The Ministry of Defence has launched VALOUR, a new £50 million nationwide veterans support network, and is calling on Welsh organisations to apply for funding to join the system as it expands across the UK.
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs has already committed £13 million to 14 organisations across the UK, with funding of between £200,000 and £1 million available for additional organisations to join. An estimated 115,000 veterans in Wales stand to benefit from the network, which coordinates access to support across health, housing, employment and wider community services.
What VALOUR Delivers
The VALOUR system goes beyond a funding programme. Alongside recognised support centres, the network includes a headquarters within the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, field officers to develop local networks, increased capacity for MoD Veterans Services and an online support platform. The system is designed to share data and improve connections between UK government, local councils, voluntary organisations and service providers, addressing the fragmentation that has historically made it difficult for veterans to navigate the support available to them.
One of the first Welsh organisations to secure funding is Bulldogs Boxing and Community Activities in Baglan, Neath Port Talbot, which provides sport and community activities for local veterans. Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens visited the centre on 14 May to see its work firsthand, describing it as providing “fantastic services to veterans.”
Stevens said: “We have around 115,000 veterans in Wales and they all deserve the very best support. We are opening up further funding to boost this support still further and I encourage more organisations to apply.”
Who Should Apply
The call is open to existing veterans support centres, voluntary organisations and local councils across Wales. Funding of between £200,000 and £1 million is available per organisation, with applications invited this spring.
VALOUR sits within the government’s 10-year Veterans Strategy, which frames veterans as a national asset and commits to celebrating and supporting those who have served while helping them contribute to their communities and the wider economy.
The Supply Chain Angle
For the defence supply chain community, the VALOUR launch is a reminder of the breadth of the defence ecosystem beyond procurement and hardware. The veteran workforce represents a significant and skilled talent pool for defence industry employers, and organisations that engage with VALOUR-recognised centres, whether through employment pathways, skills programmes or community partnerships, are investing in a workforce pipeline that carries directly relevant experience and qualifications.
With the defence sector facing a growing skills challenge and the MoD committed to creating 22,000 apprenticeships and 9,000 graduate roles in defence nuclear alone by 2034, the connection between veteran support networks and industry recruitment pipelines is one that forward-thinking employers are increasingly making explicit.
Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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