Funding of up to £1m available for existing veterans' hubs across
the UK to join VALOUR – the Ministry of Defence's new support
system.
An estimated 100,000 veterans in London and the East of
England stand to benefit from VALOUR, a new
network of recognised centres that
will coordinate access to support across health,
housing, employment and more.
The Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA) in the Ministry
of Defence has already provided £13m of funding to 14
organisations to join the UK-wide VALOUR
system, with the OVA inviting organisations
in London and the East of England in
particular to apply for funding.
Government ministers are calling on existing centres that
support veterans, voluntary organisations and
local councils to apply this spring for funding between
£200k and £1m to join the system.
Minister for Veterans and People said:
London has a rich military heritage as the strategic
nerve centre of defence, home to the nation's most
famous veterans at the Tower of London and Royal Hospital
Chelsea, countless ceremonial and reservist
units, and the headquarters
of numerous veteran charities.
The East of England also has a rich military heritage, with its
airfields playing a crucial role in campaigns during the Second
World War. Today, the region is the home of F-35 jets,
key intelligence and surveillance facilities.
It is only right that veterans in these areas have a physical
point of contact where they can be assisted to
access the support that's right for them.
Alongside VALOUR-recognised centres, the
£50m VALOUR system will include a headquarters in
the OVA, field officers to evolve local
networks, increased capacity for MOD Veterans
Services, and an online support platform. The system will
work together to share data and form better connections
between national government and
councils, voluntary organisations, and service
providers.
The UK Government is investing record levels in support for
our veterans, and is renewing the nation's commitment
to those who serve with a 10-year Veterans Strategy, which aims
to celebrate and support veterans, and help them to contribute to
their local communities and the economy.
