A new national network of veterans support centres is set to launch as part of the government’s first Veterans Strategy in seven years. The plan will see £27 million made available for local bids, with the centres providing coordinated access to health, housing, employment, and welfare services for ex-service personnel and their families.
The announcement marks a major expansion of the VALOUR initiative – a £50 million programme designed to connect veteran support services under one system. The centres will form part of a wider restructuring of how government and local authorities deliver support to the Armed Forces community, with a new headquarters established within the Ministry of Defence.
Transforming how veterans access support
The new strategy is described as a “fundamental reset” in how the UK supports veterans, with the aim of making it easier to access services through a single point of contact. Regional centres and field officers will work directly with communities, while local organisations will be able to apply for funding to become recognised VALOUR centres.
Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones MP said the strategy represented “a new chapter” in how veterans are supported. “At the core of this plan is VALOUR – a nationwide network ensuring veterans can access the help they need, when and where they need it,” she said. “This strategy has been shaped by the very people it seeks to serve.”
The government has also committed an additional £12 million to veteran homelessness initiatives, extending both the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme and Op FORTITUDE, which has already helped more than 1,000 veterans into stable accommodation.
A renewed focus on recognition and opportunity
The new Veterans Strategy aligns with the Armed Forces Covenant and the government’s wider Plan for Change, recognising veterans as “national assets” whose skills strengthen communities and the economy. Its three main priorities are celebrating service, harnessing veterans’ skills, and ensuring effective support for those who need it.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “Our nation owes a duty to those who have served, and this new strategy recognises veterans as one of our greatest assets. Today’s announcements will boost support across the UK, from better healthcare to housing and jobs.”
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander MP added that the strategy underscored the UK government’s commitment to veterans in all nations of the UK, including the 176,000 living in Scotland.
Partnership approach across government and charities
The strategy was developed alongside the Strategic Defence Review and with input from devolved governments, veterans, and organisations in the public, private, and charity sectors. It aims to unify existing services under a consistent framework while maintaining flexibility for local delivery.
Nick Pope, chair of Cobseo – the Confederation of Service Charities – welcomed the announcement, calling it “a reset in how we engage with the Armed Forces community”. He said the charity sector would play a central role in delivering the strategy’s ambitions: “The Armed Forces Covenant and this new strategy are the building blocks for enabling a thriving Armed Forces community that is valued and supported by society.”
The first VALOUR-recognised centres are expected to open in spring 2026, offering veterans a coordinated route to advice, housing, healthcare, and employment support across the UK.
