Two new funds have been launched to support veterans with serious physical injury or hearing loss, providing them with equipment and therapies to improve their wellbeing. A total of £13 million over 5 years has been made available from income generated from Libor fines.

Each programme element has been designed in consultation with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), National Health Service (NHS), Department of Health and representatives from subject matter experts in the medical and Armed Forces charity communities.   Blesma has taken a leading role, particularly with the first of these funds, The Veterans Mobility Fund.

The Veterans Mobility Fund will provide veterans, who have been seriously injured during their Service, with wheelchairs or other mobility aids meeting any wellbeing need which is not met through a statutory source.

At present, personnel who are discharged with a Service-attributable serious physical injury will receive equipment from the Ministry of Defence and a warranty for five years. The Veterans Mobility Fund will ensure that those veterans continue to receive the same standard of equipment after the five years as well as catering for any veterans who fall outside of this provision.  It will work along similar administrative lines to the process of prosthetics via the Veterans Prosthetic Panel.

The second fund, The Veterans Hearing Fund is managed by The Royal British Legion.  It endeavours to meet the wellbeing needs of veterans who acquired hearing loss or impairment during their Service in the Armed Forces through the funding of hardware or therapies not typically available through UK Health services.

A key distinction between the two funds is that The Veterans Hearing Fund is for those whose hearing loss was acquired during Service whereas The Veterans Mobility Fund is for those whose physical injury is attributed to their Service. Neither of the grants are means-tested.

It is vital that those who have served our country continue to receive the best possible care once they leave the Armed Forces. These important funds will be life-changing for many veterans with Service related hearing and mobility issues

Health Minister Ben Gummer

The programme has been designed in consultation with the Ministry of Defence, National Health Service, Department of Health and representatives from subject matter experts in the medical and Armed Forces charity communities.

Further details on the funds can be found here.