Partnership recognised for work to support Sunderland's Armed Forces

The partnership has won the Working Together award in this year's Soldiering On Awards, which were held on Wednesday, 16th October 2024.

The Working Together award honours a group of people, team or organisation that has successfully taken a collaborative approach to supporting the Armed Forces community.

Sunderland's AFP is an alliance between the council and the University of Sunderland, Sunderland College, Sunderland AFC, Northumbria Police, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, Veterans in Crisis, Gentoo, NE Reserve Force and Cadet Association, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board ICB, 8 Rifles, Together for Children, and South Tyneside and Sunderland- NHS Foundation Trust, set up to jointly address the needs of veterans, reservists and their families in Sunderland.

The partnership was recognised for providing wide ranging support for those serving in the military and the 11,000 veterans living in Sunderland. The AFP's work has included making Sunderland one of the very few cities where no veterans are street homeless.

Sunderland City Council's Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Harry Trueman, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be named the winner of the Working Together award. All organisations in the partnership work hard to support our local armed forces services and veterans, and it is fantastic to see this work recognised in this way.

"Sunderland as a city has a strong connection to the Armed Forces and the AFP helps to facilitate smooth transitions both into and out of military service so our servicemen and veterans don't have to fend for themselves."

Ger Fowler, Founder and CEO of Veterans in Crisis, said: "Sunderland Armed Forces Partnership is one of the reasons Veterans in Crisis has been so successful, it's all the main sectors in Sunderland working in harmony with the sole focus of making Sunderland the best place in the country to be a Veteran, we are proud to be a part of it. Winning this National award is a huge honour."

Now in their 14th year, the Soldiering On Awards celebrate excellence within the Armed Forces community across twelve categories, aiming to highlight ordinary individuals accomplishing extraordinary feats.