Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has announced a new fast-track support system to help rough sleeping veterans across the region, including those in Oldham. The announcement came during a visit to the Armed Forces Community HQ in Wigan, a centre that has been praised as a national example of veteran support.

This centre is one of 14 across the UK to receive up to £1m each in government funding to serve as a single point of contact for veterans, offering help with health, housing, employment, finance, wellbeing, and integration into society. For veterans in Oldham, this means improved access to dedicated support services tailored to their needs.

Mr Burnham, accompanied by Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, met veterans and staff at the Wigan hub. He emphasised the region's commitment to those who have served, noting that Greater Manchester is the strongest recruiting ground for the armed forces in the country.

“All 10 of our councils, including Oldham, along with the police force and fire service, are rated as gold standard under the armed forces covenant,” said Mr Burnham. “This is our commitment back as a city region to the people who served our country.”

The Mayor’s Bed Every Night charity, which aims to tackle homelessness across Greater Manchester, has already supported hundreds of veterans. Mr Burnham now plans to expand the scheme to 650 places and create a fast track access route for veterans to prevent prolonged rough sleeping.

“We know we’ve more to do to make it better,” he said. “I’ve asked the team to create a fast track access route for veterans so that we don’t have the situation where anyone is forced to sleep rough for a prolonged period. I’d like to get to more dedicated homeless provision for veterans, that’s what we’re working towards.”

Veterans in Oldham and across Greater Manchester face unique challenges, including mental health issues and housing instability. The Wigan centre is a model for how localised support can make a difference, and similar approaches could be adopted in Oldham as part of the regional initiative.

Dean Hook, a 54-year-old RAF veteran who uses the centre and volunteers there, shared his experience. He has struggled with poor mental health and alcoholism but has been sober since 2015. “This centre has the right people at your side who you can talk to,” he said. “I hated opening up to people, I thought ‘are they taking the p*ss out me?’ But I can talk to people here, because it’s for veterans, many have been there themselves. I could have easily harmed myself, I’ve often thought about it. I could be in jail or a mental institution but I’m not, I’m here.”

Mr Burnham reflected on past failures in veteran support, particularly after conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. “When people have served the country and put themselves in dangerous positions, it’s critical that when they come back we give them everything they need to rebuild their lives,” he said. “I remember when I was MP for Leigh, the support just wasn’t there. There was no safety net and many people fell between the cracks. The mental health support in particular was just not good enough.”

For Oldham, this initiative represents a step forward in ensuring local veterans receive the care they deserve. The broader Greater Manchester framework means that resources and best practices from hubs like Wigan can be shared across the region, including in Oldham, where local services may benefit from increased funding and coordination.

As the project develops, Oldham residents can expect to see more focused efforts to support veterans, with the aim of reducing homelessness and improving wellbeing among those who have served. The announcement underscores a regional commitment to addressing the needs of veterans, directly impacting communities across Oldham and beyond.