A very positive and productive meeting of Veterans In Custody Support Officers (VICSOs) from across the Scottish prison estate last week.
Great to see so many support organisations including @sacroscotland, @ssafaofficial, @helpforheroes, Vector24, NOVA Scotland, and MOD Veterans Services all working together to support veterans in the justice system and their families.
The meeting was a powerful reminder that giving VICSOs the protected time they need to carry out their roles – as recommended in my 2024 report, Veterans and the Law - is key to sustaining and strengthening that support, and ultimately improving outcomes for those veterans.
7 hours ago
I very much welcome the publication of the National Framework for the Veterans Mental Health & Wellbeing Pathway. This is a significant milestone.
I have consistently advocated for the development and delivery of equitable and effective mental health and wellbeing services for veterans across Scotland. My annual assessment reports have stressed the importance I place on this. This is an issue that is frequently raised with me as I engage with veterans and those that support them. I hope and expect that the phased implementation of the pathway will continue to be a priority in the months ahead. A key principle of the next phase must be ensuring that no veteran in need is left without access to support.
I am committed to doing everything I can to support this important work.
You can find the framework at the link in my bio - Other links 🔗
2 days ago
Last week was Debt Awareness Week, an opportunity to highlight the challenges many face with managing finances, and recognise available support.
My latest blog revisits some of the insights from my Veterans and Finance report and spotlights some of the positive work being done in the money advice sector, including specialist support for veterans affected by money worries, debt, or gambling.
Read more at the link in my bio - SVC news and blogs 🔗
3 days ago
Plenty of considered collaboration took place yesterday at a consultation event in Edinburgh on the delivery of VALOUR - a new national programme led by the UK Government to make it easier for veterans to access the care and support they deserve.
Good to see representatives from Local Authorities, Health Boards, Scottish Government and the charity sector sharing their expertise to help shape the initiative.
Read more about VALOUR at the link in my bio - Other links 🔗
4 days ago
