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Information sources for veterans, ex-armed forces and their families

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Information, advice, guidance and support

Welcome to Scotland: a guide for service personnel and their families moving to Scotland

The guide Welcome to Scotland: a guide for service personnel and their families moving to Scotland provides practical information to service personnel and their families on topics such as housing, education, healthcare and employment.

Scottish Veterans Commissioner

The Scottish Veterans Commissioner (SVC) works to improve the lives and opportunities of the veterans community in Scotland by engaging with members of the ex-Service community, as well as the public, private and voluntary organisations that represent them.

Veterans Scotland

Veterans Scotland’s aim is to establish cooperation and coordination between Veterans organisations in Scotland, to act as a focal point for all matters concerning the ex-service community within Scotland and to represent those matters to Government at all levels.

Forces in Mind Trust - toolkit development for University and College Champions.

Scottish Government Safer Communities Directorate

The Veterans Employability Strategic Group sits in this Scottish Government Directorate.

SCiP Alliance

The SCiP Alliance brings people together to improve educational outcomes for children from military families so they can make informed and confident transitions through further and higher education into thriving adult lives and careers.

UCAS

UCAS has worked with the SCiP Alliance to create resources for students writing personal statements, schools and colleges supporting service children, and more recently, a guide for HE admissions departments.

With regard to the Commission on Widening Access, UCAS has also produced information about entry requirements in Scotland, created in consultation with the Universities Scotland language sub-group.

Scottish Government

The Scottish Government has published Support for veterans and the armed forces community, which outlines support for the veterans and Armed Forces Community. It highlights the work from across the public sector in the past year over a range of themes including health, housing, employability and education.

Education and training

Skills Development Scotland

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is Scotland’s National Careers Service delivering, among other things, Careers Information and Advice Services. They work with Scotland’s Colleges and Universities, and are currently piloting activity on the provision of impartial careers advice to transitioning personnel.

SDS has a Veterans Champion in each of its five regional areas and the My World of Work Support for Armed Forces leavers and veterans page was developed with Veterans Scotland.

Careers Transition Partnership

Careers Transition Partnership (CTP) is the official provider of Armed Forces resettlement. The CTP provides resettlement services for those leaving the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines. Regardless of time served, all members of the Armed Forces can benefit from CTP support when leaving Service.

Student Awards Agency Scotland

The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) is an agency of the Scottish Government giving financial support to eligible students doing a course of higher education in the UK. They receive over 150,000 applications annually from undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as applications for the Disabled Student Allowance, NHS Bursary Scheme and Part-time Fee Grant. Their website provides information on all types of student funding available and allows you to apply for your financial support.

Residency

There are special arrangements for military personnel and their families who may be temporarily absent from Scotland for periods of time due to being posted abroad or posted elsewhere in the UK. In most instances they should apply for support to the country in the UK in which the family member in the military was ordinarily resident when they joined up.

See the latest Further Education Residency guidance.

College Development Network

The College Development Network (CDN) leads on innovation, creating CPD opportunities and sharing best practice.

Universities Scotland

Universities Scotland is a membership organisation working for the Principals and Directors of Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions. It develops higher education policy and campaign on issues where its members have a shared interest.

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) helps people of all ages and circumstances to access the education and training that is appropriate to them over their lifetime. It can help you plan your learning and develop progression routes to follow, whatever your situation may be.

Scottish Funding Council

Our funding enables Scotland’s colleges and universities to provide life-changing opportunities for over half a million people. Our work in is bringing colleges and universities together in new ways and providing more people with more routes into learning and skills.