Wakefield Council has joined forces with four other West Yorkshire councils to secure almost £1million in funding for a new hub supporting veterans, reservists and their families.

The successful bid, led by Leeds City Council in partnership with Wakefield, Barnsley, Calderdale and Kirklees councils, has secured £999,014 from the Government’s VALOUR-recognised centres development fund.

VALOUR is a new national programme designed to make it easier for veterans and their families to access the right support at the right time through a more coordinated and accessible system.

The new service will support veterans and their families whether they have only recently left the Armed Forces or have been out of service for many years.

Wakefield Council has joined forces with four other West Yorkshire councils to secure almost £1million in funding for a new hub supporting veterans, reservists and their families.

placeholder image — Wakefield Council has joined forces with four other West Yorkshire councils to secure almost £1million in funding for a new hub supporting veterans, reservists and their families.

Help will cover a wide range of areas, including housing, finances, education and employment, alongside other services designed to improve veterans' access to support.

The physical VALOUR-recognised centre will be based in Armley, Leeds, but the programme will cover all five areas involved in the consortium.

For people in Wakefield, support will be available locally through outreach activity and Community Connectors, meaning residents will not have to travel to Leeds to access the wider programme.

Coun Rebecca Webster, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Stronger Communities, said the project would build on the support already available to veterans in the district.

“We are pleased that Wakefield Council has played its part in bringing the VALOUR programme to West Yorkshire, helping to strengthen and coordinate support for veterans and their families across the region.

“This initiative helps strengthen the support that is already well-established for veterans in our district. The VALOUR-recognised centre ensures that we are working together with partners to deliver a joined-up system of support for all veterans in West Yorkshire.”

Over the next three years, the project is expected to provide direct support to around 1,500 veterans and reservists.

A further 3,100 people, including family members, are expected to benefit from improved and easier access to services.

Wakefield Council played an active role in developing the successful West Yorkshire consortium bid and will continue to help shape how the programme is delivered across the region.