Veterans' Services Update

LGBT Financial Recognition (FR) Scheme for Veterans

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the lifting of the ban on gay servicemen and women in the UK and the government has announced details of the LGBT FR scheme for veterans.

The scheme is open for applications until 11.59pm on the 12th of December 2026. Full details are available at Veterans of the LGBT Ban: Financial Recognition Scheme - GOV.UK and the Fighting With Pride (FWP) website has been updated with an overview, links and notes - FWP Overview – LGBT Financial Recognition (FR) Scheme.

Together with FWP, we are revising our joint Support for Older LGBT+ Veterans in Scotland guide, with a view to publishing the updated guide at the end of February 2025.

Communities Round-Up

Unforgotten Forces Welcomes a New Team Member 

We are happy to welcome Laila Henke as the new UF Training and Engagement Officer, stepping into the role previously held by Doug Anthoney. Laila will be working alongside Frank and Karina, contributing to our ongoing engagement. Let’s extend a warm welcome as she begins this new chapter with us.

At this point, we would like to thank Doug again for his great commitment and dedication to the Unforgotten Forces over the last years.

New strategy for Sight Scotland Veterans

A three-year strategy for Sight Scotland Veterans and Sight Scotland has been launched. You can read more here: Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans’ strategy.

Armistice Gathering

Congratulations to the ILM Highland on hosting a successful Armistice Gathering on November 11, 2024. Well done to everyone involved in this gathering.

Looking for a Shed?

The Scottish Men’s Sheds website now has a Find a Shed Map which will give you contact details, location, and information about Sheds across Scotland. https://scottishmsa.org.uk/. 

Training & Events

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

For those interested in mental health, a MHFA course with Armed Forces community content will be in Grangemouth on March 10 and 11. Please contact Glen MacDonald for more information glenmacdonaldmhfa.afc@outlook.com.

Unforgotten Forces Regional Forums

UF is inviting staff and volunteers who support older veterans in Scotland to take part in its regional forums. Forum events take place every four months for West, East, North and North-east of Scotland, with options to join online or in person.

To sign up, please email veteransproject@agescotland.org.uk.

• North Region Forum, Thursday 20th February 2025. 2.00pm – 3.30pm
  Online plus in person in Inverness – venue to be confirmed
  
• Northeast Region Forum, Thursday 27th February 2025. 2.00pm – 3.30pm
  Online plus in person at Aberdeen CAB

Age Scotland Dementia Training

Carers Training

An Introduction to Residential Care Costs, Thursday 27th February, 10am - 11.30am (Online)

Veterans Peer Group Inverclyde

The venue is 71/2 John Wood Street in Port Glasgow. For more information contact petermcdonald335@btinternet.com. Bring yourself, banter and comradery.

• Tuesday, 11th of March 2025 - 6pm
• Tuesday, 8th April 2025 - 6pm
• Tuesday, 13th of May 2025 - 6pm

Veterans Tribe Scotland events

Events and activities for VTS veterans and family members and non-members. If you would like to attend an event or activity, please email Gerry McGregor at 
gerry.mcgregor@veteranstribescotland.co.uk, with the following details:

Name
Veteran or family member 
Email address
Where you live
Where you saw details about the event

Cyber Security Courses

Pathways Employment Programme are running courses open to regular and reserves in the UK Armed Forces, veterans, cadet Instructors and spouses.

Courses are free and no experience or qualifications required – just an open mind, competent IT skills and a willingness to learn new things.

Studying is online. More information can be found here Pathways | Employment Programmes - SaluteMyJob.

Funding

Energise Funding Programme for Charities

The Energise programme provides unrestricted funding and has two funding tiers based on the income of charities - charities with an income of below £50k are eligible for £20k (£10k per year over 2 years) and charities with an income of £50k-£150k are eligible for £40k (£20k per year over 2 years). The application deadline is 12pm on June 11, 2025, more information can be found here Bank of Scotland Foundation

Research & Engagement

Call for Participants – WE-EngAGE project

Are you aged 55+? Living in the UK and keen to support new research?

The WE-EngAGE project  is exploring the role of leisure activities, such as clubs, arts, culture, sports and wellbeing, and are looking for participants to join their study.

Please click here for more information and to complete the short online survey.

You can also participate in an online group discussion, contact WeEngAGE@ed.ac.uk for more information and are welcome to share this with anyone who know who might be interested

International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) – Digital Archive

This great project by IBCC, is creating an extensive repository of personal stories of those who served during WWII, including one of the biggest collections of eyewitness testimonies to ensure that the story of the Command and the bombing campaign is preserved in perpetuity.

If you served between 1946-1968 and would like to share stories for the post-war archive, please contact the Collections team here.

If you have stories, documents or photographs that you would like to be preserved and included in the archive please contact them for an appointment on collections@internationalbcc.co.uk or call on 01522 514755

Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) Research Centre

You can read this Forces in Mind article about Chronic pain among UK ex-Service personnel to gain a better understanding and guide support for veterans. They have further released Research and Policy Practice summaries which provide a synopsis of current evidence about post-service employment.

Energise Funding Programme for Charities

The Energise programme provides unrestricted funding and has two funding tiers based on the income of charities - charities with an income of below £50k are eligible for £20k (£10k per year over 2 years) and charities with an income of £50k-£150k are eligible for £40k (£20k per year over 2 years). The application deadline is 12pm on June 11, 2025, more information can be found here Bank of Scotland Foundation