Luke Pollard, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, and Fred Thomas, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Moor View, have today announced a joint bid to bring a VALOUR Centre to Plymouth – part of a nationwide initiative to improve services for veterans.
The VALOUR programme, launched by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, aims to create a UK-wide network of support centres offering integrated access to health, housing, employment, and welfare services for ex-service personnel. With £27 million in government funding available, Plymouth is positioning itself to be a candidate for one of these centres.
The proposed Plymouth VALOUR Centre would serve as a hub for coordinated veteran care, bringing together local charities, NHS services, housing providers, and employment agencies under one roof. It would also work closely with VALOUR Field Officers to ensure seamless support across the region.
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said:
“Plymouth has a proud military heritage and is home to thousands of veterans who deserve the very best support.
I’m backing this bid because our city has the expertise, the community spirit, and the infrastructure to deliver a world-class VALOUR Centre.
This would be a game-changer for local veterans and their families.”
Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View said:
“This government made a commitment to veterans when it was elected, and this strategy honours that commitment.
“It will mean better support, better housing, better healthcare and better jobs for our veterans.
“And I am very excited that we will be bidding to have a VALOUR centre right here in Plymouth – it would mean that veterans here have easy access to all of the new support that this government is putting in place.
“This government is on the side of veterans and as your MPs, we are too.”
You can find out more about VALOUR Centres here