Thank you, Presiding Officer. This time of year particularly reminds us of all those who have fought in conflicts to preserve the way of life we have today. This year we have commemorated some of the biggest battles of the first world war. We remember those who lost their lives at Jutland and during the battle of the Somme, especially in Mametz Wood. Thousands of Welsh servicemen made the ultimate sacrifice. Next year will mark the centenary of the battle of Passchendaele, one of the key battles of the first world war, which cost the lives of 70,000 British soldiers, many from Wales, including the poet Hedd Wyn.

We must not forget those who courageously gave their lives to protect the freedom we have today, and we will continue to commemorate them. I’m sure you will all be aware of the stunning Weeping Window of poppies at the Tower of London. This remarkable work of art will be on display at Caernarfon castle—the first venue in Wales to host the display—until 20 November. I encourage you all to visit it. Through the Cymru’n Cofio—Wales Remembers programme we will continue to mark significant first world war events.

The Welsh Government will continue to support Armed Forces Days in Wales. They give the people of Wales the opportunity to show their appreciation and gratitude to those currently serving and to ex-service personnel. Through our programme for government we remain committed to providing ongoing support and services to our present armed forces community. Since my last statement, in June, we have driven forward the armed forces agenda. I would like to update you on a number of initiatives we have created.

We have refreshed our package of support and have produced a separate guide for serving personnel and their families, called ‘Welcome to Wales’. Together, these documents set out the support available in Wales for both serving and ex-service personnel and their families. They were launched at our covenant conference in September, and were well received by our partners.

I’m committed to supporting vulnerable young adults, too. Welsh Government has provided £50,000 to the 160 Infantry Brigade and HQ Wales towards delivery of their armed forces employability pathway. This is aimed at giving young men and women an insight into the army, together with the civilian work-based vocational training to enable them to build their skills and confidence and gain qualifications and secure employment and apprenticeships. Llywydd, a good example of the pathway’s success is the story of a homeless young man from Merthyr, who often had to forage for food and sleep rough. This programme has helped him turn his life around and he is now on his way to forging a career with the Royal Logistic Corps.

The Supporting Service Children in Education Wales project continues to go from strength to strength. Digital stories and films have been developed to provide additional training for staff and raise awareness of the challenges faced by service children. The digital stories provide a unique insight into the life of armed forces children here in Wales. We are well aware that housing is one of the biggest challenges facing veterans and their families. We have consulted with our key partners to provide and develop a housing referral pathway. This will enable veterans and their families to make informed choices of an option most appropriate for them. I’ll be launching the pathway on 10 November.

Keep Safe Cymru for veterans is a good example of how working together has made a difference to the lives of those most vulnerable in our communities. Veterans with specific health needs, and who may need additional support from emergency services in times of crisis, can register their details with the police whose response will be modified accordingly. I’ll be launching this scheme on 23 November.

Llywydd, we frequently hear about the invaluable support provided by service families and spouses, many of whom have given up their own choices and opportunities in order to support their loved ones. There are times when they, too, need help and the opportunity to have their own career and develop their skills.

As I said earlier, our childcare offer will be helping working parents of three and four-year-olds by providing free early learning and childcare. The offer can give parents choices about their employment, how many hours they wish to work and the location. I’m delighted to tell you that D.J. Rees Decorating Services from Merthyr have been awarded a gold award in this year’s employer recognition scheme—the first in Wales for supporting and helping members of the armed forces community to find employment here in Wales.

Llywydd, we will continue to support the Veterans’ NHS Wales service. In the future, we’ll be looking to create a more seamless approach with our key partners such as CAIS and the Royal British Legion to afford our veterans the support that they need. We’ve come a long way, Llywydd, but there is more to do. In challenging times such as these, it’s important we move forward together, and with our key partners, we can make a difference for this community.