- Funding of up to £1m available for existing veterans' hubs
across the UK to join VALOUR – the Ministry of Defence's new
support system
- Later this spring, the network will include 14 organisations
– including one in Wales- that have already secured £13m of
funding and an online support platform
- Delivers on UK Government's Veterans Strategy which
recognises veterans as a national asset
An estimated 115,000 veterans in Wales 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
(MOD) has already provided £13m of funding to 14 organisations to
join the UK-wide VALOUR system, with the OVA inviting more
organisations in Wales to apply for new funding.
UK 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.
One organisation which is receiving funding is Bulldogs Boxing
and Community Activities in Baglan, Neath Port Talbot, which
provides sport and community activities.
Secretary of State for Wales visited the centre on Thursday (14 May) to see the
support it gives to local veterans.
Secretary of State for Wales said:
We have around one hundred and fifteen thousand veterans in Wales
and they all deserve the very best support.
Places like Bulldogs Boxing in Port Talbot already provide
fantastic services to veterans. We are opening up further funding
to boost this support still further and I encourage more
organisations to apply.
It is essential that Welsh veterans have local places where they
can access the right help and it's what UK Government is
providing through programmes like VALOUR.
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 UK 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.
