More than 1.8m veterans across the UK are set to benefit from a new network of local support centres, after the government unveiled a £27m fund to boost services for those who have served in the Armed Forces.
The announcement, made ahead of Armistice Day this week, marks the launch of the first Veterans Strategy in seven years – a plan ministers say will “transform government support for our heroes” and reaffirm the nation’s commitment to those who have defended it.
The strategy, developed alongside the Strategic Defence Review and the Armed Forces Covenant, commits new investment in housing, health, and employment services for veterans. It includes a £12m fund dedicated to tackling homelessness through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme and an extension of Op FORTITUDE, which has already helped house more than 1,000 former service personnel.
At the heart of the initiative is VALOUR, a £50m flagship programme designed to create a coordinated national network of veterans’ support centres. The government confirmed that £27m of that funding is now open for local bids, with the first VALOUR-recognised centres expected to open from spring 2026.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the strategy signalled a “fundamental reset” in how the UK supports its veterans.
“Our nation owes a duty to those who have served, and this new strategy recognises veterans as one of our greatest assets,” he said. “[This] announcement will boost support for veterans across the UK, from better healthcare to housing to jobs. Our message to veterans and the Armed Forces community is simple: we are on your side.”
The local centres, linked to a new VALOUR headquarters within the Ministry of Defence, will serve as a one-stop shop for veterans seeking help. Each hub will offer tailored access to healthcare, housing support, employment advice, and wellbeing services – ensuring veterans can access assistance “when and where they need it”.
Louise Sandher-Jones MP, minister for veterans and people said the strategy had been shaped by veterans themselves.
“Our new Veterans Strategy fundamentally resets how we celebrate and support the remarkable men and women who have served in our Armed Forces,” she said. “[O]rganisations can bid for the first tranche of this funding to become part of a network of support centres across the country – ensuring easier access to assistance for our heroes.”
The strategy positions veterans as “national assets”, whose skills and experience can strengthen communities, boost the economy and enhance national security. It focuses on three key priorities: celebrating those who have served, harnessing veterans’ talents, and ensuring effective support for those who need it.
Vital role
Nick Pope, Chair of Cobseo – the Confederation of Service Charities – welcomed the announcement, describing it as a “reset” in how the country engages with the Armed Forces community.
“There are two key building blocks to this: the Armed Forces Covenant and the Veterans Strategy,” he said. “The charity sector has a vital role in ensuring all members of our community are valued and supported.”
The government said the new approach would ensure veterans’ support was “truly data-driven” and delivered through collaboration between central government, local authorities and the charity sector.
Housing association Riverside runs the Op Fortitude helpline and central referral pathway, the organisation also runs three supported housing schemes for homeless veterans, which will receive money through the Reducing Veterans Homelessness programme.
Lee Buss Blair, the organisation’s director of operations and group veteran lead, said: “We warmly welcome the government’s long-term funding commitment for the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme, and the longer-term funding commitment to Op FORTITUDE. Together these programmes have made a transformational difference to the lives of hundreds of British military veterans.
Blair added: “This longer-term funding agreement is a testament to the hard-work and dedication of our colleagues who are improving the lives of so many veterans and means that they will be able to touch the lives of hundreds more veterans over the next three years.
“Op FORTITUDE and the network of veteran supported housing providers we work with play a vital role in supporting veterans experiencing homelessness to get the help they need and to go on and make the contributions to society that we know veterans are capable of achieving.
“Longer-term funding is hugely important as it provides security for veterans themselves and our colleagues who are providing care and support for veterans affected by homelessness.”
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