A leading veteran’s charity has launched a range of new grants to help ex-servicemen and women and their families.
Legion Scotland is calling for applications from Highland veterans who could benefit from financial assistance.
The Legion Veterans Fund is one of five new grant programmes, worth £83,400 in total, made available by Legion Scotland, which is the trading name of the Royal British Legion Scotland’s charity, to give something back to veterans.
Financial support is also available for relatives to visit the grave or memorial of a family member killed in action in conflicts overseas and to help with costs of travel to visit a loved one who is ill or injured and being treated outside Scotland.
Scotland’s biggest veteran’s charity launched the Legion Veterans Fund after it saw a rise of 32% in inquiries for financial assistance over the last year.
Among the biggest problems faced by former servicemen and women it said was not being able to afford rent or mortgage payments.
Payments of up to £500 are available through the Legion Veterans Fund on a first come first served basis to members of Legion Scotland who have served in HM Armed Forces and have an immediate financial need.
Stephen Baird, National Wellbeing co-ordinator, said: “This year we have seen an increase in veterans coming to our welfare service for help with everything from their mortgage payments to one off emergencies. We set up the new Legion Veterans Fund to respond to this and help ex servicemen and women and their families who are in need.”
Legion Scotland was formed at the end of World War I.
On the centenary year of the Great War the charity is still meeting the needs of veterans and their families and supporting remembrance.
The War Graves visit grant will provide money for Scots visiting graves of loved ones killed in both world wars.
A family member or carer can apply for money to contribute to the costs to visit the grave for the first time, up to £400.
Money is also available to help families resident in Scotland to visit their relatives being treated in hospitals long distances away that have been seriously injured or seriously ill. The TravelAid fund is now open to any close relative of injured or seriously ill service personnel.