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Support
For Veterans In Scotland
Funding opportunities, extending priority treatment and
a new focus group are just some of the commitments being taken forward
by Scottish Ministers.
There is a great deal being done in Scotland
by a range of agencies and bodies to ensure the voice of the veteran is heard
and their needs are met in a way that is fair, fast and appropriate.
Funding
the future
The Scottish Veterans Fund
was introduced in 2008 with resources of £240,000 to be allocated over three years. The Fund
is focused on projects that deliver new or innovative approaches to veterans
issues, or which seek to develop areas or activities not currently funded
by the Scottish Government or MOD.
The maximum level of funding available
for individual projects is £10,000. The eligibility criteria can be
viewed on the website of Veterans Scotland, which administers the Fund on
behalf of the Scottish Government - www.veteransscotland.co.uk/
The deadline
for applications for 2009-10 has now passed. Veterans Scotland has submitted
its recommendations for funding and decisions on successful applications
will be made shortly.
Grants, awarded so far, include:
• Scottish Veterans Residences, who used the money to develop a website
targetted at Service Leavers requiring support and advice on housing; and
• The First Base Agency, who are to run a pilot project tackling drug
dependency amongst ex-Service personnel.
Delivering results
Scottish Ministers
are also driving forward the extension of NHS priority treatment for war
pensioners to all veterans with a condition associated with military service.
This extension has proved a significant commitment in Scotland and is one
welcomed by the Veterans Community.
The Scottish Programme Veterans Steering
Group has also been given greater impetus by Scottish Ministers, Comprising representatives
from the Veterans Community, the MOD and the Scottish Government, the group meets
quarterly to discuss a range of issues that are of concern to veterans with a
view to informing debate and influencing policy development within both the
UK and Scottish Governments.
Dr Kevin Woods, Director General
Health and NHS Chief Executive Scotland has been appointed Armed Forces and
Veterans Advocate. In this role Dr Woods represents the Scottish Government
on the Cabinet Office established External Reference Group that will oversee
the delivery of the Service Personnel Command Paper.
Scottish Ministers have also established an Armed Forces and Veterans’ Issues
team in the Scottish Government that will co-ordinate and bring together
in a coherent way activities and policy development previously dealt with
by a range of Divisions. In other words, this team is now the focal point
for Scottish Government interests in veterans’ issues.
Supporting the
first Armed Forces Day
Beyond the Scottish Government, local authorities,
working in partnership with the Armed Forces and local veterans’ organisations
are planning a whole series of celebrations across Scotland to celebrate
Armed Forces Day on 27 June. So far, events and celebrations are planned
for Aberdeen, Stirling, Kelso, Edinburgh, Dundee, Inverness, Kirkwall, Wick,
Lerwick, Glasgow, Ayr and Galashiels. Scottish Ministers will play their
part in these celebrations. Plans are in hand to involve a Scottish Government
Minister at each event and the Minister for Parliamentary Business has written
to all MSPs and MPs with Scottish constituencies to encourage their participation
on the day.
Giving Veterans A Voice
A cross-party group has been established
at the Scottish Parliament, with the specific aim of discussing issues of
importance to the Veterans Community and determining ways in which policy
thinking and development at a national and local level may be informed.
Members
include MSPs from all the major parties in Scotland and representatives of
the Veterans Community. Meeting quarterly, the group has focused its work
on housing matters, notably homelessness, land disposal and local connection.
This has led to policy developments within the Scottish Government.
Future
discussions will highlight mental health matters, NHS priority for the treatment
of veterans, support for veterans, including dealing with drug and alcohol
problems, supported employment and improving liaison with the Veterans Community.
- Finding refuge in the Falklands
- Who would make your decisions
if you couldn't
- Fund provides web opportunities
for Ex-Service charity
- Security training for service
leavers
- Support for Veterans in Scotland