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15 Oct 24. Government backs veterans by approving Veteran Card as voter ID for first time. The government has backed the armed forces community by allowing HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards to be used as Voter ID in forthcoming elections, while a wider review of the Voter ID policy takes place to understand its impact on citizens.
The government has backed the armed forces community by allowing HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards to be used as Voter ID in forthcoming elections, while a wider review of the Voter ID policy takes place to understand its impact on citizens.
The government has laid a statutory instrument in Parliament to put the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card on the list of photographic identifications accepted in polling stations as voter ID, in addition to the already accepted MOD 90 ID card.
A thorough review of the Voter ID rules is currently underway with firm proposals on the policy set to be brought forward in due course. However, while this takes place the government has taken immediate steps to address gaps in the current provision by including the Veteran Card on the list of acceptable IDs.
The Veteran Card is a tangible symbol of veterans’ service and its addition to the list will help around two m veterans to engage in the elections process and exercise their democratic rights, with these changes set to be made in time for the 2025 local elections in May.
Alex Norris, minister for elections, said:
No veteran should be turned away from the polling station while trying to use their Veteran Card as voter ID. They are an incredible community who have dedicated their lives to this country, and it is wrong that the exclusion of this Card has been a barrier to their ability to vote.
That’s why we’re supporting our incredible veterans by expanding the list of voter identifications to include it so they can participate in democracy without the fear of being turned away on election day.
We stand behind our veterans and today’s announcement demonstrates that we will meet our manifesto commitment to strengthen support for our armed forces communities.
This government is committed to helping veterans to thrive in civilian society, and we are continuing to support our armed forces:
- Within the last month, the government announced that all UK Armed Forces veterans will be exempt from rules which require a connection to a local area before accessing social housing in England.
- In 2021, NHS England launched Op COURAGE – a dedicated mental health service for veterans, and over 35,000 veterans have used this service to date.
- Op FORTITUDE, a housing hotline for veterans, has supported hundreds of veterans into supported housing with wraparound care.
Veterans are represented by the Secretary of State for Defence in Cabinet, and cross-government support is coordinated by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs in the MOD.
Minister for People and Veterans, Alistair Carns, OBE MC MP said:
Veterans Cards are a tangible symbol of the extraordinary sacrifices our veterans have made to defend our nation and it is only right that the Government gives these cards the recognition they deserve.
We are committed to renewing the nation’s contract with all those who serve and have served, and this is an important step to making this important community feel supported when voting.
Mark Atkinson, Director General of the Royal British Legion, said:
This is good news. Veterans have found it frustrating that they were unable to use their Armed Forces Veteran Card as voter identification.
It is vital that the voice of the Armed Forces community is heard at every election, now that voter ID is required to vote in elections in the UK, this change will make it easier for those who have served to cast their vote.
This change follows a veteran of the armed forces being turned away from the local elections earlier this year because they attempted to use this card at their polling station and were turned away. This government committed to making sure that this important community is better supported to participate in our vibrant democracy.
This government is also making our democracy stronger than it has ever been and the addition of the Veteran Card is only the first step in delivering on our commitments to encourage participation in our elections, and we are taking further action:
- Work has begun to extend the franchise for all UK elections to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote so that we can empower young people to take part in our democracy.
- We know there remains a significant number of people missing from our registers, so we will tackle this unacceptable participation gap by taking action to improve rates of electoral registration.
- We will act to protect our democracy from malign actors by strengthening the rules around donations to political parties.
Today marks a significant step forward on our progress towards reforming our elections, and we will set out details on these further measures to widen participation in due course. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
17 Oct 24. Government delivers more homes for heroes. The UK government has announced veterans’ capital housing grants totalling almost £3.7m. This funding will assist 14 organisations in providing support to veterans with housing needs by developing new build projects, or refurbishing accommodation.
Hundreds of veterans across the UK will benefit from new or refurbished homes as the government awards nearly £3.7m to 14 veteran housing providers today – building on the Prime Minister’s pledge that “homes will be there for heroes.”
These grants will help create plans for and deliver new build projects and refurbish existing properties that will offer high quality, affordable accommodation for veterans.
Minister of Veterans and People Alistair Carns OBE MC MP visited grant recipients RBL Industries in Aylesford, Kent, where refurbishments are almost complete, to see how government funding is helping to transform the lives of veterans by providing affordable housing and a sense of community.
Most of the funding is from the £20m Veterans Capital Housing Fund, which is being delivered over three years to ensure a sustainable supply of social and affordable veteran housing.
The funding delivered so far has replaced roofs, boilers, windows, provided insulation and accessibility modifications as well as other energy saving measures.
This funding includes a grant for Beyond the Battlefield, a veteran organisation based in Northern Ireland which was awarded under the £8.55m Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme. This grant will allow the organisation to offer specialised care to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including mental health and employment support.
The funding announced today will also support a self-sustaining Veterans Village in Hull, create the first dedicated transitional homeless veteran housing in Sunderland, design sustainable living units in rural Wales and contribute to the final stage of large-scale renovations specifically designed for the use of female veterans, as well as other projects.
Lots of the friends I have made here are doing all kinds of things, my neighbour is a teacher now, he’s done so well, one of them is a chef, one of them is a ski instructor now.
These grants support the Government’s commitment to oversee the biggest increase of social and affordable housing in a generation and builds on the PM’s pledge by exempting veterans from rules which require a connection to a local area before accessing social housing. This pledge is in line with the manifesto commitment to strengthen support for Armed Forces communities and to ensure veterans have access to the housing support they need.
More widely, having already taken immediate action, the Government is committed to overhauling the broken planning system and encouraging investment, to get Britain building again and tackle the wider housing crisis. This will deliver on our commitment to build 1.5 m homes over this parliament and create the biggest boost in affordable and social housing in a generation.
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs, in the Ministry of Defence, coordinates cross-government support for veterans, ensuring the government delivers on its commitment to supporting veterans to thrive in civilian society. NHS England’s Op COURAGE – a dedicated mental health service for veterans – has been used by over 35,000 since its launch. Op FORTITUDE, a housing hotline for veterans, has supported hundreds of veterans into social housing with wraparound care.
The final round of the Capital Refurbishment programme closes on 3 January 2025 and there are two remaining rounds of the Major Capital programme with deadlines in January and June 2025. The grant-making charity Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust expects to award c.£14m between now and the programme’s close at the end of March 2026.
Julie Walker Jopson, RBLI Director of Welfare said:
A warm bed is just the beginning for people who have lost everything, and our brand new Community Centre is immediately next door to the new homes. Our programme includes health and fitness, mental health and counselling, IT learning and training, and work experience in our Social Enterprise.
This grant is truly helping veterans build a second life after service.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
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SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. In 2020, our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 79,000 people in need, the
currently serving (both regulars and reserves), veterans from the Second World War and those who have served in more recent conflicts, as well as their families. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/about-us
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us
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