Seventeen projects across Scotland have been awarded funds
totalling £500,000 to help ex-service personnel access support
for physical and mental health, financial, employment and cost of
living challenges.
The grant awards for 2023-24 are from the Scottish Veterans Fund,
which has now provided more than £2.8 million to nearly 220
projects since 2008.
Veterans Minister announced the funding awards
while visiting Community Veterans Support in Glasgow. The
organisation has been awarded £18,536 for its Warmer, Healthier,
Safer Veterans project which is providing food, peer support and
financial advice to veterans facing challenges as a result of the
cost of living crisis.
Mr Dey said:
“Scotland has a long and proud military tradition and we must
ensure our veterans and their families continue to be supported
during this cost of living crisis.
“I am grateful for the close-knit charity sector here in
Scotland, and I’m continually impressed by the level, and
quality, of support charities are providing. The excellent work
of Community Veterans Support is a great example of what can be
achieved.
“Each of the seventeen projects awarded funding from the Scottish
Veterans Fund this year will make a real difference and will mean
our veterans can get the help they need, when they need it.”
Background:
The Scottish Veterans Fund (SVF) was set up in 2008-2009 as the
Scottish Government’s main means of directly supporting veterans
in Scotland.
From 2022-2023 the fund has been increased to £500,000 annually,
with organisations able to bid for up to £50,000 per project.
Below is a full list of projects which will receive SVF funding
this year:
|
Organisation
|
Project Title
|
Amount
|
Project Overview
|
|
Community Veterans Support
|
Warmer, Healthier, Safer Veterans
|
£18,536
|
Extend “Warmer Spaces” provision for veterans into
evenings and weekends, including food, peer support and
financial advice.
|
|
Erskine
|
One-Stop-Shop
|
£13,450
|
Extend provision of tailored financial advocacy, guidance
and support to veterans through Erskine’s One Stop Shop.
|
|
Fighting with Pride
|
The Journey Home Project in Scotland
|
£49,042
|
Fund the introduction and development of the Veterans
Standard Manager role in Scotland to build the community
of LGBT veterans in Scotland and support developing
capacity in services that can support that community.
|
|
FirstLightTrust
|
Supporting the support
|
£25,000
|
Introduce a new support worker for the Hawick Hub to help
develop support pathways for veterans impaired by
physical or psychological trauma.
|
|
Forces Children Scotland
|
Future Transitions | Financial Education for Civilian
Life
|
£38,624
|
Develop a bespoke financial education service to support
children, young people and parents in making the
transition from military to civilian life.
|
|
Forces Employment Charity
|
Early Service Leavers – Scotland Co-Ordinator
|
£50,000
|
Continue pilot scheme from 2022-23, which introduced an
Early Service Leavers co-ordinator for Scotland to
provide dedicated employment support for this vulnerable
cadre.
|
|
Lothian Veterans Centre
|
Warm Welcome for veterans and their families
|
£22,572
|
Provide support in current cost of living crisis by
opening warm hub for veterans and their families to
provide food, heating and social interaction in a
location that can provide onward access to other support.
|
|
Military Wives Choir
|
Supporting our Hidden Community
|
£40,000
|
Enhance level of support given to members in Scotland and
to reach and recruit more members amongst women whose
lives are currently impacted by their connection to the
military.
|
|
On Course Foundation
|
Golf skills and employment programme
|
£16,344
|
Deliver a sustainable golf skills and employment
programme with confidence building events, peer
networking and employment experience and opportunities.
|
|
RAF Association
|
The Battle Ahead
|
£23,695
|
Provide programme of support to ensure that no member of
the RAF veterans community is left cold, hungry or lonely
as a result of the cost of living crisis.
|
|
RAF Benevolent Fund
|
Scottish Welfare Support Executive
|
£17,032
|
Provide welfare support to RAF veterans and their
dependants with complex needs living in Scotland. Assess
individual’s circumstances and create tailored support
plans.
|
|
Salute my Job
|
Career Jumpstart Programme
|
£41,700
|
The Career Jumpstart Project aims to reskill jobseekers
from the Armed Forces community for employment in
roles in greatest demand in public, private and third
sector.
|
|
Scotland Bravest Manufacturing Company
|
Enhanced Manufacturing Traineeship
|
£50,000
|
Provide opportunities for early service leavers and other
veterans to obtain qualifications and sustainable
employment with the support of a qualified trainer.
|
|
Scottish Veterans Residences
|
Occupational Therapy to Improve Veterans’ Health and
Wellbeing
|
£43,150
|
Employ a full time occupational therapist to support
Veterans’ physical and mental health recovery and
rehabilitation through the use of a holistic and
biophysical approach.
|
|
SSAFA
|
Professional Support to Relieve the Cost of Living Crisis
|
£10,000
|
Partly fund the employment of a Regional Casework manager
to better manage workload of case workers in Scotland to
provide a more agile and individualised response to
veterans.
|
|
Thistle Health and Wellbeing
|
Meaningful Connections
|
£20,124
|
Support 150 veterans and their families across Scotland
who have been severely impacted by long term conditions,
particularly early service leavers, medically discharged
veterans and those with mental health needs.
|
|
Veterans Housing Scotland
|
Tenancy Sustainment Service
|
£20,000
|
Expand pilot project to identify and support tenants at
risk of tenancy failure.
|
