HOME FOR CHRISTMAS: Paul Waugh MP and Rochdale veterans welcome free travel for Armed Forces coming home for Christmas
Hundreds of North West service personnel to benefit
Paul Waugh MP and Rochdale veterans have welcomed the Government’s announcement that the Ministry of Defence will cover the travel costs of thousands of junior Armed Forces personnel making a return journey home this Christmas.
The new travel support will cover road or rail travel for around 30,000 personnel in years 2–5 of their service, who currently do not qualify for help with returning home over the Christmas period.
A further 5,000 serving parents who live separately from their children will also receive travel credit.
This means more young men and women serving the country will be able to reunite with loved ones — including those from Rochdale posted to bases across the UK.
Paul Waugh MP said:
“Our Armed Forces give so much to this country, and shouldn’t have to pay extra just to get home to see their family.
“No one serving our nation should struggle to afford the journey home at Christmas. This support is practical, it’s fair, and it reflects the respect we owe to those who put themselves forward in service. Rochdale has always stood by its veterans and serving personnel, and I’m proud that this Government is making sure more of them can be with their loved ones this Christmas.”
Adam Trennery, Director of Get Together After Serving (GTAS), said:
“This announcement is a welcome recognition of the sacrifices made by our service personnel. At GTAS, we see first-hand the pressures faced by those who have been posted far from home, especially during the festive season. Ensuring that more of our Armed Forces can reunite with their families at Christmas strengthens the bond between service and community — something Rochdale has always been proud to uphold. We stand ready to support this initiative locally, offering welfare and community connections that make coming home feel like belonging.”
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:
“Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep our country safe. Helping them get home to their families for Christmas is the least we can do to support them.”
The announcement follows the biggest military pay rise in two decades, wraparound childcare for forces families, and a landmark £9bn programme to renew military housing and bring thousands of homes back into public ownership.
Paul Waugh added that Rochdale has a proud history of service and that this support recognises the pressures faced by young personnel posted far from home, especially at Christmas.