Scottish Veterans Fund: beneficiaries

Scottish Veterans Fund

Established in 2008, the Scottish Veterans Fund (SVF) has allocated over £2.3 million of funding to nearly 200 projects.

Below is a full list of projects receiving funding in 2022-23, including those that have been successful in the 2022-23 bidding round.

Forces Children Scotland (The Royal Caledonian Education Trust)

Fund two pilot peer respite activity breaks in the east and west of Scotland for AFCYP young carers with a veteran parent. Partner with a company to facilitate individual respite breaks for the most vulnerable carers, allowing them to choose the most effective respite.

Funding allocation

£14,916.64

Erskine

Employment of a support worker delivering a programme of activities for veterans over two years. To enhance veterans' prospects of identifying long-term accommodation and employment, the programme will include housing advice, welfare and benefits advice, access to formal training/education, CV/interview support, life skills, and more.

Funding allocation

£15,000

Scottish Veterans Residences

Invite veterans (initially 30 a year) from Tayside, Angus and Fife areas who are isolated to join residents at Rosendael, a housing support service, for meals or coffee morning and, take part in activities as well as meet with a registered support worker to discuss their needs. At least on a weekly basis. Funding goes towards staff costs and meals/transport and veterans will be referred through Poppy Scotland Welfare service and other housing providers.

Funding allocation

£10,000

Fighting with Pride (FWP)

The Journey Home Project (JHP) will raise awareness of LGBT+ issues with relevant organisations in Scotland encouraging the development of services to support LGBT+ veterans who can be signposted to them. Will also work towards finding and bringing together LGBT+ veterans, and creating FWP network groups.

Funding allocation

£15,000

Mindfulness Scotland

A two-year project providing remote access stress reduction courses to veterans facing mental health challenges to provide access to higher numbers of veterans and those unable to attend in person due to health or Covid issues. Funds enable the support of 60 veterans in year 1 and 40 in year 2 courses, reunion days and a handbook/app. Courses cover the nature of trauma, including how PTSD develops and the effects of trauma on the body. Later sessions will include exercises such as relaxation and mindfulness to cope better with the symptoms of PTSD and risk of relapse.

Funding allocation

£5,790

Erskine

Employ a new member of staff at an activity centre to provide a wide range of financial advice to members on topics such as welfare, debt management, veteran specific benefits, pension and energy advice.

Funding allocation

£13,050

Support in Mind Scotland

Extend the project introduced last year with the Veterans Liaison Officer, recruited to provide support to veterans with mental health issues, through one-on-one and group support. Also provide opportunities for veterans to take part in activities offered by sister charity, Veterans Community Café.

Funding allocation

£9,123.11

Salute My Job

Hire a full time co-ordinator in Scotland to establish a reskilling project for veterans to enable them to find jobs in cyber security. This will include promoting to veterans the wide breadth of jobs available in Cyber Security for veterans, assessing veterans aptitude, skills and willingness to learn, providing preliminary online skills development training and employer delivered orientation and training, as well as job shadowing.

Funding allocation

£15,000

Royal Marines Association

Partly hire transition support officer to aid vulnerable personnel/veterans. Charities employment and education team, as well as health and wellbeing team will directly work with beneficiary to support transition or help veterans with complex needs back into employment.

Funding allocation

£11,590

Thistle Foundation

Support 200 veterans affected by long term conditions to improve confidence, resilience and integration into civilian life. Have veterans engage with wider community and civilians who have different experiences.

Funding allocation

£15,000

Walking with the Wounded

Veterans support to help build confidence, provide training and offer support to assist veterans into sustainable, meaningful employment.

Funding allocation

£11,600

Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR)

Employ an Activities Officer in SVR's largest residence, Whitefoord House to support the Join In Live Well Officer (JILWO). The JILWO initiative aims to improve the wellbeing of residents with a comprehensive and tailored programme of recreational and physical activities.

Funding allocation

£45,450

Erskine

Hire a dedicated mental health support worker for Erskine’s transitional supported accommodation (ETSA).

Funding allocation

£25,000

Fares 4 Free

Partnering with The Allen Clarke Veterans Craftsmen, which provides therapeutic art and craft activities for veterans and families, Fares 4 Free will provide dedicated transport to the Glasgow premises where these activities will be held.

Funding allocation

£10,000

Walking with the Wounded

Employ trained employment adviser to help to build confidence, provide training and offer support to assist veterans into sustainable, meaningful employment.

Funding allocation

£50,000

Elgin City Football Club

Enable veterans to play in football matches to help support veterans and encourage socialising.

Funding allocation

£3,864

Forces Children Scotland

Deliver a family support service, titled Mindful Connections, which will explore the lived experiences within a veteran family.

Funding allocation

£47,500

Firstlight Trust

Establish a café hub in Falkirk providing support and activities specifically geared to veterans and their families.

Funding allocation

£22,539.48

Networks of Wellbeing

Establish away days for veterans in the Huntly area to help to reduce social isolation and assist with integration into civilian and community life.

Funding allocation

£5,860

Defence Medical Welfare Service

In partnership with Fares 4 Free, DMWS to provide a trained Welfare officer to accompany difficult or complex service users on a trip to hospital.

Funding allocation

£50,000

SACRO

Changing Steps will work with veterans serving a custodial sentence for a sexual offence to help them transition back into local communities on leaving prison.

Funding allocation

£50,000

Veterans Chaplaincy Scotland

Hire 17 new trained volunteers, and maintain current 10 volunteers, to provide pastoral care to veterans and their families promoting hope, healing and acceptance.

Funding allocation

£30,000

The Venture Trust

Offer a range of therapeutic approaches and clinical counselling in local outdoor spaces.

Funding allocation

£50,000

RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity

Ensure that Early Service Leavers are provided with the support they need in areas including employability, mental health, accommodation and help with debt.

Funding allocation

£50,000

SSAFA: The Armed Forces Charity

Fund a regional casework manager for SSAFA’s Casework (Welfare Advice and Financial Assistance) service.

Funding allocation

£10,000