A £2 million a year welfare service to help Northern Ireland's locally recruited former soldiers and their families deal with the legacy of the Troubles was launched today.
The provision of the Aftercare Service for ex-members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR)- and home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) which succeeded it - fulfils a government pledge that a publicly funded welfare organisation would be set up.
Its establishment is part of an overall resettlement package provided following the disbandment of the home service battalions of the RIR this summer.
The Aftercare Service will combine existing welfare provision with the offer of medical and vocational programmes in a 'whole person' approach to meet the particular needs of former UDR and RIR personnel as the seek to adjust to civilian life.
Colonel Mark Campbell, a board member of the owners board of the Aftercare Service - and last service Colonel of the RIR - said: 'The Troubles had taken a physical and mental toll on many soldiers and their families. We must acknowledge the debt owed by the community to our colleagues with more than warm words.
"We must do all we can to alleviate their suffering and meet needs arising as a direct result of their service to the whole community."
Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said: "I am pleased with the rapid progress that has been made in setting up this service. The Government's commitment reflects its obligations to treat these soldiers and their families with fairness and dignity."
"The provision of funding will be kept under review to guarantee that the service will continue to meet the needs of the ex-UDR and Royal Irish (Home Service) personnel together with their dependants in the longer run."
An advertising campaign is being launched to reach out and advise ex-soldiers who may qualify for on-going welfare and benevolent support, including access to the medical programme and vocational assistance.
The vocational re-training award may be available to the 2,000 full-time members of the RIR Home Service who have been discharged since August 2005.
From the time the UDR was formed in 1970 to the disbandment of the RIR home service battalions this summer, some 63,000 men and women served in their ranks.
A total of 271 serving and former soldiers killed directly and over 640 physically disabled.
PA