Alex Cunningham has spoken of the marvellous work being undertaken with Armed Forces veterans in communities across the country after visiting the Lister House in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
And the Stockton North MP recently paid a visit to staff and residents to experience first-hand the services on offer, and the care that the Legion provides to some of the UK’s older veterans – many of whom have complex needs such as limited mobility or dementia.
The visit was part of the Journey into the Legion programme, which offers Members of Parliament the opportunity to explore the full range of services provided by the Legion and the chance to learn more about the particular needs of the Armed Forces community. During his visit, Alex was introduced to many of the home’s dedicated nurses, physiotherapists, and support staff, as well as a number of residents, to better understand the care and support that the Legion are able to provide for veterans.
Alex was also able to sow poppy seeds in the home’s front gardens as part of the Legion’s Centenary Poppy Campaign, which seeks to visually commemorate all those who lost their lives in World War One. He was joined in planting his poppy seeds by teachers and children from Ripon Cathedral Primary School, and by serving soldiers from local regiments.
Alex said:
“I was delighted to be given the opportunity to visit the staff and speak to residents of Lister House. It’s a fantastic home-from-home for the residents, and to hear how the Legion is helping so many of our veterans with their end-of-life care demonstrates that the Legion’s work does not stop on 11 November – it really is a 365-day-a-year job.
“It was great to see some of the wonderful work that the Legion does with the Armed Forces community. And it was particularly poignant to be able to sow poppy seeds to remember those who lost their lives during World War One in the year marking the centenary of the War’s outbreak.
“I’m grateful for being part of the Journey into the Legion programme, and look forward to learning more about the Legion’s work as the programme continues”.
Tracey Fullagar, Matron Manager of Lister House, said: “It was great to meet Alex and we really appreciate him making the time to come and visit us. Not many people realise that the Legion runs six care homes across the country specifically for people with a Service background. I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to show him around Lister House and to show him the range of services that we provide. Our residents are at the centre of everything that we do, and so to be able to talk to him about some of their particular needs and what the Government could be doing to improve social care, was great”.
