meet the team

VCN PEER MENTOR 

 I have been involved with the military for all of my life. I was boring into a military family. In 1998, I joined the 67 Signal Squadron (V) 37 Signal Regiment (V). In 2002 I went on OP Palatine for a year and Op Telic in 2003. In 2007 I started working as a Policy Community Support Officer for Warwickshire Police leaving in 2014 when I started with Thames Valley Police as a Police Constable. In November 2016, following an incident as work, I was diagnosed with PTSD, Secondary Trauma, Fatigue and Burnout. I have worked hard to get my own mental well being in a stable condition and I have worked as a Blue Light Champion within Thames Valley Police. In 2019 I started a walking group for Military and Blue Light Veterans, called Broken Crayons, with the aim of promoting positive physical well-being to promote positive mental well being. In the same year, I joined VCN on their Steering Group and have closely worked with the VCN to assist Veterans who have come into contact with Police, for various reasons, and referred them to the VCN for support. I am proud to service my country in the different uniforms that I have and I am proud to be part of the VCN to help local Veterans. 

VCN PEER MENTOR 

JJ joined the Royal Army Medical Corps 23 years ago and is still a serving reservist. She has worked in Army recruiting, helping soldiers at the start of their Military journey, but also now works in a local authority as the Armed Forces covenant lead ensuring veterans and reservists are valued in the workplace & community. She has experienced life as a Military wife as her husband’s many deployments saw her looking after the children in his absence. Passionate about Mental Health, she delivers Armed Forces Mental Health First Aid courses to those whose work brings them into contact with the Armed Forces Family.   Testimonial from Kate Lole - "The post of Armed Forces Covenant Project Manager in Milton Keynes & Bedford Borough Councils has ensured the needs of serving Regular and Reservist forces personnel, Veterans, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and Cadets, and their families have been recognised and supported with focused services across the councils and Armed Forces charities.  In particular, the current Project Manager with their knowledge of local businesses and organisations has been instrumental in setting up valuable partnerships with the much praised Milton Keynes Veterans Community Network.  These partnerships have strengthened the relationships between the whole community and served them well during COVID-19. With the Armed Forces Bill expected to come into force mid/late 2022 this role over the last few years has lead the way and provides the right focus at what is an important time in support of our Armed Forces community". 

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES CO-ORDINATOR

Tina's grandfather served in the Royal Navy, and her father was a member of the RAF and served in Ascension Island during the Falklands War. Tina has first-hand experience of military family life including living in quarters, changing school each time her father was posted, as well as knowing what it is like to have a parent go to war. Tina worked for the MOD for 5 years at an Army Reserve centre where she attended drill nights and was actively involved in recruiting, processing applications, booking medicals and selection weekends, during which time she gained valuable knowledge about the military family. Working alongside regular and reserve soldiers, she gained an excellent understanding of the transition into, and out of military life. Tina also worked as Communications Assistant for the emh group, one of the largest providers of affordable homes and care & support services in the East Midlands, where she worked closely with a Special Interest Group made up of residents, which met monthly to look at how emh communicated with its residents, with the aim of ensuring they get the information they needed, in a way that was relevant to them, whether that was through the website, annual report to residents, or the quarterly residents magazine. Whilst working for emh, Tina attended training on Equality and Diversity, and Disability Awareness, in order to remove barriers and offer appropriate support to co-workers as well as residents. Tina is a Group Leader with the MKU3A, a charity whose aims are to advance the education and personal development of older people retired from full time work. Run by voluntary efforts of members, who offer opportunities to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups, Tina set up and runs the Food4thought group and has recently taken over as Group Leader of the Music Appreciation group. She has ensured these groups have continued throughout the Covid-19 lockdown by moving activities online and making sure the more vulnerable and isolated members of groups have remained engaged. 

VCN VETERAN PEER SUPPORT WORKER

Hello, I'm Sher and until recently I was a Veteran Liaison Officer in Northamptonshire providing assistance to Veterans in my care. Having worked with the Army in both Germany and Cyprus, as well as being an Army wife, has put me in good stead in understanding how military mentality works so that I recognise the issues that sometime befall Vets when they enter ‘Civvy Street'. In my new role, within the Veteran Community Network, I will continually strive to provide specialist support and champion our Veterans who have served their country.

GENERAL MANAGER

Emilie is the General Manager support for VCN, working on all the business administration elements to support VCN in the background. Emilie has approximately 10 years experience in a variety of administration roles, a BTEC National Diploma in Business Studies and is currently undertaking AAT examinations in Bookkeeping this year in order to provide additional support to VCN in the near future. Emilie has personal experience living with and supporting a Veteran within close family and therefore has an understanding and appreciation for the support and service that VCN offers to Veterans. For queries and further information about VCN, please do not hesitate to contact Emilie via email: emilieatvcn@gmail.com.