ScotsVeteransComm

A new report by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland & @ForcesChildScot explores the experiences of children from Forces families in the education system - finding that support is inconsistent and systemic change is needed. Read more: forceschildrenscotland.org.uk/news/camouflag…

There was an impressive (and sold out) exhibition of art by veterans in the Scottish prison estate. Thanks to Sir Simon Bollom KBE CB FREng, National Chair, and Walter Gallagher Regional Chair for Scotland for their warm welcome.

Really inspiring morning at the SSAFA Scotland Volunteer Conference, hearing about services such as mentoring and support in specialist areas such as bereavement, the justice system, and the Ghurka community.

🏳️‍🌈 Were you impacted by the Armed Forces ban on LGBT+ personnel? Applications for restorative measures and financial recognition close on 12 December 2026. Find out more about applying ➡️ gov.uk/government/col… Support to apply is available from @fightingwpride & @PoppyLegion.

At an International Women's Day reception hosted by @kirstyjmcneill MP, I met impressive women from all sorts of fields including Sonia and Sofia from @BlackburnUtdCSC. Key speaker @lizcameronscc, CEO of @ScotChambers, inspired us all with her insights. #InternationalWomensDay

A busy start to 2026 with a range of events and engagements, including celebrating the successes of veterans in business, getting updates on support for the community, and giving evidence on the Armed Forces Bill at Westminster. Read more in my round-up: scottishveteranscommissioner.org/news/news/janu…

On #InternationalWomensDay we recognise the vital role women play in the military community - as #Servicewomen, as #veterans, and as spouses and partners providing crucial support. Working with others, I remain committed to driving the delivery of support that meets their needs.

The projects set to benefit from a share of the £600,000 Scottish Veterans Fund 2026-27 have been announced by Veterans Minister Graeme Dey, with successful initiatives spanning areas such as housing, health and wellbeing, finance, and justice. Read more: gov.scot/news/help-for-…

Highlighted in my report on Support for the Bereaved Community, the programme is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and aims to deliver transformational change in how bereaved military families are supported. Learn more: dmws.org.uk/supporting-mil…

Really pleased to see @TheDMWS launch its Support for the Military Bereaved Programme, bringing partners together to support families who have lost a loved one in service or due to service-related reasons.

It was also great to hear Dr Alethea McHardy launching her research project around the health of Service women and women veterans. Find out more at herserviceherhealth.org.uk

Congratulations to @LothiansVets for delivering another excellent event for women veterans on Saturday. Alongside comradeship and fun, the event included a useful update from @FemaleVeteranTP.

It was really useful to hear from veterans already employed at Barclays UK and to hear the views of Service Leavers. I was delighted to meet RAF veteran Shona again, who was connected to the Barclays scheme by Officers Association Scotland.

A pleasure to meet Service Leavers, veterans and staff at the @BarclaysUK Glasgow campus where the Military Work Placement Programme is underway. This gives military people an insight into working at Barclays and offers valuable sessions such as mock interviews and a CV workshop.

We were clear that effective communication and clear guidance will be essential to success, and that planning needs to start now for effective implementation. You can watch the session at parliamentlive.tv/event/index/7d…

I was pleased to give evidence yesterday to the Westminster Defence Select Committee with the Commissioners for Wales and NI, considering the passage of the Armed Forces Bill. We covered the opportunities & challenges the planned extension of the Armed Forces Covenant will bring.

A constructive meeting today with Graeme Dey, Minister for Veterans and Parliamentary Business, covering a range of topics including the need to maintain momentum on Government projects such as the Veterans Mental Health Pathway during and after the Scottish election period.

Last month I had the honour of attending the Scottish Forces in Business Awards – an inspiring celebration and a reminder of what can be achieved when the Service community is empowered to thrive in the civilian workplace. Read more in my latest blog: scottishveteranscommissioner.org/news/news/empo…

It was a pleasure to meet with Jane Gurney, CEO of @VeteransFdn, to hear about their strategic approach to supporting veterans and their families and plans to maximise the impact of their funding. Their commitment to the veteran community is impressive and inspiring.

A really helpful and productive catch up with the Chair, Lieutenant General Sir Nick Pope KCB CBE, and Director of Operations, Kate McCullogh, of @Cobseo. I greatly valued their UK-wide perspective on policy and practice, and the opportunity to share insights from Scotland.