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Cash aid for war heroes
02/12/2008
Scotland's war veterans will receive help from 10 new projects.
Visiting Erskine Home for ex-servicemen and women, Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell revealed the first 10 successful applications from the £240,000 Scottish Veterans Fund.
The projects will deliver new or innovative approaches to veterans' issues, or are activities not funded by the Scottish Government or the Ministry of Defence.
Some of the successful projects include:
- First Base Agency in Dumfries will provide counselling and family support for veterans with drug dependency.
- The Lady Haig Poppy factory will install a new ventilation system
- The Scottish Association for Mental Health will produce a guide for those agencies working with Veterans who have mental health difficulties.
- Scottish Veterans Residencies will launch a new one-stop website focussing on housing for Veterans.
Mr Maxwell said:
"This Government is doing all it can to help our war veterans.
"They are heroes and deserve our lasting gratitude for their selfless duty to their country.
"These projects will allow veterans across Scotland to use the skills, experience and confidence gained through their service careers as well as helping them adjust to civilian life."
Veterans issues are a reserved matter for Westminster, but the Scottish Government has responsibility to them in housing, health and social care, education, skills and employability and social inclusion.
Over the next three years the Scottish Veterans Fund will distribute grants for new and innovative projects that assist ex-servicemen personnel and their families.
Scottish Veterans Fund is administered by Veterans Scotland, which assesses each application and makes recommendations to the Scottish Government.