THE OLDER People’s Commissioner for Wales visited Barry this weekend, to hear from members of the Barry Veterans Group about the change and improvements that would make a positive difference to their lives.
The Commissioner spoke to around 25 people at the Group’s breakfast club, which is held every week at All Saints Church on Park Road in Barry. The Group provides support to Military Veterans and their families in and around the Vale of Glamorgan and the wider area, arranging monthly social evenings and day trips as well as the weekly breakfast club.
Members told the Commissioner that they look forward to attending the group each week and that the friendship and support members provide each other is hugely important.
Specific issues raised with the Commissioner included the importance of ensuring that those who have served in the Forces can access the NHS Veterans Pathway, which provides enhanced care and support, as well as the impact of delayed discharge from hospital on people’s independence and well-being. The experiences, views and ideas shared by the Group will be used to shape the Commissioner’s upcoming Strategy and Work Plan as well as her ongoing work to improve policy and practice.

The visit to Barry was part of a wider series of visits to groups and community spaces across Wales where the Commissioner and her team will be hearing directly from older people about the action they should deliver and the key issues they should focus on, with visits to every local authority in Wales planned in the weeks ahead.

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said: “It was great to join members of the Barry Veterans Group on the weekend for their weekly breakfast club and see the positive difference that’s made by the friendship, support and camaraderie the members provide to one another.
“It was really valuable to hear from members about their experiences of growing older and the particular issues that veterans and their families may face. The experiences shared will help me develop my Strategy and Work Programme, which will have older people’s voices at its heart.”
Alongside travelling throughout Wales to speak directly with older people, the Commissioner is also inviting older people to share their experiences in writing by completing a short questionnaire.1
The Commissioner added: “I want to hear from as many older people as possible, from a wide range of different backgrounds and communities, so please do make your voice heard by completing my questionnaire if you can and help deliver positive change for older people.”
