To learn more about VPPP 2024-2047

What-is-VPPP-2024-2027-2Download

Next Phase of Veterans’ Places, Pathways and People (VPPP) programme

It is fantastic news that The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and HM Government have committed to further support under the VPPP programme after a very successful two-year programme.

DMWS are excited and proud to have been selected to deliver the consultation phase of the next VPPP programme in two regions – The Midlands and the Northeast and Yorkshire

To begin:

We will start consultation events very shortly with two ways of engaging:

  • Dedicated face to face sessions with veterans, their families and carers at our partner Hub locations
  • Online webinars – targeted engagement with Local Authority and Health partners

We will listen, engage and encourage open sharing of views and experiences in a safe environment. This will inform us and our partners to collaboratively shape solutions that meet the needs of veterans, their families and carers and those stakeholders involved in providing support and services.

To find out more about the consultation events please click here.

The Midlands VPPP: Joining the Dots has been a successful 2-year programme and further details are shared below. We are proud to continue activity as Portfolio Lead for Phase 1 Consultation activities. Areas include: Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and West Midlands.

The Northeast and Yorkshire VPPP: Since January 2024, DMWS have been working with previously funded VPPP partners in the Northeast and Yorkshire who are driven by a strong commitment to support veterans their families and carers. The previous two years of funding have led to excellent outcomes for service users, upskilling across the sector and fostering great collaborations to personalise support. We look forward to supporting the region in developing improved pathways to support for vulnerable veterans their families and carers. Areas include: Count Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Cumbria (East) and Yorkshire (North, South, West and East Riding).

What has been achieved so far

In the first two-year VPPP programme DMWS were proud to be the Portfolio Lead for the Midlands with some excellent partners. There was tremendous collaboration evidencing the benefits of working together to support veterans and their families and carers.

Our Joining the Dots delivered a cohesive programme to enhance safe places where veterans can go and meet and pathways to support services that can help with mental health, wellbeing and friendship. The programme also helped provide training and support to staff and volunteers who work with veterans.

Putting veterans’ wellbeing at their heart of what we do and working together we proved we can be more than our individual parts; helping veterans and their families navigate to the best support for them tackling issues such a social isolation, loneliness, substance misuse, financial difficulties, housing and employment issues and complex mental health issues.

Our outcomes included:

  • Veterans being able to find the support they need and access mental health and wellbeing services activities that are interesting and relevant to them.
  • When accessing activities, veterans are safe and can be supported to recover. They can be referred seamlessly to NHS or other services.
  • Veterans at higher risk of suicide or other risk relating to mental ill health can receive better cross-sector support.
  • Effective veteran-led projects are embedded in local care pathways supported by good partnerships.
  • Delivering person-centred support through a ‘no wrong door’ approach, facilitated by cross sector partners actively working in collaboration.

“The ability to build a network has helped in managing individuals who may have previously tried and failed or simply didn’t know where to start.  It has also enhanced our ability to make more meaningful and purposeful referrals across the charity’s landscape, not just in the Midlands.”

We know we can continue this great work and do more, working together.

“The veterans we help often require the involvement of other services to help with aspects of their health and wellbeing. Being part of the Midlands portfolio has made us more aware of the other services on offer, meaning we can provide a warm referral and feel confident that we are referring veterans to the most appropriate organisation for their needs. This reduces the veteran being ‘passed around’ unsuitable services and makes their journey easier, which is so important for this cohort.”  

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - Funded by HM Government

Our Funded Project Partners

Loughbrough Wellbeing Centre

Loughborough Wellbeing Centre has been delivering Wellbeing Cafés for adults who experience mental health problems in the Charnwood area since October 2015.

The café provides them with a safe, supportive and welcoming place to go when other support services are closed. We aim to support people’s recovery and resilience to mental health issues and encourage a peer support network that will enable them to feel part of the community again.

The centre sessions offer a welcoming drop-in with fun activities which is open to adults aged 18 and over.

Fighting with Pride

Fighting with Pride support LGBT+ Veterans, serving personnel and their families, particularly those who were affected by the ‘gay ban’, ultimately lifted on 12th January 2000. Before then, thousands of LGBT+ service personnel were removed or forced from service and abandoned, after serving with pride. In the years ahead it is our aim to restore the military covenant and bring this community back into the military family.

Fighting with pride work with Veteran supporting organisations to build capacity for LGBT+ Veteran support, to recognise their service and help resolve the challenges they face in their lives beyond military service.

Mission Motorsport

Mission Motorsport, the forces’ motorsport charity aids in the recovery and rehabilitation of those affected by military operations by providing opportunities through motorsport and the automotive industry.

The charity helps those leaving the military to find employment in the automotive industry. An Institute of the Motor Industry and LANTRA training provider, Mission Motorsport’s Training Wing delivers a range of qualifications up to and including Level 3 Diploma courses and full apprenticeships enabling service leavers to bridge the gap between military service and second careers as civilians, beyond injury.

Combat Stress

For over a century Combat Stress has been helping former servicemen and women deal with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. Today they provide specialist treatment and support for veterans from every service and conflict, focusing on those with complex mental health issues related to their military service.

Combat Stress provides a range of community, outpatient and residential mental health services to veterans with complex mental health problems. We provide services in-person, and via phone and online.

Tri-Services & Veterans Support Centre

The centre is run for veterans by veterans and aims to create a supportive and friendly atmosphere where veterans can meet ‘like-minded’ people. 

The centre utilises a ‘hub’ based approach to supporting veterans in need and has extensive links with local services and businesses such as SSAFA, Veterans UK, Walking with the Wounded and many more.

The centre is open every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am to 4pm, and every Saturday 10am till 3pm.

The Poppy Factory

The Poppy Factory supports veterans with health conditions on their journey into employment, helping them overcome any barriers.

Four out of five of the veterans we work with report a mental health condition. Whatever their situation, and whatever they are going through, our employment team is on hand to offer one-to-one support.

Employment support is available to individuals who have served for one day or more in the Armed Forces or Reserves, and consider themselves to have any kind of physical or mental health condition.

Waterloo Uncovered

Waterloo Uncovered is a registered UK charity that combines a world-class archaeology project on the battlefield of Waterloo with a support program for veterans and the military community. Working in partnership with some of Europe’s top universities, and through the unique perspective of a team comprised of archaeologists, veterans, and serving soldiers, Waterloo Uncovered aims to understand war and its impact on people — and to educate the public about it.

YSS

YSS is a local charity which enables people who face significant life challenges to feel safe, have the opportunity to thrive and to realise their potential.

YSS provide a wide variety of mainly community focused support for people across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Warwickshire. They are often described as the ‘glue’ between those at risk of social isolation and the wider community.

The Warrior Programme

The Warrior Programme enables individuals to manage their emotions and to develop the resilience, focus and motivation to succeed in today’s world. The programme has been developed over the last ten years to meet the demands and challenges experienced by past and present members of the armed forces and their families.

Stepway

Stepway are a registered Charity incorporated Organisation (CIO) and are here to improve your mental well-being, so you can engage in education and employment programs. Stepway promote social inclusion with drop-in centres and community projects, where you can meet like-minded people who have walked the walk!

VPPP Midlands News