SToMP Celebration Event and Armed Forces Covenant Signing
On Wednesday 20th February 2019 at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon, an event was held hosted by IOM Cymru Supporting Transition of Military Personnel (SToMP) team. The event was arranged to reflect upon and celebrate the shared achievements of criminal justice and partner organisations in Wales in improving our identification and support of ex-ASP within the criminal justice system over the last two years, coordinated by SToMP.
The event was well attended by HMPPS in Wales, HMP Parc, the four Welsh police forces, Wales Community Rehabilitation Company and many service support charities and stakeholders.
Speaking of the event Louise Forman, Head of Service Integration HMPPS in Wales, said: “I am delighted that the SToMP event was such a success. Ensuring we are supporting the ex-military personnel community is an important part of our delivery model, and I am really pleased that the Armed Forces Covenant have confirmed further funding to enable us to continue this work.”
The event key note speaker was Shaun Stocker BEM. Shaun is an ex Welsh Fusillier, who during a tour of Afghanistan was badly injured losing both of his legs above the knee, his eyesight and other life changing injuries. He was the first person to learn to walk on prosthetic limbs without sight. He works closely with HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, with the ex-Armed Service Personnel Community being named the Shaun Stocker Community.
Shaun shared his inspiring story of hope and achieving the seemingly impossible against extreme adversity and how instilling pride within a custodial environment can have profound effects on ex-armed service personnel and their motivation to rehabilitate and turn their lives around.
Presentations focused on the work the four police forces, HMP Parc and HMPPS in Wales have carried out to date, in collaboration with specialist third sector providers, as well as research commissioned by the SToMP project on ex service personnel in the criminal justice system by Dr Gabriel Davies, Swansea University and Leeanne Plechowicz, National Probation Service in Wales.
Speaking of the success of the event, Project Manager of SToMP, Lisa McKenna, said: “As well as the fantastic presentations, we were pleased to announce further funding from the Armed Forces Covenant to continue to coordinate the partnership work being carried out in Wales for ex-armed service personnel in the criminal justice system.”
The day concluded with the Armed Forces Covenant pledge being signed by representatives from HMPPS in Wales, South Wales Police, Gwent Police, Dyfed Powys Police and Wales Community Rehabilitation Company, (with North Wales Police and G4S on behalf of HMP Parc having previously signed the pledge).
