MP welcomes new £13m funding to improve support for veterans

Dudley MP, Sonia Kumar says she welcomes the opening of the second round of funding for the Government’s new VALOUR veterans support programme.

The scheme is designed to improve access to services for veterans and tackle the “postcode lottery” many former Armed Forces personnel currently face.

The VALOUR initiative, led by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs within the Ministry of Defence, will establish a network of VALOUR-recognised centres across the UK to provide in-person support and advice for veterans, with wider support for the Armed Forces community planned in the future.

The first round of funding, announced in March 2026, awarded more than £13 million to organisations across the country to begin developing the centres.

A second round of development funding officially opened on Thursday 14 May, with organisations invited to submit expressions of interest by 15 June 2026.

Sonia Kumar MP said: “Our veterans have served this country with courage and commitment, and they deserve access to high-quality support wherever they live.

“For too long, support for veterans has depended too heavily on postcode and local availability. The VALOUR programme is an important step towards building a more consistent, joined-up system that ensures veterans can access the help they need.

“I would encourage eligible organisations supporting veterans and the Armed Forces community to explore this new funding opportunity and consider applying.”

The programme forms part of the Government’s wider Veterans Strategy and aims to strengthen local support networks while improving coordination between services.

Full details of the funding guidance are available through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.