Scottish Veterans Commissioner | News

SVC publishes annual progress report 2026

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:57:00 +0100

Scottish Veterans Commissioner disappointed by limited activity as she publishes 2026 Progress Report

Scottish Government urged to speed up help for those who served

August round-up

Site administrator — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0100

Defence Gardens Scheme

It was a pleasure to join Service Leavers, veterans, family members and support providers at the Defence Gardens Scheme’s Cultivate and Connect course this month. Hosted at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, this is a collaborative initiative that brings together veterans, serving personnel, and armed forces families through horticulture, wellbeing, and shared learning in a world-class setting.

July round-up

Site administrator — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0100

Officers’ Association Scotland Podcast

I really enjoyed speaking with Jane Burns on ‘From Combat Boots to Business Suits’ about my personal journey from military service to public service. We also discussed how government, charities and employers can work together to improve outcomes for veterans and service leavers across Scotland and beyond.

Veterans and Employment – Harnessing a Valuable Resource

Site administrator — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0100

In June, I published my latest report on Veterans and Employment. It was an opportunity to revisit an issue examined by previous Commissioners and assess what has changed, what is working, and where further progress is needed. This comes at a time when rapid technological change, evolving skills requirements and economic uncertainty are reshaping the labour market.

June round-up

Site administrator — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:49:00 +0100

Report Publication – Veterans and Employment

I was pleased to publish my latest review report in June. I had felt it was timely to return to the important area of employment, building on the work of my predecessors who had both undertaken detailed work on employability, skills and learning. They had each made a number of recommendations that had been accepted by the Scottish Government and which are assessed in my annual progress reports.

May round-up

Site administrator — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0100

Scottish Government Minister for Veterans

Jamie Hepburn MSP has been appointed as the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans in the new Scottish Government. Mr Hepburn has been an MSP since 2007 and now represents the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency.

Connected for Life: The Power and Benefits of Shared Experience

Site administrator — Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:00 +0100

I recently had the privilege of participating in the 80th Anniversary of the Edinburgh Branch of the Association of Wrens. Marking this significant milestone provided an opportunity to reflect on the strength of connection, continuity and mutual support that has endured across generations.

April round-up

Site administrator — Tue, 05 May 2026 09:18:00 +0100

Highland Visit

I had the privilege of visiting a range of organisations providing support to the veteran community in Inverness and Strathspey. In the first of two days of visits, I met with Councillor Morven Reid and Gordon Morrison at Highland Council. Morven has recently been appointed as the new Armed Forces and Veterans Champion. It was interesting to hear of the variety of services and support available to veterans and their families across this vast region covering issues such as housing, education and employment.

Volunteering, Remembrance and the Veteran Community in the Highlands

Site administrator — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:14:00 +0100

Volunteering within the veteran community in Scotland is not only about practical support; it is also about Remembrance, respect and preserving shared history. In the Highlands, Remembrance runs deep, reflected in longstanding traditions and powerful memorials that honour both local and international sacrifice.

March round-up

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:12:00 +0100

Successful Scottish Veterans Fund projects announced

The projects set to benefit from a share of the £600,000 Scottish Veterans Fund 2026-27 were announced, with the successful initiatives spanning the length and breadth of Scotland, and covering areas such as housing, health and wellbeing, finance, and justice.

Reflections from Debt Awareness Week

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:59:00 +0000

Last week was Debt Awareness Week, offering an important opportunity to highlight the challenges many individuals face in managing their finances, and to recognise the support available in this area.

January and February Round-up

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:57:00 +0000

Care After Combat

The SVC office was represented at a moving and informative event at Trades House in Glasgow, presented by Care After Combat, members of Thrive Together. The session provided valuable insight into the charity’s work to support veterans in prison and within the wider criminal justice system.

Empowering veterans to thrive in business

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:14:00 +0000

Last month I had the honour of attending the Scottish Forces in Business Awards – a highlight in the calendar year for the veteran community.

December round-up

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:25:00 +0000

Grief Awareness Week

The month of December began with Grief Awareness Week - a time to promote better understanding of the impact of grief and raise awareness of available support.

Supporting the Bereaved Community

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Since becoming Scottish Veterans Commissioner three years ago, one of my key priorities has been to shine a light on the members of the veteran community whose voices are less often heard.

November round-up

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:29:00 +0000

Scotland’s Housing Network Annual Gathering

It was a privilege to speak at Scotland’s Housing Network Annual Gathering, where I was joined by Kevin McLeod from Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR). Kevin shared a powerful and deeply personal account that resonated strongly with all who attended. His experience underscored the challenges some veterans face when securing stable housing, and highlighted the importance of identifying veterans and understanding their unique needs and experiences in a housing and homelessness prevention context.

Joint Statement on Legacy, from the Veterans Commissioners for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 18:19:00 +0000

We have spent the period since the First Reading of the Bill engaging with the Government on behalf of the veteran community to express the level of anger and frustration that the implications of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill raises for those that served during Operation Banner.

October round-up

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:13:00 +0000

Cycling Without Age Scotland

I joined Veterans Minister Graeme Dey for the launch of Cycling Without Age Scotland’s (CWAG) new branch at Scottish Veterans Residences’ Whitefoord House. CWAG provides opportunities for people with limited mobility or those facing isolation to get outdoors and enjoy social interaction and camaraderie. It was a pleasure to spend some time speaking with residents, SVR staff, and the dedicated CWAG volunteers.

Reflecting on a decade of progress

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:49:00 +0100

Publishing this year’s Progress Report represented a significant milestone - for the first time since these reports began, no recommendations have been rated red. That means there is evidence of progress being made across every area under review – as the breadth of policy and service areas assessed continues to grow each year.

September round-up

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:38:00 +0100

Progress Report 2025

I launched my 2025 assessment of Scottish Government progress on implementing SVC recommendations. For the first time, no recommendations are rated red. While this is encouraging, I remain focused on ensuring that activity translates into meaningful outcomes for the veteran community in Scotland.