After our successful campaign to reinstate the Veterans’ Mobility Fund the Office for Veterans’ Affairs has today announced that Help for Heroes and BLESMA will be given the responsibility of administering the highly specialised programme, following our joint bid.
There are a few things we need to get in place before we can start administering the new grant funding. We will need to establish a robust programme and that will take some time to get right to ensure the Fund is implemented properly and within the guidelines set out by the Government.
Further details on how to apply to the Veterans’ Mobility Fund will be announced in due course, but we hope to welcome applicants in March 2024. Please register your interest here for updates.
James Needham, Help for Heroes CEO said:
“The reinstatement of the Veterans’ Mobility Fund will make a vital difference to the lives of those injured during their military service, and it is great news that our charity has been recognised and trusted to deliver this fund.
“Today’s announcement is a result of a joint two-year campaign by Help for Heroes and Blesma, and wounded veterans will be pleased that the UK Government has listened and reinstated this life-changing fund.”
Musculoskeletal disorder or injury is the most common cause of medical discharge from the Armed Forces. Subsequently, mobility issues are among the biggest challenges faced by our injured veterans.
Since the Mobility Fund’s closure more than two years ago, we have seen a continuation of veterans requiring mobility grants. Since 2021, we have spent a combined total of more than £425,000 on mobility grants, covering in excess of 200 separate awards so that veterans can continue to access specialist equipment and treatment.
Veteran Paul Colling, who suffered a traumatic leg injury through his service, said:
“Being able to access the previous fund meant I was able to receive a specialist leg brace – something I couldn’t afford on my own – which prevented me from going through a leg amputation. That brace, and the efforts of Help for Heroes, has enabled me to walk again.”
The reinstated Veterans’ Mobility Fund will allow us to meet the mobility needs of veterans nationwide who suffered physical injuries during service, whilst also improving their social and well-being needs. It will allow us to provide life changing specialist equipment, such as standing wheelchairs and high-grade prosthetics, which veterans may otherwise not be able to access.
To maximise our success, we will be working in close partnership with The British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association (known as Blesma, The Limbless Veterans), a specialist services charity and association. Formed after the First World War, Blesma today assists 1,900 limbless and injured veterans or serving personnel. They will play a key role in assessing and granting funding, and to deliver expertise on wrap-around limb loss, limb-injury, and prosthetics support.
The Fund will be open for five years, however we will also continue to work with the OVA, the NHS and our charitable partners to ensure that – beyond these five years – there will not be another gap in provision.
Major Peter Norton GC, Help for Heroes ambassador, said
“The premature closure of the earlier incarnation of the fund left many seriously injured veterans reliant on charities’ support to fund much needed mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs and prosthetics, that could not otherwise be provided by the NHS.
Today’s announcement will offer much relief to seriously injured veterans who may have been worrying about how they could fund the mobility equipment they need.”
A reminder of the process.
There are a few things we need to get in place before we can start administering the new grant funding. We will need to establish a robust programme and that will take some time to get right to ensure the Fund is implemented properly and within the guidelines set out by the Government.
Further details on how to apply to the Veterans’ Mobility Fund will be announced in due course, but we hope to welcome applicants in March 2024. Please register your interest here for updates.
