Thousands of Armed Forces veterans to benefit from new UK-wide support network

Veterans will have easier access to essential care and support across housing, employment, health and welfare under a new UK-wide veteran support system called Valour, the Government has announced.

New Valour-recognised support centres will be set up at a cost of £50m, and regional field officers will be placed within every local authority.

The support centres are part of the Government's manifesto pledge to fully implement the Armed Forces Covenant.

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"The Armed Forces set most people up for success in life, but when veterans need help, then support is too often a postcode patchwork," Defence Secretary John Healey said.

"Our plan to develop a UK-wide veterans support service will work with enterprising health, employment and housing charities, and it is backed by one of the largest-ever Government funding commitments to veterans."

The new regional field officers will bring together charities, service providers and local government to provide more evidence and feedback-driven support for veterans across housing, employment, health and welfare.

There will be a wide consultation with veterans leading up to the creation of the Valour system and they will help design the Valour system through research, focus groups and feedback. 

The service will impact roughly two million veterans across the UK, and it will run for the next three years, according to a defence source. 

"As a veteran who served for 24 years, I recognise the unique challenges they've faced and the skills they possess," Armed Forces Minister Al Carns said.  

"This new investment will ensure that every veteran, regardless of where they live, can access joined-up support services in the way they need it."  

Valour will use data to help shape a better service provision and ensure the right type of support is available for veterans at a local level.

"We are creating the UK's first ever data-driven framework for veterans' services, ensuring our resources are channelled to where they're most needed and can make the greatest difference to those who have courageously served their country," Mr Carns added.

Meanwhile, the Office for Veterans' Affairs will double in size, a defence source has told BFBS Forces News.   

This latest policy announcement comes after Sir Keir Starmer's government removed the local connection requirement for veterans seeking social housing and awarded £3.5m of new funding for homelessness services.