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