News

April round-up

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.

The next stop was a meeting with the Military Liaison Group at 3 Scots Community Centre, where I heard at first hand the concerns felt by both the serving and the veteran community in Inverness. The co-ordinated efforts of Army Welfare, the Chaplaincy, and Early Years support are delivering excellent services against a background of challenging times. We discussed the importance of all partners working together to ensure the needs of the armed forces community are met in the future.

At NHS Highland I received a welcome update on the Veterans In-Service Injury Network. This service provides independent clinical reviews for veterans in Scotland with service-related injuries or conditions. This model of collaborative working across multiple disciplines is aimed at ensuring that the long-term health effects of service-related conditions are being effectively addressed and offers veterans an opportunity to access the latest treatments and services. The team at NHS Highland also spoke about their growing Armed Forces and Veterans Network, the drive to improve uptake of the GP Recognition Scheme, and their success in engaging with practice managers.

Next was Aurora Energy to learn about their ‘Military to Wind’ training programme. Andy Elrod, Director of Training, introduced the course participants, all of whom were transitioning from Service. This unique course provides training and accreditation for a range of roles within the wind energy sector. Aurora Energy, as holders of a Covenant Gold Award, recognises that those leaving Service offer excellent transferable skills which will be invaluable in the future of sustainable energy. There was also an opportunity to see the trainees undertaking the more practical side of working at height and in adverse weather conditions.

The final stop of the day was at 7 Scots Army Reserve Centre to meet with the veteran support group for addiction recovery. Listening to their stories, as well as hearing from those providing support, was an inspirational and humbling end to the day.

I was delighted to start my second day by joining the Grantown-on-Spey Veterans Club as they marked their second birthday - a fantastic milestone for a group that has become an important part of the local community. Clubs like this play a vital role in tackling isolation, strengthening wellbeing, and creating opportunities for veterans to stay connected long after Service life. The sense of camaraderie, connection, and mutual support in the room was truly special, and it was wonderful to meet so many veterans, families, and supporters who have helped build this welcoming space over the past two years.

While in Speyside, it was inspiring to visit Forces Manor in Kincraig, a remarkable not-for-profit organisation providing Serving personnel and veterans with a comfortable place to stay, whether for adventurous training or much-needed rest and relaxation. I also visited the Speyside Trust’s Badaguish Centre, which offers groups and families a warm welcome in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. On my way home I had the chance to visit some of the local war memorials and you can read more in my blog: Volunteering, Remembrance and the Veteran Community in the Highlands | News | Scottish Veterans Commissioner

Many thanks to everyone for sharing their time, experiences and hospitality so generously.

Borders Veterans’ Big Breakfast

It was a pleasure to join a Borders veterans’ Big Breakfast in Kelso over the Easter weekend, a fantastic gathering that brought together veterans from breakfast clubs right across the region. This was a valuable opportunity to hear directly from veterans living in the Borders, understand their experiences, and learn more about the support that matters most to them. It really was inspiring to see veterans from different parts of the Borders coming together, sharing stories and building connections that strengthen the whole community.

Fighting with Pride

It was a privilege to meet Sharon Pickering, Community Support Worker for Scotland at Fighting With Pride, alongside RAF veteran Gary Wilson, who endured deeply unjust treatment under the pre-2000 LGBT ban. Hearing their personal stories was incredibly moving, and a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of that policy. It also highlighted the challenges LGBT veterans continue to face today.

We talked about the importance of ensuring that support and services for veterans are inclusive, accessible, and truly reflect the diversity of the whole community. As set out in my ‘Community and Relationships: Anything but Uniform’ report, recognising the diversity of the veteran community matters in language, imagery, policy and practice, and it is essential that we don’t reinforce outdated stereotypes. Good services for LGBT+ veterans are not “special treatment”. They are simply welcoming, inclusive, trauma-aware services that treat people with dignity and respect.

New Research on Health Outcomes

A report was published in April, using research carried out by the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) and funded by Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT). The report provides new insights into the distinct health outcomes of former Service personnel in the UK and demonstrates how UK primary care data can be better used to understand the health outcomes of former Service personnel.

The research found that, compared with non-veterans, veterans had more GP consultations and more complete health records for key risk factors. Linked data showed that veterans had a higher prevalence of certain physical conditions, such as musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases, and mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD. Multimorbidity was also almost three times more common for veterans. You can read the full report here: New research uses GP data to uncover health patterns in former Service personnel - Forces in Mind Trust

Pearce Institute Visit

I had a constructive programme of meetings at the Pearce Institute in Govan, beginning with discussions with veterans and the management team at Community Veterans Support. There was a great atmosphere, and it is clear to me how much the veterans enjoy and appreciate their time together at the centre.

I then met with Dr Liz Cameron CBE at the offices of Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, where we heard from the team and had a positive and informative discussion on approaches to supporting small and medium sized enterprises in Scotland to employ veterans. The visit also provided an opportunity to hear more about GHH’s plans, including its role as Scotland’s first VALOUR Recognised Centre.

Edinburgh Employment Fair

It was good to be back at Murrayfield for the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) employment fair, and it was a pleasure to catch up with the CTP team for an update on their work. I had the chance to speak to a range of employers looking to hire ex-military people, because they recognise the valuable skills and attributes that veterans bring to the workplace. Several support organisations such as Housing Options Scotland and SSAFA were also on hand to offer advice.

Scottish Veterans Awards

I ended the month at the wonderful setting of Prestonfield House for the Scottish Veterans Awards. I had the great pleasure of speaking at the event and presenting the award to the winning Veteran Business of the Year, which went to Ignition Medical Solutions. This is an expanding company that provides medical training and operational medical cover and is led by Ieuen Gittings, an ex-military medic who served nearly 10 years in the Royal Navy.

It was a truly inspirational evening and a reminder of the wonderful camaraderie of the veteran community. My congratulations to all the winners and nominees, and thanks to the organisers, staff, volunteers and sponsors. You can read more about the event and award winners here: Welcome to our Winners at this years Scottish Veterans Awards 2026! - The Veterans Awards