Funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund will boost support for veteran communities across the South East region

Veterans Outreach Support (VOS)  has been awarded £766,000 of funding by the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund’s (AFCFT) Thrive Together  programme (formerly Veterans Places, Pathways and People – VPPP) to further develop support to meet the diverse needs of veteran communities who live across the United Kingdom, along with nine other regional partners across the nation.

VOS is the portfolio lead for ‘Partnership in Mind’, its name for the programme that sits under the umbrella Thrive Together in the South East of England. This programme, like others, will build upon the success of the original VPPP programme that ran from 2021-2023.

During this second phase of the programme which will run until March 2027, ‘Partnership In Mind’ will develop a sustainable, inclusive and collaborative network across the South East of England with the common goal of improving access to support for veterans through a truly ‘no wrong door’ approach, and an emphasis on supporting the families and carers of veterans, as well as other harder to reach groups. 

General Lord David Richards of Herstmonceux, GCB CBE DSO DL, President of VOS said: 

“We owe our armed forces a huge amount and our veteran communities deserve access to tailored assistance that best meets their individual needs. VOS is honoured to have been awarded this additional funding. It will help us to further develop resilient networks of support for veterans, their families and carers across the region. 

We will engage with a great number of partners in the statutory, voluntary and commercial sectors to achieve a robust network that can effectively support veterans, their families and carers, regardless of their location.”

As part of reviewing the first phase of this programme, VOS undertook a wide-ranging public consultation last year (April-September) to gather the views of those seeking support, as well as those providing it. The results highlighted the need to increase awareness and to reduce stigma, so more people would feel free to ask for help and know how and where to access support. 

The findings also reflected the need to adopt a holistic approach to providing person -centred physical and mental health support for veterans’ families and carers, female veterans, those transitioning from service to civilian life, LGBTQ+ and other minority veteran groups.

As part of the delivery of this project, collaboration will help to improve sharing of training resources, information and best practice with improved signposting mechanisms and will help identify and establish referral pathways with strong links to statutory, voluntary partners and others involved in providing support to those who have served.

Ian Millen, CEO VOS said: 

“We see many veterans here at VOS and across the region struggling with a range of challenges, from debt, housing, and mental health problems, to addictions, physical health issues and, sometimes loneliness and isolation. 

This programme will build upon VPPP, enabling greater access for veterans to employment opportunities, education, financial advice, wellbeing support, housing, and many other areas of service and support – helping to find solutions to challenges that can adversely affect their quality of life and mental health and wellbeing.

If veterans are struggling, it can have an adverse impact on their families and often, they do not know where to turn to for support. We will have a particular focus on families and carers, as well as female veterans and other minority veteran groups by developing supportive pathways of care, in recognition of the great contribution they make to our nation. 

By working collaboratively with partners in all spheres, we will communicate and educate and build capacity, sharing expertise and resources to improve and extend integrated care pathways for all veteran communities across the South East region. We will turn best practice into common practice.” 

Anna Wright, CEO Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust stated: 

“We are looking forward to working with VOS again and its portfolio members to improve the lives of veterans and their families in the South East. Funding this portfolio of work will mean that veterans can get help at the point that they need it, from those best placed to deliver these services. 

The benefit of organisations working together will improve the process of sharing information, best practice and referral pathways, establishing links with local councils, the NHS, other voluntary sector organisations and those involved in providing support to those who have served to allow them to live their lives to the full.”