HM Forces Support and Welfare Officer appointed

27 August 2009

A 40 year old Territorial Army Officer from the Jersey Field Squadron has been appointed the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency’s HM Forces Support and Welfare Officer for the Channel Islands.

Nicholas Spratley has lived in Jersey for 20 years and is currently second in command of Jersey Field Squadron, a role that he will continue after taking up his new appointment. He takes over from the late Owen Wiscombe MBE, who sadly died in 2008.

As Welfare Officer, Nick will provide practical welfare assistance to approximately 4,500 ex serving personnel living in the Channel Islands, 900 of whom are in receipt of a war disability pension. This work will include liaising with States departments, helping resolve housing and health issues and checking that veterans are claiming the correct benefits available from the UK and the Channel Islands.

Nick is looking forward to the challenge of his new position, "I hope to build on the excellent work my predecessor, Owen Wiscombe, undertook on behalf of the service personnel and veterans in the Channel Islands. My tri service military experience gives me an excellent grounding in this area and I am confident that I can combine this new role with my work with the Jersey Field Squadron".