Polly has hailed the Government’s new Veterans Strategy, which includes the rollout of veteran support centres across the country. The new centres, which could be on the high street and in community centres, will help improve local veterans’ services.
The centres will fundamentally transform how assistance is provided, offering the first coordinated national network of support centres. They will offer guidance and support in health, housing and employment, and may extend to finance, wellbeing, and integration into society.
With 4,035 veterans, East Thanet has among the highest proportion of reported veterans in the country. 4.7% of the population aged 16 and over is a veteran in East Thanet, compared to the national average of 3.8% and the South East average of 4.2%.
The Veterans Strategy comes alongside the Labour Government’s recent Defence Housing Strategy which sets out the biggest renewal of military housing in over half a century. Over 40,000 military homes will be upgraded and modernised, including 14,435 homes across the South East.
The new VALOUR centres are just one part of Labour’s new Veterans Strategy, the first such strategy in seven years. This will transform government support for 4,053 veterans in East Thanet and renew the nation’s contract with those who serve and have served, recognising their invaluable contribution across the country.
Developed alongside the Strategic Defence Review and the Armed Forces Covenant, the new strategy commits an extra £12m to the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme and extending Op FORTITUDE – putting the service that has already housed over 1000 veterans on a sustainable footing. These programmes will deliver three years of support services for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, fulfilling the Prime Minister’s pledge that homes will be there for heroes.
Delivering on the government’s Plan for Change, the new Veterans Strategy recognises veterans as national assets, whose unique skills strengthen communities, boost the economy and enhance national security. The strategy is built on three priorities: celebrating those who have served, harnessing veterans’ skills, and ensuring effective support for those who need it.
The strategy, like the Armed Forces Covenant, applies equally across the UK. It has benefitted from the input of veterans and organisations in every nation and region – across the public, private and third sector.
Announcing the major boost for veterans living in East Thanet, Polly said:
“East Thanet is home to one of the largest veteran communities in the country, and it was a real honour to lay a wreath at the Remembrance Day service at St George’s Church in Ramsgate earlier this week. I was also privileged to join members of the Royal British Legion for lunch, to pay tribute to the extraordinary sacrifice so many have made in service to our country.
I would love to see a dedicated veterans’ support centre established in East Thanet, so if local groups bring forward a bid, I will wholeheartedly back it.
I’m delighted our Labour Government is reaffirming its commitment to those who have served through the new Veterans Strategy — transforming support for veterans and ensuring their invaluable contribution to our nation is properly recognised.”
John Healey MP, Labour’s Defence Secretary, said:
“The first duty of government is to keep our country safe, and that is only possible through the extraordinary men and women in our Armed Forces.
“Our nation owes a duty to those who have served, and this new Strategy recognises veterans as one of our greatest assets.
“Today’s announcements will boost local support for veterans across the UK, from better healthcare to housing to jobs. Labour’s message to veterans and the Armed Forces community is simple: we are on your side.”
VALOUR, which launched earlier this year – backed by £50m in total – will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities and better connect veterans to local and national services. VALOUR-recognised support centres will open from spring 2026, offering veterans a single contact point for support needs in their local area.