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SVR to launch Foothold project thanks to Scottish Veterans Fund

Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR) are grateful and delighted to have received funding from the Scottish Veterans Fund of £40,000 for each of the next three years for our new Occupational Therapy-led project FoOThold.

The funding between April 2026 and March 2029 will allow us to support Veterans experiencing homelessness through occupational therapy, with a particular focus on improving mental health and identifying employment opportunities and pathways. The project with be led by SVR’s full-time Specialist Occupational Therapist Janet Harkess.

SVR Chief Executive Martin Nadin said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Veterans Fund has awarded this multi-year grant. This will assist us to develop FoOThold and further the role of occupational therapy in enabling Veterans to enter or return to sustainable employment.”

SVR was one 30 charities and organisations to share in a £600,000 fund to support ex-Service personnel. Veterans Minister Graeme Dey announced successful applicants on a recent visit to the On Course Foundation at Drumoig  in Fife.

The fund, which the Scottish Government had committed to maintaining for the rest of the parliament was in fact boosted with a further £100,000 in the 26-27 budget, a 20% increase. Since being launched in 2008, the Scottish Veterans Fund has provided more than £3.8 million to nearly 220 individual projects supporting ex-service personnel and their families.

Mr Dey said: “The Scottish Veterans Fund has supported thousands of veterans and their families with services such as financial support, employability and by helping them cope with mental and physical health challenges. This year’s funding allocations will continue to provide targeted support for our Armed Forces and veterans community across Scotland, and prioritise projects that address recommendations made by the Scottish Veterans Commissioner Susie Hamilton.

“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting service personnel and their families – past or present, living or based in Scotland – and to ensuring they have access to all the help, support and public services they require.”

Scottish Veterans Commissioner Susie Hamilton said: “It was greatly encouraging to see such a strong field of high-quality applications from organisations across the length and breadth of Scotland.

“I warmly welcome the increase in funding to £600,000 this year, enabling support for a greater number of impactful projects. I was particularly pleased to note proposals that align closely with recommendations made by my predecessors and me, including in the areas of justice and financial wellbeing, and those reaching the less heard from parts of the veteran community.”

Click here to view the full list of projects supported by the Scottish Veterans Fund