Many Ayrshire people are bravely serving their country by taking part in military operations abroad. This means they have to leave behind their families and friends.
Who is looking after their family and friends?
South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan is working with the registered charity Support our Soldiers (SoS) to support the families and friends of service personnel. Working with the Ayrshire/Dumfries and Galloway military organisations, SSAFA and British Legion it is proposed that a local support network, that will incorporate a ‘drop-in centre’ will be set up.
Provost Sloan said: “I have met with many families and friends of service personnel, I have seen for myself the emotional anxiety that they are going through. Every birthday, every anniversary or Christmas without them hurts and many do not know anyone else who is going through the same anxiety as them.
“They are all very proud of what our service personnel are doing, but they are constantly worrying about them and still have to get on with day to day living. This is particularly difficult for families, especially those with young children, who have to remain calm and optimistic for the sake of other family members. Parents of service personnel may never before have had any connection with the military, and they need help.
“Service personnel have our respect, but they are their families deserve our support. I am appealing to people to come forward and tell us what support they would like, or if you feel you can help us to provide support tell us.”
The aim of the proposed ‘drop-in’ centre is to provide a place where families and friends of servicemen and women can speak to others who are going through the same experience. This could be to talk about practical matters like coping financially, to laugh and exchange experiences and when needed to have a shoulder to cry on.
Consider these questions:
- Do you have a partner, son, daughter or any other family member in the services and think that this type of support would help?
- Have you previously served in the services and could help others benefit from your experience?
- Have you had experiences in the past of waiting for news of service personnel and trying to carry on with family life when others do not understand what you are going through?
If the answer to any of these is yes, or you are interested in learning more and giving your support please register your interest by logging on to the WestFM website. Fill in your details and specific areas of concern/information where you feel you would get benefit from a ‘drop in’ facility.
If you do not have access to the website then contact Agnes Hunter, SoS on telephone number 01292 619876 or Provost Winifred Sloan on telephone number 01292 612498.