Dear Veteran / Blue Light Colleague
I hope this letter finds you well.
We are pleased to invite you to our Veteran and Blue Light Services Open Afternoon, which will take place on:
Wednesday 11th March 2026
12:30 – 18:00
Ystwyth Medical Group
Parc Y Llyn
Aberystwyth
SY23 3TL
This will be a drop‑in event bringing together a range of organisations who support veterans and members of the Blue Light community.
The day will offer opportunities to meet others, explore available services, and access information and support relevant to your health and wellbeing.
Refreshments will be available throughout the event and Practice staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
We are delighted to confirm attendance from the following organisations, with further updates on those attending available on our website, www.ystwythmedicalgroup.co.uk
Ystwyth Medical Group – Blood pressure monitoring and lifestyle advice. Why not use our Health Pod to check your height, weight and blood pressure? Staff will be on hand for further prevention advice.
Adferiad - a member-led charity that campaigns for and provides services to people affected by mental ill health, drug or alcohol use, gambling harms, and other challenging circumstances.
The Sanctuary – The Sanctuary provides out of hours mental health advice and guidance in a supportive environment in the centre of Aberystwyth.
Change Step – Peer mentors offer support for veterans, their families and carers who experience serious stress and related conditions.
Ceredigion County Council Carers and Community Support team – Sarah will be here to offer information, and advice and support for anyone who looks after a friend or family member who cannot manage on their own because they have an illness, poor health, disability, mental health issue or an addiction.
Ceredigion County Council Communities for Work + - Mentors provide 1:1 support for anyone not in education, employment, or training with all stages of job applications, and can fund a wide variety of training courses.
Cyfle Cymru - Peer Mentors draw on their own experience of substance use, recovery and/or mental health conditions to support individuals to access training, qualifications and work experience or volunteering.
Hywel Dda Health Board’s Rob Allen, Community Outreach - Provide information from sources that communities can trust so that individuals can make well-informed choices on their health and well-being. This includes smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, immunisation and vaccination, cancer screening and healthy living.
Hywel Dda Health Board’s Donna Blinston – Award-winning liver health nurse Donna works to raise awareness and increase testing. She will be doing free liver health checks and BBV (blood borne virus) screening.
DDAS – get confidential advice and support from the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol service.
Combat Stress – Provides clinical treatment and support for veterans from the British Armed Forces, with a focus on those with complex mental health issues.
Grab and Go bag – Joe will be here to talk you through how to put together a packed, easily accessible backpack containing essential items for if you unexpectedly go into hospital.
Citizens Advice – advice and information for people in Ceredigion so they can tackle life’s problems, and take action to change unfair and discriminatory laws, policies and practices.
Veterans Legal Link – an Aberystwyth based organisation, is with us to offer free legal advice and support for UK Military Veterans and their families and members of the Blue Light community across Wales.
Rural Health and Care Wales – an organisation of excellence that is leading the way in the field of rural health and social care in Wales, the UK and internationally.
Change Step – A veteran support program in Wales that aims to help veterans and their families tackle serious stress and mental health-related challenges.
Dyfed Powys Police - safeguard people living, working and visiting Ceredigion.
Mid and West Wales Fire Service – provide public safety information, prevention and protection programmes, and emergency response cover.
Penparcau Community Forum – the home of the local Veteran’s breakfast. If you are a Veteran, work or worked for a Blue Light service and haven’t met Kelvin and other volunteers, come and say hello and maybe join them at one their breakfasts.
Running the Thin Blue Line – Phil Woodland has created an Instagram channel to dispel the myths around mental health. Come and speak with Phil about his journey and what he can do to support you.
Over the Falls – Aberystwyth’s own award-winning podcast! Dave, Med and Dukes chat with local people about anything and everything, normalising conversations around health and mental health.
See our website for more updates: www.ystwythmedicalgroup.co.uk
We look forward to seeing you at the event!
Michelle Hopewell
Nurse practitioner and Veteran