Janis Mumford, Head of Integrated Services based in the Leicester office, has been appointed to the role of Chairperson of the East of England Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee. After a rigorous selection process, which involved being interviewed by the Head of Veteran’s UK, Janis received the appointment by the Secretary of State.
The role of the committee is to provide assistance to veterans and create awareness of their needs. They also review government initiatives regarding the veteran’s community and provide informed, factual advice to the ministry. The ultimate aim is to respond to veterans’ needs and issues within their particular region whilst at all times retaining their independence and integrity.
HEE has a mandate to support both veterans and reservists armed forces, so this appointment is pertinent to the work that we do. Veteran’s health is also close to Janis’s heart, after spending seven years in the Women’s Royal Naval Service and as a member of the Royal Naval Patrol Service Association. Janis is also still in touch with friends and family who served with the Royal Navy for long periods of time.
There is ongoing research into veterans and the issues that they, and their families, face and the Forces in Mind Trust Research Centre affiliated to the Veterans and Families Institute for Military and Social Research is a good place to start for anyone who might be interested in finding out more.
On her appointment, Janis said:
“I was absolutely delighted to be offered this opportunity and I really do see us making difference to the lives of veterans.
“What is interesting, and people may not realise this, but veterans are not a homogenous group. We have veterans from World War 2, the Falklands, the Gulf War, and Afghanistan/Iraq. The demographic and needs of these groups differ widely, as one might imagine.”
