News

The Scottish Veterans Fund 2018 is currently still open for applications

The closing date for submission of applications is 30 November 2017. Organisations are encouraged to bid for funding to deliver projects that offer new or innovative approaches to tackling the issues veterans face, in areas like health, housing and employment.

Around £600,000 of funding, including £240,000 from Standard Life Aberdeen has been made available through the Scottish Veterans Fund in the three years to 2019/20.

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Housing Options Scotland’s Military Matters project turns 5!

A note from their Military Matters Consultant, Tony

It’s 5 years since our Military Matters project launched. We’ve moved with the times to make sure we’re at the forefront of developments on housing information and advice for the wider Armed Forces Community. So, what have we been up to?!

Scotland was the first country in the UK to appoint an independent Veterans Commissioner who reports directly to Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary. We worked with the Commissioner to provide help and examples of our work which were included in reports on Transition – the process for those leaving the forces – and the wider provision of housing information and support.

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Scottish Veterans benefit from additional Welfare Support provided by DMWS

DMWS Scotland is delighted to have teams embedded within NHS Trusts in Ayrshire, Fife, Grampian and Lanarkshire to ensure that older veterans and their families have access to the very best of welfare support, when faced with hospitalisation or when receiving medical treatment.

Together with 13 other organisations, DMWS plays a key role in the “Unforgotten Forces” consortium, led by Poppyscotland, to improve the lives of those who have served the country. This three-year project has been funded by the Aged Veterans Fund to deliver a range of new services and enhancements in areas including advice, access to healthcare, social isolation, respite, along with entertainment and therapeutic programmes for those living in care homes.

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Veterans’ breakfast club has positive impact in Glasgow.

In May 2017, a breakfast club pilot was launched in Glasgow with the aim to bring together veterans in transitional and permanent accommodation. The idea stemmed from wanting to improve engagement and lessen veteran isolation within the community.

Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR) began the 6 month pilot at Bellrock Close residences in Glasgow with the hope to develop peer-to-peer support. The residence is home to 31 beneficiaries who require transitional support, and 21 permanent beneficiaries in affordable two-bedroom flats. The central block provides ex-servicemen and women with a specialised services and support facility – it’s here that the breakfast club meets in the café.

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Veterans’ Health & Wellbeing in Scotland – Are We Getting it Right?

Here is an excerpt from the Executive summary of a short ‘think piece’ by the Scottish Veterans Commissioner on key health issues for the veterans community. No recommendations contained but early conclusions on key issues:
The vast majority of veterans in Scotland are in relatively good health and lead happy and productive lives.
On those occasions when they need access to health or social care services, they rarely report obvious disadvantage when compared to the non-veterans population and are content with the support they receive.

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Poppy Factory celebrates living wage commitment

Its team of 41 Armed Forces veterans hand assemble more than five million poppies and 12,000 wreaths every year, but now Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory (LHPF) can add another feather to its cap after becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer.

The commitment by LHPF to the Living Wage will ensure that all staff – regardless of whether they are direct employees or working on a third-party contractual basis – receive a minimum hourly wage of £8.45. This rate is significantly higher than the statutory minimum rate for over-25s of £7.50 per hour introduced earlier this year.

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By @Cobseo 55 years ago

Afghanistan support

In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here