Support for the Veterans and Armed Forces Community 2022

Key Highlights

Collaboration and coordination

The Scottish Government continues to fund the Unforgotten Forces Consortium and has contributed £250,000 per year from 2020-21 until 2022-23 to support their work in improving the health, wellbeing and quality of life for older veterans in Scotland.

A new Scottish Veterans Commissioner was recruited and started in August.

The 2022-23 Scottish Veterans Fund pot increased to £500,000 per annum. The priorities this year were projects offering support to Early Service Leavers and projects encouraging collaborative working in the veterans community.

Data

Scotland’s 2022 Census included for the first time a question on former Service in the Armed Forces. Scottish Government are now discussing with National Records of Scotland and stakeholders the outputs required from this question.

The three Scottish Government major household surveys have included the veterans Census question in their current sweeps and their findings will be available at varying points during mid-to late-2023. This will improve our understanding of the profile, circumstances and needs of veterans in Scotland which in turn will help inform policy and services.

Perception and Recognition

The Scottish Government worked with Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland to fund the delivery of a national event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War in June 2022.

Community and Relationships

An updated version of Welcome to Scotland was published in April 2022 following extensive consultation with Military, third sector and public sector organisations.

The Scottish Veterans Fund has provided funding to a number of projects which provide support to veterans to integrate into the local community.

Employment, Education and Skills

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership’s (SCQFP) qualifications and skills mapping tool went live in February 2022. The Scottish Government will provide a further £13,500 of funding this year to support the ongoing development of the tool.

The Scottish Government, through phase 2 delivery of No One Left Behind, continues to offer employment support services for those facing significant challenges when leaving the Armed Forces

The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the number of veterans it employs and continues to explore a number of ways to achieve this. Since 2021 at least 34 veterans have joined the Scottish Government.

Finance and Debt

Adult Disability Payment launched in August this year. The application form asks clients about their possible entitlement to Armed Forces Independence Payment, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement and War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance.

Social Security Scotland are collaborating with the Department of Work and Pensions on an event for Armed Forces Champions based within Scotland, to promote all the benefits currently delivered by Social Security Scotland.

Health and Wellbeing

The Veteran Mental Health & Wellbeing Action Plan published in December 2021 and the Scottish Government has established an Implementation Board for the Plan.

The Scottish Government continued to fund Combat Stress and Veterans First Point during 2022-23.

Making a Home in Civilian Society

The Veterans Homelessness Prevention Pathway was published on 25 January 2022.

We continue to support Housing Options Scotland to provide its Military Matters project.

We continue to provide funding through our affordable housing supply programme to deliver homes specifically for veterans where Local Authorities identify this as a strategic priority.