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Help for heroes
09/03/2010
Scotland's armed forces veterans will receive help from 11 new projects.
Visiting Erskine Home for ex-service men and women, Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil revealed 11 projects will share a £80,000 fund to help heroes at home in Scotland.
The projects will deliver new or innovative approaches to veterans' issues, or activities not funded by the Scottish Government or the Ministry of Defence.
Successful projects include:
- Erskine - £10,000 - a supported accommodation pilot providing five cottages alongside welfare advice, re-training and employment advice for recently discharged service personnel
- Lady Haig Poppy Factory - £7,000 - a mobile museum tour engaging school children with the importance of the poppy appeal. The mobile museum entertained 1,000 children in 2009 and aims to do the same for 2010
- Poppy Scotland - £7,950 - support for a conference which aims to recruit 10 veteran-friendly employers, creating up to 30 new jobs for veterans
- Mark Wright Project - £10,000 - an outdoor programme in the Lothians, led by qualified outdoor activity specialists, which will help veterans to regain physical and mental strength through a range of outdoor pursuits
- The Thistle Foundation - £10,000 - a lifestyle management course which will help 40 veterans to improve their lives, on a 10-week course
Mr Neil said:
"The Scottish Government is determined to increase support for Scotland's armed forces veterans.
"We will never forget the bravery of our heroes or the debt of gratitude we owe them.
"These projects will allow veterans to use the skills, experience and confidence gained through their service careers as well as helping them adjust to civilian life."
Erskine's Chief Executive Major Jim Panton said:
"I am pleased that Alex Neil paid a visit to the Erskine Edinburgh Home and Personnel Recovery Centre today. I trust he has enjoyed his visit and that he also enjoyed meeting many of our residents. He seemed impressed with our work in caring for the country's veterans.
"I would also like to thank him for the £10,000 grant Erskine has received from the Scottish Veterans Fund which we will use for our Supported Transition Project. This project will see Erskine providing wounded or injured soldiers who are leaving the Forces with housing, employment and training to help ease the transition back into civvy street.
"This could not come at a more important time due to the ongoing operations our Armed Forces are involved in throughout the world. I hope this will encourage the public to donate to our cause in order that we can continue to provide the highest standard of care to veterans for many years to come."
Over three years (2008-2011) the Scottish Veterans Fund is distributing £240,000 worth of grants for new and innovative projects that assist ex-service men and women and their families. £80,000 is being allocated this year (2010).
Scottish Veterans Fund is administered by Veterans Scotland, which assesses each application and makes recommendations to the Scottish Government.