An Cosantóir

10 • Employed a Veterans Support Officer to develop a counselling service in Brú na bhFiann for veterans in partnership with the HSE. • Continued to improve the seven-bedroom facilities in Beechwood House Letterkenny and Custume House Athlone. • Progressed the development of a further hostel in Cobh with five bedrooms for homeless veterans co-located with a Veterans Support Centre. A long-term lease has been taken out for the building with the Office of Public Works (OPW). Plans have been approved and the project is now out to tender. The development of a similar facility in Cork City (six bedrooms) is being considered, leading to the availability of sixty single bedrooms for homeless veterans countrywide. • Furthered the development of fifteen Veteran Support Centres, eleven of which are located within a Defence Forces' installation, with four located outside - Athy, Cavan, Cobh and Limerick. The Programme for Government, which was agreed on 15 June 2020, provides policy imprimatur for our Veteran Support Centres in the event of Government formation. • Completed a training/education course for Branch Welfare Officers in February 2020. ONE conducted four Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Courses in 2019, two courses in Dublin, one in Galway and another in Cobh. These courses are funded by the Leopardstown Park Hospital Trust and are open to veterans from all organisations. Sixty-three veterans trained as MHFA in 2019 and are operating throughout the country. Further training/education courses will take place when conditions allow. • Cooperated with Section 38 Hospitals to create a pathway for veterans who need long-term care. The first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the Royal Hospital Donnybrook in 2019. Having met the Leopardstown Park Hospital Board together with IUNVA and ARCO, an MOU is being developed between the Hospital and ONE. Discussions had also commenced with Clontarf Hospital but an arranged meeting was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. • Initiated a strategy to ensure that ONE is a diverse and inclusive Veterans Organisation that draws from the breadth of those who served in the Defence Forces; gains strength from that range of knowledge, experience and talent; and welcomes, respects and values the unique contribution of every individual. Finance is required to support many of the foregoing initiatives, however all of the usual fundraising events were cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. This includes the Annual Fuchsia Appeal, Flag Days, Church Gate collections, etc. The Annual Veterans Ball, organised by the Swan- batt Group and which normally raises around €10,000 for development work in Brú na bhFiann, cannot take place in 2020. New fundraising initiatives will be launched and your enduring support is deeply appreciated. In conclusion, the magnificent work of the staff and members of ONE during the pandemic is hughly appreciated. Together with veterans of other organisations, they have provided outstanding support to other veterans and the wider community. The pandemic has reminded us about the value of comradeship and that the services of ONE are now more relevant than ever. ONE St Michael's O.N.E. Veterans Centre on Duke St. Athy

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