Veterans Aid CEO joins board of new £35M trust for Veteran care

Veterans Aid, a charity that has been providing practical and immediate help to veterans in crisis since 1932, marks its 80th Anniversary this year. Its success in turning lives around has earned its CEO, Dr Hugh Milroy, a key role in the recently formed Forces in Mind Trust (FIMT). The new Trust will manage £35m over a period of 20 years.

FIMT  is also supported by The Foundation of Princes William and Harry, set up in 2009 to help them deliver their personal charitable ambitions. The Foundation is committed to supporting former forces personnel through the challenges of returning to civilian life and providing support for their families.

Dr Milroy, said “I am a supporter of any process that links informed, experienced individuals and organisations and enables them to streamline delivery of targeted help when and where its needed. There are already around 3,000 bodies dedicated to helping veterans; the FIMT brings together the best of them – the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Marine and Seafarers Benevolent organisations and the practical delivery expertise of Veterans Aid. Having the endorsement and support of the young Princes chimes with what we are all about – veteran helping veteran.  The new Trust allows the Veteran community to take a huge step forward by ensuring that research and evidence continues become more central to the development of Veteran care in the 21st Century. I was delighted to become involved!”

FIMT, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, is a partnership of Forces charities and mental health organisations, led by the Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO).  Backed by £35m of funding from the Big Lottery Fund, The Trust aims to help armed service veterans who struggle with the transition to civilian life, including those whose psychological well-being affects their quality of life and that of others around them. It will also provide transitional support in areas such as employment, training, personal finances and housing.

VA’s singular achievement in this area was a marked by receipt of the Institute for Turnaround’s Annual Award in 2011. It has been hailed as a model in terms of post-modern charity activity by military Third Sector practitioners and academics worldwide

The Princes’ Foundation will support FIMT with its own grants over a three year programme, as well as helping raise awareness of the issues facing veterans and carrying out research on the most effective ways to support their transition. COBSEO will also lead FIMT in commissioning research and awareness campaigns to improve knowledge of the issues affecting veterans and their families.

Nick Booth, CEO of The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, said: “We are incredibly excited about this partnership with FIMT. Taking a direct lead from our Patrons, The Foundation is committed to ensuring those who have given so much serving their country in the Armed Forces are, in turn, given as much support as they and their families need to re-integrate into civilian society. We hope The Foundation’s involvement and resources will further allow FIMT to become a major new source of support and leadership in this incredibly important sector.”

Peter Ainsworth, Big Lottery Fund UK Chair said “By investing this £35 million, the Big Lottery Fund is enabling a ground-breaking programme of expertly-designed interventions and activities, offering essential direct assistance which will not only improve to the lives of ex-service personnel directly but inform national policy and practice more widely.”

“Some 20,000 people leave the forces each year. There is so much more we can and should do to support their transition and the work of The Trust will pinpoint gaps and deliver improvements in evidenced fashion to the benefit of veterans and their families.”

The Chairman of The Forces in Mind Trust, Air Vice-Marshal Tony Stables said, “Our intention is to give those leaving the armed services, and their families, the best opportunity for a successful return to civilian life so that they can fully participate in society. As a first step, FIMT will undertake a comprehensive review of the transition process from military service to civilian life for all service men and women, and their families. The aim is to ensure that we are able to provide the evidence needed to deliver projects, either directly or in partnership with other charities and organisations, so that those undergoing transition have a positive outcome.”

To learn more, please visit:

http://www.cobseo.org.uk/forces-in-mind/

Or contact:

fimenquiries@cobseo.org.uk