Support for veterans and the armed forces community: 2019

Overall achievements

Health

Scottish Veterans Care Network established

Strengthened support for NHS Armed Forces and Veterans Champions network

Armed Forces and Veterans Health Joint group refreshed and restructured with addition of Implementation group to progress priority actions

Certificate of Vision Impairment signposting to additional support for veterans

Updated online information about veterans’ health services on NHS Inform

Housing

Continued priority access to the Open Market Shared Equity scheme for Service personnel, veterans who have left the Armed Forces within the past two years, and partners of Service personnel who lost their lives while serving for up to two years thereafter. 

New social housing allocations guidance for social landlords with advice on meeting the needs of veterans and ensuring they are not disadvantaged 

Committed to developing a pathway to prevent veterans homelessness

Over £350,000 awarded to East Lothian Council to develop six homes for disabled veterans which are currently on site and are scheduled to complete by the end of the financial year

Private Residential Tenancy exemption for veterans charity housing in line with needs of veterans

Employability and Skills

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership awarded funding to continue the project to credit level military qualifications in Scotland

Skills Development Scotland and Career Transition Partnership project launched to promote career guidance to Service leavers

Scottish Government Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Network launched

Workplace Equality Fund criteria amended to include the Armed Forces community including spouses with funding awarded to create best practice when recruiting and employing veterans, particularly those with disabilities

Education

Scottish Service Children Strategy Group good practice event held for Education professionals and Armed Forces personnel

Education Scotland launched resources which will help support children affected by adversity and trauma

Approximately 70% of Scottish universities and 60% of Scottish colleges have signed up to be part of the HE:FE Armed Forces Champions Network

Scottish Funding Council launched a dedicated web page with sources of information, advice and guidance for veterans, service leavers and their families

Wider Support

Scottish Veterans Fund supported 10 projects in 2018-19, and 7 projects in 2019-20 with a further £360,000 committed to the Fund to 2022-23.

The new Scottish Veterans Commissioner published his first annual progress report

Question on veterans proposed for the 2021 Census

Older veterans are recognised in ‘A Fairer Scotland for Older People – A Framework for Action’ where we have committed to working with partners to take forward the Strategy for Our Veterans, which addresses the needs of older veterans

The Scottish Government’s social isolation and loneliness strategy “A Connected Scotland” committed to continuing to work with veterans and veterans’ organisations, to better identify how to support the Armed Forces community to strengthen social connections.