Scottish Veterans Fund

Charity Number: CUSTOM_2581054A

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £500,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 months
  • Grant Range: No minimum - £50,000 per year (£150,000 over 3 years)
  • Geographic Focus: Scotland

Contact Details

Email: veteransunit@gov.scot

Website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-veterans-fund-information/

Administration: Scottish Government Veterans Unit

Pre-Application Support: Contact Veterans Unit for guidance on applications

Overview

The Scottish Veterans Fund (SVF) was established by the Scottish Government in 2008 as the primary mechanism for directly supporting the veterans sector in Scotland. Since inception, the fund has distributed over £2.8 million to more than 220 projects. The Scottish Government committed to funding the SVF at £500,000 annually for the remainder of Parliament, representing a significant increase from the original £200,000. The fund operates on a three-year funding cycle and is specifically aimed at projects helping the veterans community overcome disadvantages experienced as a result of service, supporting successful transition to civilian life, and making Scotland the most attractive destination for those leaving military service. Decisions are made by Scottish Ministers based on recommendations from an independent panel chaired by the Scottish Veterans Commissioner.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Main Grant Programme: No minimum - £50,000 per year per project (up to £150,000 over three years)
  • Application Method: Fixed deadline rolling rounds (typically three-year cycles)
  • Exceptional Circumstances: Caps may be increased for collaborative bids from multiple organizations
  • Note: All funds awarded must be spent before the end of the financial year (31 March)

Priority Areas

Current Key Priorities:

  • Cost of Living Support: Projects providing financial advocacy, food support, peer support, and practical assistance to veterans facing financial challenges
  • Early Service Leavers: Targeted support for those who left the Armed Forces early
  • Collaborative Working: Projects encouraging collaboration between veterans charities and non-veterans organizations
  • Transition Support: Helping veterans and their families successfully transition to civilian life
  • Underrepresented Groups: Supporting LGBT+ veterans and other underrepresented communities in accessing services

Thematic Areas Funded:

  • Employment and skills development
  • Mental and physical health support
  • Social inclusion and community integration
  • Financial wellbeing
  • Housing support
  • Family support (spouses and children)

What Makes a Strong Application:

  • Unique and innovative approaches to supporting the veterans community
  • Sound financial and management arrangements
  • Demonstration of value for money
  • Evidence of engagement with beneficiaries
  • Clear outcomes and measurable impact
  • Adherence to Scottish Government Fair Work principles
  • Realistic and achievable project plans

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated in available documentation, the fund requires:

  • Projects must benefit ex-Service personnel and their families in Scotland
  • Strong rationale required for administrative costs (should be small proportion of total)
  • Projects must be delivered by legally constituted organizations (unincorporated organizations are ineligible)
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Governance and Leadership

Independent Assessment Panel

  • Chair: Scottish Veterans Commissioner (currently Charlie Wallace, appointed 2024; previously Eric Fraser CBE)
  • Role: Makes recommendations to Scottish Ministers on funding decisions
  • Independence: Panel is independent from government and provides impartial assessment

Scottish Government Veterans Unit

  • Role: Administers the fund, handles applications, and distributes funds
  • Cabinet Secretary: Portfolio has included responsibility for Veterans (previously held by Keith Brown MSP)

Key Quotes from Leadership

Eric Fraser CBE (Former Scottish Veterans Commissioner) stated: “As Commissioner, I will work to ensure our ex-servicemen and women receive the support and assistance they so richly deserve but will also develop a wider focus on unlocking the potential of veterans who can, and do, contribute so much to making Scotland a successful country.”

Keith Brown MSP (former Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans) emphasized: “It is essential that veterans receive the best support possible in recognition of the valuable contribution that they have made.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Application Form: Must use official Scottish Government application form
  • Submission: Email to veteransunit@gov.scot
  • Required Documents:
  • Completed application form
  • Safeguarding Policy
  • Summary of last three audited accounts (or reports since trading commenced)
  • Evidence of financial viability

Application Requirements

  • Detail up to three outcomes with associated outputs
  • Explain engagement with beneficiaries and how this informed project development
  • Describe areas of veterans community the project will benefit
  • Specify geographic coverage in Scotland
  • Demonstrate strong business case and sound financial management

Decision Timeline

  • Application Deadline: Fixed rounds (most recent deadline November 19, 2022 for 2023-2026 cycle; December 5, 2025 for current round)
  • Assessment Period: Approximately 3-4 months
  • Panel Review: Independent panel reviews applications and makes recommendations
  • Ministerial Decision: Final decisions made by Scottish Ministers
  • Notification: Applicants notified before end of financial year
  • Fund Transfer: Successful applicants receive funds early in new financial year (typically April)

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available. However, in recent rounds:

  • 2024-25: 14 projects funded from available £500,000
  • 2023-24: 17 projects funded from available £500,000
  • This suggests competitive selection process with focus on quality and strategic fit

Reapplication Policy

No explicit reapplication policy is stated in available documentation. Organizations that do not meet eligibility criteria (such as unincorporated organizations) are advised to consider becoming a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) or registered company to apply in future rounds. Contact veteransunit@gov.scot for specific guidance on reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from the Funder

Value for Money: “It is essential that all bids represent value for money and include evidence that grants will be spent effectively.”

Financial Management: “The SVF panel must be satisfied that the applicant organisation has sufficient competency to deliver the project and to apply sound financial management. All projects must demonstrate a strong and robust business case.”

Administrative Costs: “Applicants will need to demonstrate a very strong rationale for administration costs with a clear link to project outcomes. Evidence should be provided that these are being kept to a small proportion of the overall costs.”

Realistic Planning: “All projects must demonstrate that they are realistically achievable with the resource available.”

Recently Funded Project Examples

Cost of Living Support:

  • Warmer, Healthier, Safer Veterans project (£18,536): Provided food, peer support, and financial advice
  • Extended “Warmer Spaces” provision into evenings and weekends

Employment and Skills:

  • On Course Foundation (£16,344): Networking and employment skills through golf events
  • Forces Employment Charity (£50,000): Career transition programs
  • Salute my Job (£41,700): Employment support
  • Scotland Bravest Manufacturing Company (£50,000): Apprenticeships in manufacturing

Health and Wellbeing:

  • Thistle Health and Wellbeing (£34,130): Meaningful Connections project for veterans with long-term conditions
  • FirstLightTrust (£27,500): Mental health support

Underrepresented Groups:

  • Fighting with Pride (£49,822): Supporting LGBT+ veterans in accessing services

Community and Social Support:

  • Military Wives Choir (£40,000): Social connection
  • Lothian Veterans Centre (£24,703): Community hub services
  • SSAFA (£10,000): Veterans support services

Language and Terminology to Use

Applications should reference:

  • “Transition to civilian life”
  • “Overcoming disadvantage experienced as a result of service”
  • “Veterans community”
  • “Fair Work principles”
  • “Measurable outcomes and impact”
  • “Collaborative working”
  • “Value for money”
  • “Sound financial and management arrangements”

Standing Out

  1. Demonstrate Innovation: Highlight unique approaches to supporting veterans
  2. Show Collaboration: Partnerships between veterans charities or with non-veterans organizations are prioritized
  3. Evidence Beneficiary Engagement: Clearly show how veterans informed project design
  4. Clear Impact Metrics: Distinguish between inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impact
  5. Address Current Priorities: Explicitly link to cost of living support, early service leavers, or underrepresented groups
  6. Scottish Geographic Focus: Clearly articulate which areas of Scotland will benefit
  7. Financial Credibility: Submit strong accounts and demonstrate organizational stability

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Three-Year Funding Model: Projects can receive up to £150,000 over three years (£50,000/year max), allowing for sustained impact rather than short-term interventions
  • Government Priorities Drive Selection: Align applications with current Scottish Government priorities—cost of living crisis support, early service leavers, and collaborative working are explicitly prioritized
  • Administrative Costs Scrutinized: Keep admin costs low and provide exceptional justification for any administrative expenses—the panel expects these to be a “small proportion” of total costs
  • Legal Structure Matters: Only legally constituted organizations can apply; unincorporated groups should restructure as SCIOs or registered companies before applying
  • Competitive but Accessible: With 14-17 projects funded annually from a £500,000 pot, grants range from £10,000 to £50,000, suggesting both small and large organizations can succeed
  • Quality Over Quantity: Strong business cases, sound financial management, and demonstrable impact are more important than large budgets or extensive organizational history
  • Independent Assessment Adds Credibility: The Scottish Veterans Commissioner chairs an independent panel, meaning applications are assessed on merit rather than political considerations

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