“I now support other veterans – it really helps me that I’m helping others,” says Mark, a Greater Manchester veteran who used Op COURAGE and now volunteers with Walking With The Wounded. His story is a reminder that good services change lives when they’re close to home. (england.nhs.uk)

Ministers have confirmed record support for the UK’s 1.8 million veterans, with funding for the Office for Veterans’ Affairs rising from £11.6m in 2023/24 to almost £37m committed in 2025/26. Defence Secretary John Healey said the government is “renewing the nation’s commitment to those who have served.” (gov.uk)

What matters for the North is reach. The North East has the highest proportion of veterans in England at 5% – around 109,000 people – while London has the lowest at 1.4%. Any national scheme that doesn’t work outside the M25 won’t meet the need. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk)

The centrepiece is VALOUR, a new UK-wide network of recognised support centres bringing together help with health, housing and employment. The Ministry of Defence says 65 area bids have already come in, with centres due to begin opening from spring 2026. (gov.uk)

Behind the scenes money is moving too. A £50m, three‑year commitment funds VALOUR’s rollout, while the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust invited bids for up to £1m to become recognised centres – a window that closed on 14 January after strong interest from across the country. (gov.uk)

On health, the Department of Health and Social Care is putting a record £38m into veteran-specific care in 2025/26 – including Op COURAGE for mental health and Op RESTORE for complex physical injuries. In the North of England, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust leads Op COURAGE in partnership with Pennine Care, LYPFT, Humber Teaching and TEWV. (gov.uk)

A major Northern anchor is coming next year at Catterick Garrison. The £110m Catterick Integrated Care Centre will employ more than 300 MOD and NHS staff and treat up to 1,000 people a day, serving forces families and local residents across North Yorkshire. Construction is on track for services to move in during summer 2026. (gov.uk)

Housing is a priority. Defence ministers have set aside an extra £12m to tackle veteran homelessness and extend Op FORTITUDE – the single UK referral pathway that has taken more than 4,100 referrals and supported over 1,000 veterans into housing since launch. England has already removed local-connection tests for veterans seeking social housing. (gov.uk)

Work and skills are being threaded in. Op ASCEND – a free careers advice service delivered by the Forces Employment Charity – reports 420 employers and 4,600 veterans and family members signed up, with a focus on high-demand sectors from clean energy to digital. (gov.uk)

Access is being modernised too. Veterans can now add a digital Veteran Card to the GOV.UK One Login app, making it easier to prove status for services and discounts. It’s the government’s first digital credential; it currently works in person, with online verification due to follow. (gov.uk)

Ministers also say more than £35m has already been paid to LGBT veterans affected by the pre‑2000 ban, from a £75m scheme now live for two years. Applications remain open, with the MOD publishing monthly progress data to increase transparency. (gov.uk)

There’s a legislative angle today as well. The Armed Forces Bill has its Second Reading in the Commons on Monday 26 January 2026, with ministers arguing it completes the pledge to bring the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law – a move with real-world consequences for housing, health and employment decisions taken by central government. (parliament.uk)

Sector groups have welcomed the direction. Cobseo – the Confederation of Service Charities – praised the new Veterans Strategy and the “ongoing commitment to enabling a thriving Armed Forces community.” Delivery, however, will be judged on faster referrals and shorter waits in places like Sunderland, Salford and Selby. (gov.uk)

For Northern councils, NHS trusts and local charities, the message is clear: be ready. VALOUR centres will only work if they plug into Op COURAGE, Op RESTORE and Op FORTITUDE already on the ground here, and if they’re staffed by people who understand service life. The money and the intent are there – now it’s about building support that veterans can reach in one bus ride, not a three-hour train to London. (gov.uk)