Guidance

Office for Veterans' Affairs information booklet (HTML)

Published 19 June 2023

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

© Crown copyright 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/about-ova-booklet/office-for-veterans-affairs-information-booklet-html

Foreword from the Prime Minister

My ambition here is very simple: I want to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran.

I visit our armed forces as often as I can – in Catterick Garrison in my constituency, around the country and overseas – and I know that these courageous men and women represent the very best of our country. They deserve our full support to thrive in civilian life and to continue contributing their incredible skills to the prosperity of our country. I’m proud that through the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and a dedicated Veterans’ Minister in Cabinet, we are doing more than ever before to make this ambition a reality.


The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP
Prime Minister

About the Office for Veterans’ Affairs

We lead UK government efforts to make sure the UK is the best place in the world to be a veteran, helping the nation fulfil its duty to people who have served in the armed forces.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) is a part of the Cabinet Office, which sits at the heart of government. Work supporting veterans is the responsibility of the whole of government, and this central position for the OVA enables us to co-ordinate functions that work to ensure the best support for veterans and their families.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs attends Cabinet. This ensures that veterans’ interests are championed at the top table among those leading our country and making the decisions that affect people’s daily lives.

Although veterans share the experience of having served in the armed forces, they are civilians, needing access to civilian support and contributing to the life of our whole society.

From the heart of the UK government, we work with devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, local government, charities and businesses to help veterans when they need it and enabling them to continue to make brilliant contributions to society after leaving the armed forces.

Our priorities

We are committed to delivering the Strategy for Our Veterans. Our priorities through to 2024 include:

  1. Transforming services for veterans and their families to ensure they work better for those who need them, and ensuring a high standard of support across the UK.

  2. Maximising employment and education opportunities to help veterans thrive in civilian life.

  3. Recognising the contribution all veterans have made and addressing the historic disadvantage that some have experienced.

  4. Ensuring better data for understanding and supporting the veteran community.

Support for veterans

Our Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022 to 2024 sets out over 60 commitments. Our activity includes:

Mental and physical health

Op COURAGE provides a bespoke mental health pathway in England, and has had over 27,000 referrals.

Over 140 NHS England Trusts are ‘Veteran Aware’, with specialist trained staff, and over 2,000 GP surgeries are accredited ‘veteran-friendly’.

Veterans Trauma Network delivers comprehensive medical care to veterans with physical health problems.

Op NOVA provides crucial support to veterans in the criminal justice system.

£3 million to support veterans with mobility issues.

Housing

Op FORTITUDE hotline supports veterans at risk of homelessness to help end veteran rough sleeping.

£20 million allocated to the Veteran Capital Housing Fund for new and refurbished housing.

Up to £8 million fund for services in veteran supported housing.

Improving services

Reviewing provision and driving improvements in welfare services for veterans.

Rolling out veterans’ ID through a new digital veteran status verification system and application process.

Providing funding

£10 million each year to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for UK-wide projects.

£5 million Health Innovation Fund for research and cutting-edge technology trials to address complex healthcare needs.

£5 million Afghanistan Veterans Fund to charities to support veterans of recent conflicts.

£1 million in funding for new digital service

Maximising opportunities

Over 10,000 organisations signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Over 640 Gold Award Defence Employer Recognition Scheme employers.

87% of veterans in employment six months after service.

Zero-rate National Insurance contributions for veterans starting their first civilian job.

Addressing disadvantage

Review on the historic treatment of LGBT people in the armed forces.

Research on the experience of female, ethnic minority and non-UK veterans to inform strategy.

Medals and recognition for nuclear test veterans.

Better data

First UK-wide government-led Veterans’ Survey to understand lived experience, with 13,000 veterans signed up for future research opportunities.

Veterans’ Data Dashboard for public understanding of veteran demographics and use of services.

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