The Scottish Veterans Fund is awarded to projects improving the lives of veterans and their families including with financial support, mental and physical health challenges and employment.

This time, for the first time, it be split into two funding streams. One will welcome bids for projects for up to three years which focus on supporting veterans and their families, and the other will prioritise small-scale, one year projects, particularly those which bring together veterans and serving communities.

Since the Scottish Government created the Fund in 2008 over 220 individual projects have been supported, receiving more than £2.8 million. This year 14 organisations across Scotland have shared £460,000 in funding.

Veterans Minister Graeme Dey said:

“Scottish veterans have provided a valuable service to their country and returning to civilian life can be challenging for many, impacting families in ways that can be difficult to navigate alone.

“The Scottish Veterans Fund has supported thousands of veterans and their families since its launch in 2008. Next year’s fund will continue to provide much-needed targeted support for our Armed Forces and veterans community, prioritising projects that address recommendations made by the Scottish Veterans Commissioner and bring together both veterans and serving communities.

Applications close on 5 December 2025.

Click on the following links to find out more and to apply:

Scottish Veterans Fund – Main Funding Stream

Scottish Veterans Fund – Small Funding Streams

Scottish Veterans Commissioner Susie Hamilton, who chairs the independent panel that assesses bids for the Fund, said:

“I hope to see many of the commendable projects delivering that expert help come forward for funding.”

Organisations and projects successful from the £460,000 Scottish Veterans Fund for 2024-25 included:

• Community Veterans Support – £19,927 for Warmer, Healthier, Safer Veterans – extend “Warmer Spaces” provision for veterans into evenings and weekends, including food, peer support and financial advice.
• Erskine – £13,450 for One-Stop-Shop – extend provision of tailored financial advocacy, guidance and support to veterans through Erskine’s One Stop Shop.
• Fighting with Pride – £49,822 for the Journey Home Project in Scotland – fund the introduction and development of the Veterans Standard Manager role in Scotland to build the community of LGBT veterans in Scotland and support developing capacity in services that can support that community.
• FirstLightTrust – £27,500 for Supporting the support – introduce a new support worker for their Hawick Hub to help develop support pathways for veterans impaired by physical or psychological trauma.
• Forces Children Scotland – £38,624 for Future Transitions | Financial Education for Civilian Life – develop a bespoke financial education service to support children, young people and parents in making the transition from military to civilian life.
• Forces Employment Charity – £50,000 for Early Service Leavers – Scotland Co-Ordinator – continue pilot scheme from 2022-23, which introduced an Early Service Leavers co-ordinator for Scotland to provide dedicated employment support for this vulnerable cadre.
• Lothian Veterans Centre – £24,703 for Warm Welcome for veterans and their families – provide support in current cost of living crisis by opening warm hub for veterans and their families to provide food, heating and social interaction in a location that can provide onward access to other support.
• Military Wives Choir – £40,000 for Supporting our Hidden Community – enhance level of support given to members in Scotland and to reach and recruit more members amongst women whose lives are currently impacted by their connection to the military.
• On Course Foundation – £16,344 for Golf skills and employment programme – deliver a sustainable golf skills and employment programme with confidence building events, peer networking and employment experience and opportunities.
• Salute my Job – £41,700 for Career Jumpstart Programme – the Career Jumpstart Project is a development of projects to reskill jobseekers from Armed Forces community to realign and develop their military and security experience for employment in roles in greatest demand in public, private and third sector.
• Scotland Bravest Manufacturing Company – £50,000 for Enhanced Manufacturing Traineeship – provide opportunities for early service leavers and other veterans to obtain qualifications and sustainable employment with the support of a qualified trainer.
• Scottish Veterans Residences – £43,624 for Occupational Therapy to Improve Veterans’ Health and Wellbeing – employ a full time occupational therapist to support Veterans’ physical and mental health recovery and rehabilitation through the use of a holistic and biophysical approach.
• SSAFA – £10,000 for Professional Support to Relieve the Cost of Living Crisis – partly fund the employment of a Regional Casework manager to better manage workload of case workers in Scotland in order to provide a more agile and individualised response to veterans.
• Thistle Health and Wellbeing – £34,130 for Meaningful Connections – support 150 veterans and their families across Scotland who have been severely impacted by long term conditions, particularly early service leavers, medically discharged veterans and those with mental health needs.

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