Landmark funding has been secured to launch a specialist support service for veterans in the justice system in Wales.
Funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and delivered by the Forces Employment Charity (FEC), NOVA Wales will provide tailored one-to-one support for veterans who have been arrested or are working with post-custody probation teams in South Wales.
NOVA Wales will be launched as a regional pilot and will collaborate closely with police, HM Prison and Probation Service, NHS Wales, and other connected organisations to serve the local community. FEC will formally scope the need for a national support service for veterans in the justice system in Wales.
FEC has been championing evidence-based, specialist support programmes for veterans in the justice system for over a decade. Growing and investing in the charity’s justice services provision is a core element of its commitment to providing lifelong and life-changing support to the veteran community.
John Cunningham, Director of Justice Services at the FEC, said:
“As part of our lifelong, life-changing support for the Armed Forces community, the Forces Employment Charity is proud to be the leading provider of support for veterans in the justice system in the UK.
“Our highly experienced, specialist justice services team has been instrumental in driving change across the UK, delivering pragmatic, collaborative solutions that are trusted by both the veteran community and the justice sector. In England, this experience has evolved into the delivery of the NHS England-commissioned Op NOVA service, which is proving to reduce reoffending and improve wellbeing outcomes. We are now working closely with all stakeholders in Scotland and Wales to ensure that more UK veterans can access consistent, effective, and equitable support.”
James Phillips, Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales, said:
“Veterans often make extraordinary sacrifices while serving in the Armed Forces, and those who experience challenges in returning to civilian life deserve a helping hand. Specialist programmes to support veterans in the justice system are proving to be very successful in England and Scotland, so I am delighted to see similar provision being rolled out in Wales.”
While most veterans adapt well to civilian life, for others the transition is more challenging. Issues such as poor mental health, homelessness, alcohol or drug dependency and debt can lead them into contact with the justice system.
Census 2021 data indicates that 4.86% of the prison, bail and probation population in England and Wales are veterans. It is widely recognised that veterans are often reluctant to disclose their service due to shame, fear of judgment, and concern about how other inmates and prison staff will perceive them, making this veteran cohort particularly vulnerable to being lost in the system.
The initial funding of NOVA Wales is a major first step towards providing equity of support for veterans in Wales, who currently do not have access to the same specialist support as those in England and Scotland.
In England, veterans in the justice system are supported through Op NOVA, delivered by the FEC and commissioned by NHS England. Op NOVA has been proven to generate positive outcomes for the veteran community, supporting over 2,742 veterans since its launch in 2023. This year alone, 78% of clients reported improved mental health and wellbeing, and 68% reported progress toward a law-abiding life.
Anna Wright, CEO of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust said:
“All veterans who become engaged with the justice system should be able to get the support they need to build a different future, wherever they are in the UK. The Covenant Fund plays a unique role in enabling the development of these pathways, and we’re delighted to see this work in Wales getting underway.”
