The new CEO of the Veterans’ Foundation, Jane Gurney, has issued a summer update, outlining her vision for the charity and expressing gratitude to supporters of the Veterans’ Lottery.
Gurney, who took up the post in June 2025, brings more than two decades of experience as the former CEO of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. During her 21 years in that role, she oversaw the transformation of the service into one of the UK’s most advanced pre-hospital care providers.
“I feel incredibly privileged to be leading a charity that supports so many veterans across the UK,” she said. “That experience of growth and real impact is what I now bring to the Veterans’ Foundation, with the aim of helping even more veterans access the support, care, and comradeship they deserve.”
Since its launch in 2016, the Veterans’ Foundation has awarded more than £30 million in grants to over 500 charities across the UK, providing vital support in areas such as mental health, housing, employment and community connection.
Gurney highlighted the Barry Veterans Group as one example of the real-world impact the charity enables. The group hosts weekly breakfast clubs in the Vale of Glamorgan for veterans and their families, offering a welcoming space to connect with others and access advice on issues such as housing and finances.
Addressing Veterans’ Lottery players directly, Gurney said: “This is where your money goes to and the impact is real. I am so proud to now be serving alongside you to help organisations secure the funding they deserve.”
She was joined in the update by Stella Atherstone, the Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer and co-leader, as the organisation looks ahead to a new chapter of growth and outreach.
