern Ireland during the […]
The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner’s Office held its eighth in a series of Veterans’ Information Roadshows in the historic city of Londonderry recently. The aim of the Information Roadshows is to better inform veterans of ‘veteran friendly’ services and organisations within their local and regional areas that can assist, if and when needed. In the […]
Read More… 1st Veterans Information Roadshow of 2023 launches in Londonderry
As we enter 2023, the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner’s Office is once again reaching out to the veteran community to enable access to information, services and organisations. In 2022 the Veterans Commissioner’s Office hosted seven Veteran Information Roadshows in Cookstown, Antrim, Portadown, Coleraine, Newtownards, Enniskillen and Belfast. The purpose of the Roadshows is to provide […]
Its a new year and the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner’s Office are back sponsoring Veteran Information Roadshows 2023 to outreach into our veteran communities across Northern Ireland following this much welcomed venture in 2022. Danny Kinahan, the NI Veterans Commissioner on his travels around Northern Ireland has been eagerly talking to veterans to find out […]
It is hard to believe that 2023 is already upon us, with the days getting ever so slightly longer, personal resolutions having been made, and decorations starting to disappear until next Christmas. However, with ‘New Year’s’, come new opportunities and challenges to which we are ready to embrace. Getting information out there I am aware […]
Read More… Wishing all our Veterans and families a Happy New Year
This year has been an extremely busy period for the NI Veterans Commissioner’s Office. Throughout the course of the year, the office has attended some 330 engagements and events across Northern Ireland as well as the other regions of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Commissioner, has been keen to develop and build upon the […]