2nd Annual Office for Veterans' Affairs Conference 2023


FAQs

Please click on a question below.

We lead UK Government efforts to make sure the UK is the best place in the world to be a veteran, helping the nation fulfil its duty to people who have served in the armed forces.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) is a part of the Cabinet Office, which sits at the heart of government. Work supporting veterans is the responsibility of the whole of government, and this central position for the OVA enables us to coordinate functions that work to ensure the best support for veterans and their families.

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs attends Cabinet. This ensures that veterans’ interests are championed at the top table amongst those leading our country and making the decisions that affect people’s daily lives.

Although veterans share the experience of having served in the Armed Forces, they are civilians, needing access to civilian support and contributing to the life of our whole society.

From the heart of the UK Government, we work with devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, local government, charities and businesses to help veterans when they need it and enabling them to continue to make brilliant contributions to society after leaving the Armed Forces.

 

Our priorities

●        We are committed to delivering the Strategy for Our Veterans. Our priorities through to 2024 include:

●        Transforming services for veterans and their families to ensure they work better for those who need them.

●        Maximising employment, education and skills to help veterans thrive in civilian life

●        Recognising the contribution all veteran communities have made and addressing the historic disadvantage that some have experienced.

●        Ensuring a high standard of support across the UK.

●        Better data for understanding and supporting the veteran community.

 

Our Strategy action plan 2022-24, published on Gov.uk, sets out over 60 commitments, which include:

 

Improving mental and physical health:

●        Op COURAGE provides a bespoke mental health pathway for veterans in England, and has received over 24,000 referrals. 

●        Over 140 NHS England trusts are now ‘Veteran Aware’, with staff receiving specialist training, and over 2000 GP surgeries are accredited as ‘veteran-friendly’

●        Veterans Trauma Network delivers comprehensive medical care to veterans with physical service-related health problems.

●        Op NOVA provides crucial support to veterans in the criminal justice system.

●        £3m has been allocated to support veterans with mobility issues.

 

Ensuring veterans have a place to live:

●        Op FORTITUDE hotline provides support to veterans in need of accommodation, and helps end veteran rough sleeping.

●        £20m has been allocated to the Veteran Capital Housing Fund to- provide new and refurbished housing for veterans.

●        Up to £8m housing fund will provide support in housing units for veterans.

 

Improving services:

●        Reviewing provision and driving improvements in UK Government welfare services for veterans

●        Rolling out veterans’ ID to all veterans through the introduction of a new digital veteran status verification system and ID application process.

 

Providing funding:

●        £10m each year to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to support projects across the UK

●        £5m Health Innovation Fund to support organisations looking to research and trial cutting-edge technology which could help veterans with complex healthcare needs.

●        £5m distributed through the Afghanistan Veterans Fund to charities, so they can better support veterans of recent conflicts

●        £1m in new funding for a new digital service for veterans

 

Maximising opportunities:

●        Over 10,000 organisations have signed the Armed Forces Covenant,

●        Over 640 Employers achieving Gold Standard through the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

●        87% of veterans in employment with 6 months after service

●        Great Place to Work scheme encourages veterans to join the Civil Service

●        Zero rate of employers National Insurance contributions on the earnings of veterans starting their first civilian job

 

 

Addressing historic disadvantage:

●        Independent review on the historic treatment of LGBT people in the Armed Forces

●        Research to understand the experience of female, ethnic minority and non-UK veterans and inform strategy

●        Medals and recognition for nuclear test veterans

●        Better understand our veteran community by data:

●        First UK-wide government-led Veterans’ Survey to understand lived experience, with 13,000 veterans signed-up for participation in future research opportunities.

●        Veterans’ Data Dashboard to share with the public the latest stats available for understanding veterans’ demographics and use of statutory services.

 

Our people

Minister for Veterans Affairs

Johnny Mercer is the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs at the Cabinet Office, and in that role attends Cabinet.

 




We want to bring together the best experts in the field to discuss how evidence can be better integrated into policy across the sector. The conference is an opportunity to put our recently published Data and Research Framework into action by ensuring we make the most of the evidence we have and mobilise it into action.



Twitter: Office for Veterans' Affairs

Facebook: Office for Veterans' Affairs

LinkedIn: Office for Veterans’ Affairs

YouTube: Cabinet Office



Delegates will be encouraged to ask questions of presenters at the conference. There will also be a poster board session at the conference, as well as breakout sessions for networking.



Yes, a lunch will be available for delegates. Please indicate if you have any dietary requirements on your registration form. Hot and cold drinks will be provided as well.



The conference, pre-conference reception and available refreshments will be provided free of charge.