Veterans Service & UF Partner Update

Learn more about VALOUR

The Ministry of Defence and Office for Veterans' Affairs have published more information about VALOUR, a new programme giving veterans across the UK easier access to the essential care and support available to them.

Details of the main components of VALOUR, including regional field officers, support centres and how to get involved are now available here.

What's new at Poppyscotland
Poppyscotland has recently refreshed the description of the services the organisation provides to the veterans community – follow this link for updated details: Get help now | Contact us | Poppyscotland

Veterans Mental Health
See Me, the charity working to end mental health discrimination, has published a conversation guide and information about Veterans Mental Health Stigma | End Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination
Check out the guide to find out what you can do to help.

Support the new Armed Forces Covenant
A new toolkit is available for local authorities to help them better support the Armed Forces Community.
Read more and download the toolkit here: New Armed Forces Covenant Toolkit now available - Forces in Mind Trust

Training & Events

Support to reduce gambling harms

The team at the RCA Trust, which works to make people aware of the dangers of gambling, is running an event aimed at engaging with professionals within local authorities who would like to learn more about gambling-harms and how to support people in your community who gamble.

What can we all do to help? What kind of support is there in Scotland for the people affected in your area? Sign up here Driving Change: A Tour to Reduce Gambling Harm Tickets, Wed, Sep 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

Courses with Age Scotland's Dementia team

New workshop dates from June to September 2025 covering around dementia awareness, inclusion, carers training and Dementia Friendly Communities training. More information can be found here: Dementia Training | Age Scotland, or email dementiatraining@agescotland.org.uk

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Course for the Armed Forces Community

Sign up to Glen MacDonald’s course in Grangemouth on September 22 and 23 to become a qualified MHFAider. Email glenmacdonaldmhfa.afc@outlook.com, or call 07871 250654.

Funding Opportunities

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment latest
Following a U-turn by the UK Government, the Scottish Government has announced that that all pensioners in Scotland with an income of less than £35,000 will receive Pension Age Winter Heating Payments of either £203.40 or £305.10 per household.
Click here for more information: Winter Fuel Payment Update | Age Scotland. Also check out The Wise Group – HEAT for help with your energy bills.

AFF Money & Allowances Information

Check out the Army Families Federation page on ‘Money & Allowances’ for useful information on changes in service: Money & Allowances - Army Families Federation

Research & Engagement

Arts, Wellbeing and Ageing

At the autumn 2023 Unforgotten Forces Gathering in Glasgow, Katy Warren gave us a presentation on the role of the arts on health and wellbeing. She is now the co-author of an interesting new article titled Longitudinal Associations Between Cultural Engagement and Mental and Social Well-Being: A Fixed-Effects Analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing | The Journals of Gerontology: Series B | Oxford Academic

Reading Force

The shared-reading charity for the Armed Forces has launched its new Reading and Wellbeing Journal. Using feedback from the Forces community, it keeps track of the books you’re reading, your thoughts and mindfulness activities to nourish your wellbeing.

Free for anyone with a military connection. Organisations supporting veterans can order bulk copies to give out here or contact fiona@readingforce.org.uk for your free copy.