Veterans' Services Update

Supporting carers in Scotland’s older ex-Armed Forces community
Webinar 10am-11:30am on Wednesday 12^th June 2024

To mark Carers Week 2024 Unforgotten Forces is hosting a webinar to explore common issues for, and experiences of, older carers, and carers of older people, in the ex-Armed Forces community in Scotland.  Participants will also learn about carers rights, support available to them, and how these rights and support entitlements can be accessed.  Speakers include Patricia Clark, Training and Development Manager at Carers Scotland, and Rachel Davison, Dementia (Carers Rights) Training Officer at Age Scotland.  Book now

Armed Forces Covenant Fund funding framework
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund has announced a 3-year funding framework.  Its underpinning themes are 1) improving quality of life, 2) ensuring that Armed Forces Communities are not disadvantaged, and 3) supporting those in need of special consideration and understanding complex needs and identifying solutions.  Find out more

Veteran suicides report (England and Wales)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published statistics on deaths from suicide in UK armed forces veterans in England and Wales.  Findings include that overall, after accounting for age, there is no evidence of a difference in the rate of suicide between male UK armed forces veterans and the male general population, although male UK armed forces veterans aged 25 to 44 had a higher rate of suicide compared with males aged 25 to 44 in the general population.  Read the report

Partnership in action
Unforgotten Forces partners Fares4Free and DMWS have published a blog highlighting the difference their work in partnership is making to veterans.  Read the blog article

Unforgotten Forces Gathering Conference
There are only a handful of places left for our spring Gathering conference, on Wednesday 15th May at the Norton Park Conference Centre in Edinburgh.  Book your place now.

Communities Round-Up

Fuel and food vouchers to help older people stay warm and well through winter
Age Scotland in partnership with SGN has supported vulnerable older people over winter with an emergency energy and food voucher initiative.  Although it is now spring there are still vouchers to distribute, accessible via Age Scotland helpline 0800 12 44 222.  A £30 credit towards fuel costs, or food costs is available, plus access to the charity’s support services, including energy advice and income maximisation to help older people use energy safely, affordably, and efficiently.  The initiative is open to those aged 50 and over who are registered to a Scottish postal address and eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis.  Find out more

Meeting Centres for people affected by dementia
Meeting Centres are social clubs which offer on-going warm and friendly expert support to people with mild to moderate dementia and their families. They help people to adjust to living with the symptoms and changes that dementia brings.  Originally developed in the Netherlands, Meeting Centres are now growing around the world.  The network in Scotland has launched a website where you can find out about them, including local centres.  Visit the Meeting Centres website

Sight loss councils launched
Sight Scotland, Sight Scotland Veterans, and Visibility Scotland have launched Sight Loss Councils in partnership with Thomas Pocklington Trust.  Sight Loss Councils are regional groups led by blind and partially sighted volunteers that use lived experience to tackle the things that really matter to blind and partially sighted people.  Find out more

Events and Training

Funding

Veterans' Services Update

Unforgotten Forces Gathering Conference- BOOKING OPEN

We’re delighted to confirm key programme details for our spring Gathering conference, Wednesday 15th May at the Norton Park Conference Centre in Edinburgh.

Our morning Keynote speaker is Wendy Human, Chief Executive of Military Wives Choirs, who will speak about singing for wellbeing in the veterans’ community.  Wendy’s presentation will be followed by a performance by a local Military Wives Choir.  In the afternoon our focus is lifelong learning, and we'll hear from Linda Matheson, Vice Chair of U3A Scotland and Alix McDonald and Lynda Scott from the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Strathclyde.

Our breakout session topics will be:

Welcoming diversity and the Pride in Veterans Standard (Led by Fighting in Pride and Age Scotland)

Developing sports opportunities for older veterans and veterans with sight loss (Led by Sight Scotland Veterans)

Intergenerational working with older veterans (Led by Generations Working Together)

Book your place now.

Our magazine spring issue out now

In this issue of Unforgotten Forces magazine you can read about a new initiative to ensure Scotland’s GP services are more responsive to the needs of veterans.  Continuing the health theme, there’s an article on why and how to quit smoking, and a feature on why it’s good to talk about and plan for end-of-life.  We also celebrate diversity in the older veterans’ community with stories about commonwealth, female and LGBT+ veterans.

Read online and request postal copies

Gambling support for the Armed Forces community

The RCA Trust is one of the main gambling treatment providers for Scotland.  Having received funding to operate as part of the Armed Forces Gambling Support Network, it aims to address gambling issues in the veterans’ community through education, prevention and early intervention, family support and community development work to highlight the issues associated with gambling harms in Scotland.  Research suggests veterans are at an increased risk of gambling harms compared to the civilian population.

RCA offers free Bet You Can Help Now Training, which aims to provide knowledge, skills, and attitudes around gambling-related harms, how to start the conversation around gambling and where to signpost for support.

Find out more and request training

To discuss the programme contact Maria Welsh, Training Officer, Gambling. Tel. 0141 887 0880. Email. mwelsh@rcatrust.org.uk.

Improving access to service charities for female veterans

A new independent report from Robert Gordon University commissioned in 2022 by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) explores the potential of improving ex-Servicewomen's access to support services.

Read the blog and report

Research finds specific challenges for non-UK personnel with HM Armed Forces

The ‘Understanding and improving non-UK service and transition in the British Armed Forces’ study found that non-UK personnel face significant issues with their immigration status, resulting in challenges both during and after service. These include the need to meet the Minimum Income Requirement, the impact of visa fees and immigration costs for their family, and the impact of a lack of citizenship on their deployability.

Read the report

Disabled Veterans Scholarships

Veterans who have been injured or disabled in, or because of, military service, can apply for scholarships to complete a full Open University qualification.  The Open University is offering 50 scholarships every year, and all undergraduate and postgraduate modules and qualifications are eligible. Successful applicants can request specialist equipment and disability support to help with their studies.

Find out more

Free social media training for veterans and their partners

BFBS Academy has launched a free course that’s open to veterans, and their partners, offering them the opportunity to upskill in social media marketing techniques.  The course covers platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and LinkedIn. algorithms, along with practical strategies to make content stand out.

Details and application

Scottish Veterans Commissioner blog

The Commissioner, Susie Hamilton, has published a summary of her activities in early months of 2024.

Read the article

Communities Round-Up

One in six Scottish pensioners in poverty

New figures published by the Scottish Government show that one in six Scottish pensioners is living in poverty.

Read the story

Drop in social care packages

Age Scotland has warned that difficulties accessing social care assessment and long waiting times for packages are likely to be behind a significant drop in the numbers of older people receiving social care.

Read the story

Events and Training

Funding

The Veterans’ Foundation

Veterans Mobility Fund

Applications to the reinstated Veterans Mobility Fund are now open.  The £2.52 million fund can support veterans with physical disabilities linked to their service to access mobility equipment.

Details and application

The Veterans’ Foundation

Grants for charities, community interest companies and other organisations delivering charitable activity to support those in need among serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers, and their immediate families.  The grants fund a wide variety of projects including those that reduce homelessness, increase employment, provide welfare and medical support, increase confidence and social integration, as well as reduce dependence on alcohol and drugs.

Details and application

Next deadline:  23rd April 2024 - for a decision in June 2024

Veterans' Services Update

Veterans ‘anything but uninform’ says Commissioner

The Scottish Veterans Commissioner has called for more support for the ‘invisible’ members of the veteran community in her new report: ‘Community and Relationships – Anything But Uniform’. The report puts the spotlight on those whose voices are less often heard in the military community including women veterans, the LGBT+ community, families, the bereaved, and non-UK veterans.
Read the report
Read the Commissioner’s blog
Watch case study videos

Research report puts veterans needs in family context

The final report of the UK Veterans Family Study is now available. The study explored psychological health, wellbeing, and social support among UK veteran families. It found good wellbeing overall in veterans’ families and highlighted key risk factors and barriers to accessing services among more vulnerable families.
Read the report

Veterans invited to apply for HM Armed Forces Veteran Card

Veterans who left the UK Forces before December 2018 can now apply for a HM Armed Forces Veteran Card. The card will help veterans verify their status and make it easier to access support services.
Apply online
Apply by phone via Veterans UK Helpline 0808 1914 218

Action for LGBT+ veterans

The UK Government is encouraging LGBT+ veterans affected by the ‘gay ban’ in the Armed Forces prior to 2000 to apply for restorative measures following the Etherton Review.
How to apply

Meanwhile campaigners are pressing the UK Government to accelerate compensation for these veterans.
See BBC website story

The UK Government has now confirmed that it will fund a LGBT+ Armed Forces memorial and is inviting organisations to bid to oversee the memorial’s design and construction.
View webpage

The RAF Benevolent Fund has announced a new LGBTQ+ telephone friendship groups service. To find out more about this service email support@rafbf.org.uk.

Experiences of moral injury in UK military veterans

New research by Combat Stress and The King’s Centre for Military Health Research looks at experiences that could lead to moral injury and the impact that moral injury can have on veterans. Findings include that veterans who reported experiencing a morally injurious event were significantly more likely to meet the criteria for PTSD, depression, and anxiety than those who hadn’t.
Read the report

Unforgotten Forces Gathering 15th May - booking open soon

A reminder that our next Unforgotten Forces Gathering conference, for professionals and volunteers who support older veterans in Scotland, will be on Wednesday 15th May at the Norton Park conference centre in Edinburgh. We're busy finalising our programme and will include a booking link in the March issue of this bulletin.

Communities Round-Up

An action plan for dementia

The Scottish Government has launched a 2-year dementia strategy delivery plan. This follows publication last year of the 10-year strategy to ensure that every person living with dementia receives the care and support they deserve.
Read the plan
Read Age Scotland commentary

Poverty amongst older private tenants

A report by charity Independent Age has highlighted increasing levels of poverty amongst older private tenants.
Read the story

Events and Training

Funding

The Veterans’ Foundation

Grants for charities, community interest companies and other organisations delivering charitable activity to support those in need among serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers, and their immediate families. The grants fund a wide variety of projects including those that reduce homelessness, increase employment, provide welfare and medical support, increase confidence and social integration, as well as reduce dependence on alcohol and drugs.
Details and application
Next deadline: 23rd April 2024 - for a decision in June 2024

Veterans' Services Update

Our next Unforgotten Forces Gathering conference, for professionals and volunteers who support older veterans in Scotland, will be on Wednesday 15th May at the Norton Park conference centre in Edinburgh. Programme and booking information will be available soon and shared in this bulletin.

Erskine goes north and expands support for hearing loss

Erskine has announced plans to establish a veterans activity centre in Forres, Moray. CEO Ian Cumming said "We intend to transform the Victoria Hotel into a Veterans Activities Centre, in the mould of our flagship centre in the Erskine Veterans Village in Bishopton, Renfrewshire. Here, Veterans of all ages can benefit from learning new skills and hobbies, building new support networks, and staying active – with a hot meal, tea, coffee, and friendly banter always readily available. Read the story.

Erskine has also announced it will extend its support for veterans with mild to sever hearing loss and tinnitus over the next two years, visiting multiple veterans support locations across the central belt on a rolling basis. It will offer hearing screening, hearing aid maintenance and support; advice on useful equipment to improve everyday life; and support before and after hearing aids have been fitted. This programme is grant supported by The Veterans’ Foundation.

Addiction recovery arts and veterans

The UK-wide Addiction Recovery Arts Network has recently published a newsletter that focuses on Veterans’ projects. Read it here.

Black and minority ethnic veterans

The number of minority ethnic ex-Service in the UK Armed Forces is growing year on year. A report commissioned by Forces in Mind Trust has looked at what research says about their distinctive needs. Read the report.

Scottish Veterans Awards open for applications

The Scottish Veterans Awards are open to all Armed Forces Veterans, serving reservists and those organisations / companies that support the veterans’ community in Scotland. For 2024 a new Award ‘Veterans Group of the Year’ has been introduced. Closing date 23rd February 2024. Find out more here.

A lived experience network for the RAF family

The RAF Benevolent Fund has established a ‘Lived Experience Network’ to increase the inclusion of the RAF Family in its work. The network is a group of volunteers across the UK that the Fund will call upon for their insights as part of the RAF Family. Ways in which network members may be asked to help include completing surveys, joining focus groups and participating in a long-term working group for an internal project - all doable from home. To find out more email volunteering@rafbf.org.uk.

Communities Round-Up

Food and fuel vouchers

A new emergency energy and food voucher initiative to support Scotland's most vulnerable older people. Through the charity’s free national helpline, 0800 12 44 222, expert advisers will identify those most in need in order to provide crisis support. winter has been launched by Age Scotland in partnership with SGN. Find out more

New dementia training for groups and services

Age Scotland has added to its suite of dementia-focused training with new short courses on and ‘Planning and running dementia inclusive activities,’ ‘Becoming a dementia friendly community,’ and ‘young onset dementia.’ These online events will take place on the afternoons of 6th, 19th and 29th February. Details and booking.

Age Scotland has also published 2024 editions of its dementia advice guides, these covering ‘what is dementia’, ‘risk reduction’, ‘living well’, ‘caring for someone with early-stage dementia,’ and ‘dementia and the workplace.’ Read and request guides.

Events and Training

Funding

The Veterans’ Foundation

Grants for charities, community interest companies and other organisations delivering charitable activity to support those in need among serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers, and their immediate families. The grants fund a wide variety of projects including those that reduce homelessness, increase employment, provide welfare and medical support, increase confidence and social integration, as well as reduce dependence on alcohol and drugs.

Details and application

Next deadline: 23rd April 2024 - for a decision in June 2024