Representatives from Scotland’s armed forces charities gathered at Balmoral Castle to discuss how to bring together veteran support services for the North East. The meeting, hosted by Andrew Bowie MP, focused on streamlining the support available to former service personnel and their families to ensure no one falls through the cracks.
Bringing together key voices from ten leading veteran organizations, the event included representatives from Veterans Housing Scotland, Royal British Legion Scotland, SSAFA, Horseback UK, Forces Children Scotland, Networks of Wellbeing, RAFA Scotland, and What Makes a Difference. These groups provide crucial assistance in areas such as housing, mental health, and employment support, but navigating the various services can be complex and overwhelming for those in need.
Andrew Bowie, MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, emphasized the challenges many veterans face when transitioning to civilian life.
“Veterans and their families can face a confusing, often daunting landscape when looking for help. The potential issues facing someone leaving the Armed Forces are many,” Mr. Bowie stated.
He highlighted the struggles of adjusting to life off-base, the mental and physical health challenges that can arise, and the difficulties of finding work and reintegrating into civilian communities.
“The camaraderie and special bonds once felt with squadmates can fall away without the daily rigours of service underpinning it. Even just finding work and adapting to civilian life can be so difficult. It can be easy to slip through the cracks,” he added.
The discussion at Balmoral Castle aimed to build on existing services while developing a more cohesive and accessible support system. Mr. Bowie stressed the importance of raising awareness about the help already available and creating a unified network that simplifies access to vital services.
“It was brilliant after months of planning to have so many Scottish and North East voices around the table to talk about what we can all do to elevate the profile of what is already here, but also to lay the groundwork for a one-stop service that can tie it all together.”
As part of this initiative, Mr. Bowie is calling on veterans to share their experiences—both positive and negative—of dealing with public services and charities. Feedback from those directly affected will be instrumental in shaping the future of veteran support in Scotland.
Veterans and their families who wish to contribute can reach out to Andrew Bowie MP at [email protected]. All correspondence will be treated in strict confidence.
