UK Veteran Support Network Set to Double with £13.2m Funding Boost
Dumfries and Galloway's Defence Medical Welfare Service receives over £859,000 as VALOUR network expands to aid veterans nationwide.
By Kirsty Lennox
••4 min read
Scotland Office
The UK's veteran support network is set to more than double, with an estimated one million veterans and their families benefiting from easier access to local services through the expansion of the VALOUR network. This expansion is supported by over £13.2 million in new funding.
The Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) charity in Dumfries and Galloway is set to receive £859,281 as part of a second wave of funding. This funding will enable 21 organisations to launch new VALOUR-recognised centres by early 2027, significantly increasing access to support for veterans across the UK.
The VALOUR network, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs within the Ministry of Defence, aims to provide comprehensive support through recognised centres, a helpline, and online resources. This initiative is part of the UK Government’s 10-year Veterans Strategy.
Earlier this year, 14 organisations received over £13 million for the first wave of VALOUR centres. The DMWS charity, which provides critical medical welfare and associated assistance to serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families, is embedded within NHS Boards across Scotland.
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"It is a privilege to be able to honour our veterans, not just as we mark Remembrance Day, but year-round as we remember the service and the sacrifice of those who fought for the lives we live today. I’m incredibly proud to see the VALOUR network grow to provide support to more veterans and their families - those who have given so much to protect communities across the country."
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"Our veterans and serving troops have made huge sacrifices to keep us safe, and I’m immensely proud of each and every one of them. But our gratitude can’t stop at words, or end when they leave the forces. This £859,000 UK Government funding will help the Defence Medical Welfare Service in Dumfries and Galloway be there for them and their families when they need it most. It’s a vital boost for our Armed Forces community in Scotland, and exactly what they deserve."
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"Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, I’m pleased that we can pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of our armed forces community by giving veterans easier access to the support they need, regardless of where they are in the UK. I’ve heard wonderful stories of how centres like Citizens Advice are making a real difference to people’s lives. Joining the VALOUR system will help them support even more veterans and their families."
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"DMWS is proud to be part of the VALOUR system and to help deliver a more joined-up approach to support for veterans, serving personnel and their families across South Scotland. By bringing organisations together and strengthening pathways into support, VALOUR will make it easier for people to access the right help at the right time, wherever they live. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that no member of the Armed Forces community has to face challenges alone. We are incredibly proud to work alongside our partners to build a stronger, more connected system of support for the Armed Forces Community and families and carers across South Scotland."
Scotland currently has two VALOUR-recognised centres: the DMWS in Dumfries and Galloway and SSAFA Scotland’s drop-in centre in Glasgow. The latter supports approximately 76,000 veterans across various council areas including East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian.
UK Government Scotland Office Minister Melanie Ward hosted a Remembrance Reception in Edinburgh this evening (Thursday) to celebrate Scotland’s Armed Forces community. The event at Queen Elizabeth House HQ brought together veteran organisations, military representatives, and Scottish MPs.
Based on information from the official source: Scotland Office (05/11/2026)
