Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has welcomed today’s announcement by the Chancellor of funding for Colwyn Bay based CAIS and its Change Step programme for veterans.

George Osborne has announced significant, positive developments for Wales in his budget speech this afternoon, including half a million pounds for the drug and alcohol charity CAIS.

The funding will benefit the charity’s Change Step peer mentoring and advice programme, which was set up for military veterans and others with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a range of psychosocial problems who want to make positive changes to their lives.

Darren said:

“This is a very positive budget for North Wales and I was delighted to hear that the Chancellor is to allocate £500,000 to CAIS and its Change Step programme which is doing amazing work.

“Almost 9,000 veterans in Wales suffer from PTSD. Among combat veterans, there is a common pattern of complex post-traumatic stress disorder, with attempted symptom suppression by alcohol or drug abuse, a downward spiral of employment difficulties, relationship problems, confrontation with the law and even suicide. Change Step is delivered by veterans for veterans and supporting those seeking help for problems encountered as a result of military or operational duty.

“The programme offers peer support, training opportunities and signposting to relevant health and welfare services and has helped many of our veterans in North Wales. This additional funding announced today will ensure than many others benefit from the programme in the future.”