Veterans charities will share more than £2 million in funding from the Scottish Government

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Charities working with ex-forces personnel will share more than £2 million in funding from the Scottish Government.

Veterans minister Keith Brown, who served in the Falklands War in 1982, announced the funding during a debate on veterans’ mental health at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Combat Stress will receive £1.4 million and Veterans First Point is being given £666,000.

Mr Brown said: “In addition to the pressures caused by the pandemic, in August last year the withdrawal from Afghanistan affected veterans across the UK.

Keith Brown was just 19 when he sailed to the South Atlantic with the Royal Marines.Keith Brown was just 19 when he sailed to the South Atlantic with the Royal Marines.
Keith Brown was just 19 when he sailed to the South Atlantic with the Royal Marines.

“We know that veterans’ mental wellbeing services in Scotland received a significant increase in demand from both veterans and family members who are concerned about loved ones.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He welcomed the government’s publication of a new action plan for veterans’ mental health.

Mr Brown was a fresh-faced Royal Marine commando, aged just 19, when he sailed to the Falklands in 1982 following the Argentine invasion of the islands.

He added: “The government endorses the proposal that veterans should be able to access services easily and at the right time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“When they do, those who provide services to veterans should understand their needs.”

Speaking in the debate, Scottish Conservative MSP Craig Hoy said there should be “collective shame” over the mental health issues faced by veterans.

He said: “The Scottish Conservatives will always stand up for our armed forces, some of whom today are headed to eastern Europe to support Nato as it reinforces its eastern flank.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Hoy added: “Let us be in no doubt that the bombs and missiles which accompany the drumbeat of war in mainland Europe today will undoubtedly affect many of our own veterans.

“It will reawaken past trauma and it will open old wounds.”

Scottish Labour’s Paul Sweeney said: “As someone who has been a member of the Army Reserves for over a decade, I know on a deeply personal level the sacrifices members of our armed forces make.

“Their role is a vocation, one which means spending huge periods of time away from family and friends, and one which often leaves them isolated from civilian life.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He called for veterans at risk of suicide to be specifically considered in the government’s upcoming suicide prevention strategy.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.