Support for the Veterans and Armed Forces Community 2025

Key Themes

Community and Relationships

Welcome to Scotland

We continue to promote the refreshed Welcome to Scotland guide which was updated in April 2025 with both the Career Transitions Partnership (CTP) and the Families Federations, for wider distribution across their networks.

This guide was once again produced after extensive consultation with the Armed Forces, Third Sector and Public Sector organisations, in order to ensure that it remains up to date and contains the most important information for personnel and their families ahead of relocation to Scotland.

Social Isolation

The Scottish Veterans Fund continues to provide funding to a number of projects which provide support to veterans in integrating into their local community, such as Thistle Health and Wellbeing's Meaningful Connection project for veterans severely impacted by long term conditions. A new three-year SVF funding cycle was launched in October 2025 and will seek to continue delivery of these outcomes.

Veterans are being integrated into wider efforts to address social isolation through the Recovering Our Connections plan and the Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund, both of which supports initiatives that reduce barriers to connection. These include projects that provide opportunities for veterans to engage and connect, such as Men's Sheds.

Supporting Underrepresented Groups

We continue to engage with underrepresented groups within the Armed Forces and Veterans community in Scotland to ensure their needs and experiences are better understood and supported. For example, we have continued to work with representatives of the bereaved community to establish their input into the NHS Covenant Standards Framework which will outline how to apply the Armed Forces Covenant and best practice for NHS Boards in relation to the whole Armed Forces Community. Within this framework we will include a standard which focuses on bereavement care. We are also working internally within the Scottish Government to ensure the Armed Forces Community is considered as part of the NHS Bereavement Framework.

Employment, Education and Skills

Employability Initiatives

Veterans and their families continue to be eligible for devolved employability support through No One Left Behind, with details included in the most recent update to "Welcome to Scotland".

Skills & Qualification Mapping

SCQF continues to promote the Military Qualification and Skills mapping tool on its social media. Work is underway with partners in MOD, SDS and Scottish Government to review the tool in order to ensure that it remains an up to date and valued resource.

Skills Development Scotland

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) continue to work in partnership with Career Transitions Partnership (CTP) and recently reviewed their Memorandum of Understanding to ensure continuation of full service delivery.

SDS continue to promote the benefits of veterans when engaging with employers and work in collaboration with key stakeholders such as CTP and Officers Association Scotland (OAS).

This year SDS attended the Army Foundation college to discuss education, skills and early service leavers. In addition, they are represented on the advisory group for the recent Napier report on Armed Forces Children with additional support needs.

SDS also continues to work with the Armed Forces Community delivering services out of Drumfork Community Centre, Helensburgh. This includes working with partners delivering services, Career Guidance, Employability Support and advice re: Skills Discovery, use of MyWoW and other services.

SDS provides input and intelligence to the Armed Forces and Veterans Cross Party Group and re-constituted Veterans Scotland Employment Group and continues to work with its Regional colleagues and Directorates through the SDS champions group and networks. They also continue to work with partners in the SCiP alliance, Forces Children Scotland and within the Military Liaison Group in Highland.

Armed Forces and Veterans Community Group (AFVCG)

The AFVCG continues to meet three times per academic year, maintaining its focus on educational support for the armed forces community in Scotland. Membership remains broad, including representatives from Higher and Further Education (HE/FE) institutions, SAAS, SWAP East, SDS, MoD, Veterans charities, Family Federations, and the Scottish Government.

The AFVCG’s short-life working group has progressed in adapting SWAP Access to Nursing and Access to Allied Health courses to better suit the needs of transitioning personnel and spouses. Online delivery of Access to Nursing is now available at Dumfries & Galloway College, with specific provision for Armed Forces families. New programmes in Medical Science and Paramedic Science have been introduced at several colleges, addressing Scotland’s healthcare skills gaps.

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) continues to work with AFVCG and CTP to improve the Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) offering. GCU is an approved ELC provider and offers Recognition of Prior Learning to ensure veterans receive credit for military experience. The university also supports advanced entry and provides tailored guidance through its HM Forces Champion, helping veterans navigate funding and course selection.

Scottish Armed Forces Evidence & Research Hub (SAFE&R)

The SAFE&R Hub, hosted by Edinburgh Napier University, continues to grow in membership and influence. Its 2024 International Conference titled "Identity, Purpose and Belonging" was held successfully at Craiglockhart Campus with delegates from Canada, Australia, USA, and across the UK. The conference included sessions on military history, mental health, justice-involved veterans, and bereavement support, with contributions from researchers and practitioners across disciplines. The Hub is now exploring policy recommendations based on conference findings, particularly around justice system support for veterans.

ADVANCE Network

The ADVANCE Network, which provides a single point of contact in each of Scotland’s institutions for veterans, armed forces and their families, continues to deliver briefing sessions to CTP (online), education centres, WIS personnel, and spouses via Family Federations. ADVANCE is actively promoted through SCQF and remains a key tool for translating military qualifications into civilian education pathways. The network is also contributing to data collection efforts via SEEMiS to better understand the educational needs of children from Armed Forces families.

NHS Careers

The NHS Scotland Armed Forces Talent Programme has continued to progress in its third year, expanding both its reach and impact.

Refreshed webpages have been developed to better serve different sections of the Armed Forces Community, with new media formats introduced to make resources easier to access and engage with.

Health Boards are continuing to be supported through quarterly regional working groups, enabling them to share best practice. All boards have now signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

The introduction of a paid placement initiative has been a major success, attracting significant interest from the Armed Forces Community. Six individuals took part in the inaugural placements, with two securing full-time NHS roles. The second cohort of placements is due to commence in October 2025. Engagement with Defence Medical Services has also been a priority, with an aspiration that all service leavers are fully aware of the opportunities available within NHS Scotland. The approach of the programme has been recognised in the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s report as an example of good practice.

Police Scotland Employment

Police Scotland continues to recognise the skills and experience that military service offers policing. Police Scotland is confident that those leaving the military view Police Scotland as an organisation that has shared values and which recognises the courage and experience of service men and women.

Police Scotland was recently identified by the Scottish Veterans Commissioner as an exemplar of good practice, within her progress update published in September.

Through a considered and consistent approach Police Scotland has developed a strong record in employing and retaining veterans with an estimated 700 veterans employed within Scotland; approximately 3% of their staff.

Police Scotland continue to engage with a number of service recruitment bodies through their Positive Action Team who actively support all veteran / service leavers coming through the Police Officer recruitment process. Each veteran that registers their interest for the role of Police Officer is contacted and offered support throughout their recruitment journey. The success associated with this level of support and guidance is visible within each intake of new Probationary officers – the next scheduled intake took place in November 2025 and included 17 individuals from a Military Service background.

Police Scotland also has a dedicated Armed Forces and Reservists Champion who supports the organisation in the creation and maintenance of relevant policies and procedures. As a member of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RCFA), the Armed Forces and Reservists Champion promotes Police Scotland as an employer of choice, whilst their membership of the RCFA Advocacy & Strategy Group ensures Police Scotland is sighted on upcoming changes in the defence landscape likely to impact on our Armed Forces Communities.

Police Scotland support Veteran Onboarding meetings which take place post recruitment and in the in the early stages of initial formal training and helpfully signpost support services on matters ranging from HMRC to Pensions and Police Scotland’s network of Veterans Champions.

Police Scotland’s collegiate learning and resource sharing and its involvement in the Blue Light Armed Forces Network ensures that its good practice in dealing with members of our Armed Forces Communities can be embodied by all emergency services, In this way, Police Scotland aims to provide a sense of trust and confidence in its approach to bringing its commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant to life through real, tangible and practical application.

To commemorate Armistice Day 2025, Police Scotland hosted their Annual National Forum of Veterans Champions at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan on Friday 7th November which included the reaccreditation of its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Scottish Armed Forces Education Support Group

The Scottish Armed Forces Education Support Group (SAFESG) continues to meet quarterly and to work collaboratively to support children and young people from Armed Forces families. The membership of the group includes representation from the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), Education Scotland, the Ministry of Defence, the Families Federations, Forces Children Scotland and from the Royal Navy, Army, and the Royal Air Force, who all champion the needs of service children and young people in education.

A subgroup of the SAFESG is in the process of creating a four nation, tri-service resource which will aid the educational transition for children and young people from the Armed Forces Community across the UK and overseas.

The Scottish Government has renewed its short-term (2025-26) funding for the ADES National Education and Transitions Officer (NETO) role, which works with Scottish local authorities, their schools, Third Sector partners, and the Armed Forces to help enhance policy and practice by taking into account the unique features affecting the education of Service children, such as mobility and deployment.

In addition, with effect from September 2025, the Scottish Government has added to the annual pupil census data specification. the collection of data on pupils from armed forces families who have disclosed this information to their school. The first data release is expected to be around March 2026 and will include children and young people from Serving, Reserve and Veteran personnel.

Finance and Debt

Access to Social Security

In addition to the legally required protected characteristics, Social Security Scotland also acknowledges wider forms of diversity, veterans and serving members of the armed forces included.

Earlier this year, Social Security Scotland launched its Mainstreaming Inclusion, Communication and Equality Strategy. This aligned previous separate strategies into a single document and includes their previous Inclusive Communication Action Plan. The new strategy guides Social Security Scotland in becoming a more inclusive organisation and includes tools to help it better understand people’s experiences and improve their services based on what they learn.

Social Security Scotland is adopting a trauma-informed approach to better support individuals affected by trauma, including veterans. This approach will help our staff to better understand some of the unique challenges veterans may face when looking to access support.

All new staff complete an NHS Education for Scotland (NES) module on trauma awareness. A pilot group of around 140 staff from various roles is receiving enhanced training, including four NES e-learning modules, reflective discussions, and support groups. This pilot is guided by a working group with lived and professional experience. It includes an Equality Impact Assessment to evaluate the approach’s effect on vulnerable groups, including veterans. The findings will help inform recommendations for wider implementation across the organisation.

In addition to seeking to improve the experience of their veteran clients, Social Security Scotland is also supporting more inclusive staff recruitment, taking steps to remove barriers and biases in its recruitment processes. It has also worked with organisations supporting veterans to ensure they are aware of what it offers as employers. In 2024, Social Security Scotland worked closely with the Scottish Government’s Veterans Unit to employ 19 Client Advisors, including some ex-veterans. It ensured that hiring managers were equipped with training on how to support these colleagues, given the challenges they may have faced.

Following publication of the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s report and recommendations on veterans’ experiences in accessing benefits in June 2025, Social Security Scotland is actively exploring ways to strengthen its support for veterans and service members.

Its Partnerships and Events Team have facilitated a number of online information events detailing how to access devolved benefits and how to seek support if help is required to apply. This includes signposting to other support services such as Voiceability’s Independent Advocacy Service. As part of their stakeholder mapping Social Security Scotland ensure that external stakeholders who provide welfare rights support to veterans are invited to attend, including representatives from BLESMA and Scottish Veterans Residences.

In August 2025, the Scottish Government published a Seldom-Heard Groups Action Plan in response to previously published research into barriers faced by seldom-heard communities when accessing socials security entitlements. This research, as well as a separate Citizens' Panel on the impacts of stigma on take-up, noted that barriers to take-up are experienced across seldom-heard communities and concluded that system-wide interventions focussed on accessibility, simplified processes, pre-application support and the reduction of stigma may be more effective than interventions targeted at improving access for individual groups alone. As such, the Action Plan details the practical steps the Scottish Government, together with Social Security Scotland, will take to improve engagement and support for seldom-heard communities over the next 12 months.

Activity set out in the Action Plan includes: development of a Social Security Scotland inclusive communications hub for staff; engagement with community trusted intermediaries to ensure groups have access to information and are encouraged to apply for relevant payments; and development of a communications and marketing campaign to tackle stigma specifically.

The Scottish Government continues to facilitate a Benefit Take-Up Stakeholder Reference Group which brings together organisations with a vested interested in promoting benefit take-up in Scotland. Membership of the Group was refreshed in February 2025 to ensure organisations representing the perspectives of seldom-heard communities were involved, including Veterans Scotland.

Following publication of the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s report on Veterans Finance and Debt addressing veterans’ experiences in accessing benefits in June 2025, Social Security Scotland is actively exploring ways to strengthen its support for veterans and service members.

Health and Wellbeing

Armed Forces Personnel & Veterans Health Joint Group

The Armed Forces Personnel & Veterans Health Joint Group continues with valuable input from stakeholders and relevant SMEs. Work taken forward by this Group in the past year includes, continued promotion of the General Practice Armed Forces and Veterans Recognition Scheme to ensure improved take up and impact. A training programme has been developed for colleagues working in Secondary care. The formerly named SVTP now named the Veterans In Service Injury Network launched on the 26 August.

NHS Armed Forces and Veterans Champions

Quarterly meetings of the network of NHS Champions continue. This forum remains useful in helping to identify issues arising at local levels, and to encourage collaboration. The network is also still key in the promotion of the GP Armed Forces Recognition Scheme.

Collaborative Working

Over the past year, our engagement with MOD on health and well-being matters has continued to be meaningful and collaborative. Regular meetings with colleagues in Defence Primary Health Care assist us in understanding challenges faced by in service personnel and help us anticipate what support they require when they leave.

We also regularly attend the MOD / UK Department of Health Partnership Board and facilitate, engagement with the strategic lead for the devolved administrations within MOD, Ministers and senior leaders within Scottish Government Health and Social Care. Such interaction will assist in making our engagement more valuable and more comprehensive.

Health Data

We are continuing to engage with a range of stakeholders across Scotland and the other devolved nations. This engagement contributes to our understanding of issues that veterans face and helps inform our strategic direction in addressing such issues. We are also considering how we can improve on the data gathered through our GP recognition scheme / VISIN, and the coding advice issued.

The Veterans Mental Health & Wellbeing Action Plan

The Veterans Mental Health Advisory Group have continued to work to develop the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Pathway. In December 2024, the group agreed a model of delivery for the pathway, which was approved by then Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing & Sport in December 2024.

In June 2025, the Group reached a consensus on the principles that will form the National Framework of the Pathway. The model is underpinned by ensuring equity of access to care and support yet still enabling local flexibility in terms of operational delivery.

In addition to the work of the Advisory Group, three short-life working groups have been established to focus on particular elements of the pathway development, specifically Groups covering peer support specification, performance metrics and the creation of a digital hub. Final recommendations from the Peer support and Performance metrics groups have been presented to the Advisory Group for their consideration and it is expected that the Digital group will report in December.

The Veterans Mental Health Operational Working Group will consider how such recommendations will be operationalised. Work on the pathway is continuing at pace, and it is expected to launch on a phased basis in Spring 2026

GP Armed Forces Recognition Scheme

We will continue to engage with colleagues within General Practice and Primary Care to optimise the take up of the scheme including but not limited to digital marketing, newsletter articles and presentations. We are also engaging with colleagues in the other devolved administrations to learn lessons from the promotion of their schemes.

Combat Stress and Veterans First Point

The Scottish Government and five local health boards continue to jointly fund the Veterans First Point (V1P) network which offers a “one stop” facility for veterans no matter their need. Although, NHS Lothian announced in October 2024 that they were intending change their model of support for veterans and no longer be part of the V1P network, they are currently developing an alternative specialist service for veterans, which will be launch in 2025-26.

The funding that Scottish Government has provided to Combat Stress, NHS Lothian and local health boards operating a V1P service means that regardless of where they live in Scotland, veterans will be able to access veterans specific support for their mental health.

We have continued dialogue with the new management team in Combat Stress and earlier this year awarded a grant to provide online services to veterans in the 8 health boards areas not covered by V1P or NHS Lothian for the rest of 2025-26 until such time as the Pathway is stood up.

The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with veterans, stakeholders and the Veterans Mental Health Advisory Group to ensure future clinical mental health services for veterans meet the needs of veterans, are accessible to veterans across Scotland and are in line with the new Veterans Mental Health & Wellbeing pathway.

Veterans and the Law

Scottish Veterans Commissioner

We welcomed the Commissioners thematic report on Veterans and the Law and will be working with partner crime and justice agencies going forward to make progress on these recommendations.

Veterans in Custody Support Officers (VICSOs) and Scottish Prison Service

We continue to engage with the network of VICSOs, sharing information as part of their regular meetings.

Making a Home in Civilian Society

Collaboration, Advice and Guidance

The Scottish Government continues to review Local Housing Strategies submitted by local authorities to ensure that consideration has been given to the needs of armed forces communities and that engagement has taken place with relevant veterans organisations.

The Scottish Government is undertaking a strategic review of the Local Housing Strategy guidance. As the statutory housing provider and – in most cases – planning authority, Scotland’s local authorities are required to develop a Local Housing Strategy (LHS) every five years to set out their priorities and plans for the delivery of housing and related services. Consultation is a central component in this process, with local authorities expected to engage widely with communities and partners to inform content and outcomes for their LHS. The current 2019 guidance contains a section which encourages local authorities to consider the housing need of the Armed Forces Community in the development of their LHS. This section will be reviewed and strengthened where possible, in consultation with relevant policy officials. The updated LHS guidance is due to be published before the end of this Parliament.

Affordable Housing Supply Programme

Funding continues to be made available through our Affordable Housing Supply Programme to deliver homes specifically for veterans, where Local Authorities identify this as a strategic priority.

Open Market Shared Equity Scheme

The Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) scheme reopened for applications on 1 April 2025, with an allocated budget of £30 million. For the 2025/26 financial year OMSE was originally only open to priority access groups, including serving members of the Armed Forces and Veterans. On 2 September the scope for OMSE was widened to allow first-time buyers to access the scheme again as well as priority access groups.

Housing Options Scotland

We have awarded Housing Options Scotland grant funding for 2025-26 as part of our strategic housing partners programme. This includes the continuation of the Military Matters service into 2025-26. Since it began in 2012, Military Matters has helped almost 2,000 households. In 2024-25 the project received 189 new referrals. In the first two quarters of 2025-26, the project has received 82 new referrals. You can read some of their stories here: Housing Options Scotland - Client Stories

Veterans Homelessness

The Housing (Scotland) Bill was passed by Parliament on 30 September 2025 .We will work with partners on the guidance and training needed to implement the new duties.

Work is underway with key stakeholders including four of the five Housing Options Hubs, COSLA, ALACHO, SFHA and GWSF to discuss the best approach to progressing the recommendations in the Veterans Homelessness Prevention Pathway relating to local authorities and social landlords. In addition, we are working with the Veterans Scotland Housing Group on prioritisation of the key recommendations from the Pathway.