Leeds to become home to £1 million hub supporting veterans across West Yorkshire

Leeds is set to become home to a new £1 million regional hub supporting veterans, reservists and their families across West Yorkshire, making it easier for them to find and access the help they need.

A joint bid led by Leeds City Council and delivered in partnership with Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield councils, has secured £999,014 from the government’s VALOUR-recognised centres development fund.

The funding will support the development of a physical VALOUR-recognised centre at Armley Community Hub in Leeds, alongside outreach and partnership activity across all five West Yorkshire local authority areas. The centre is expected to open in July 2027.

Leaving the Armed Forces can be a significant transition, not just for those who have served but for their families too. At different points in their lives, veterans, reservists and their families may need support with health, housing, employment, education, finances or simply finding their way through the range of services available. VALOUR is a UK-wide government-led programme designed to make that journey easier by bringing organisations together and creating a clear, accessible route to the right support.

The West Yorkshire centre will operate as a ‘no wrong door’ service, providing a single, welcoming point of access where veterans and members of the Armed Forces community can explore what support they need and be connected with the right organisation. The centre will coordinate referrals and warm handovers, helping people navigate existing services without having to repeatedly explain their circumstances.

Support will include access to housing, health, employment, education, welfare and financial guidance through a combination of direct support, partner delivery and coordinated referrals. The centre will work closely with charities, NHS services, housing providers, employment and skills services and community organisations.

The service will not be limited to those who can travel to Armley. A team of Community Connectors will work across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield, building local partnerships, identifying unmet needs and delivering outreach activities.

Over the three-year funding period, the project aims to support around 1,500 veterans and reserves directly, with a further 3,100 people benefiting indirectly, including family members and others who may benefit from improved wellbeing, stability and access to support.

The new VALOUR-recognised centre builds on the strong partnership working already established between the five West Yorkshire local authorities and the region’s Armed Forces Covenant networks, charities, statutory services and community organisations.

The project will also work with partners across the wider Yorkshire and Humber region, building on the valuable experience and support of Hull4Heroes, the region’s first VALOUR-recognised centre, to help ensure veterans, reservists and their families can access consistent, joined-up support wherever they are based.

Veterans and their families can also access support from anywhere in the UK through MoD Veterans Services, which provides telephone-based case management, or through the online self-help resources available via the VALOUR website.

Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said:

“We are delighted that Leeds will become home to a new VALOUR-recognised centre, supporting veterans, reservists and their families across West Yorkshire.

“Our Armed Forces community has made an enormous contribution to our city and our region, and it is important that those who have served, and their families, can access the right support easily and when they need it.

“This funding gives us an exciting opportunity to build on the excellent work already taking place across West Yorkshire, bringing partners together to create a more joined-up and accessible system of support.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in developing this successful bid. The strength of our partnerships across West Yorkshire has been fundamental to securing this opportunity, and I look forward to seeing the positive difference the VALOUR-recognised centre will make.”

Councillor Jane Dowson, Leeds Armed Forces Champion, and Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe, Chair of the Leeds Armed Forces Covenant Board, said jointly:

“We are absolutely delighted that our joint bid has been successful and that Leeds will become home to a VALOUR-recognised centre.

“Our vision has always been to create a central, accessible point of support - a place where people can find the help they need easily and without cost.

“By bringing together the five West Yorkshire councils and our wider network of partners, the centre will strengthen the connections between the many organisations already supporting our Armed Forces community. The ‘no wrong door’ approach will make it easier for people to navigate that support and get to the right service.

“We are extremely grateful to all our partners across West Yorkshire who have contributed to this work and helped make the bid possible. Their commitment, expertise and willingness to work together have been instrumental in securing this funding.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• VALOUR is a £50 million UK-wide support service for veterans and their families, helping them access the right support when they need it. It is an Ministry Of Defence programme delivered by the Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA), and a key commitment of the Government's Veterans Strategy. The service will expand over time to include the wider Armed Forces community, supported by the extended Armed Forces Covenant legal duty. Further information and support is available at www.gov.uk/valour.
• The VALOUR-recognised centre development fund supports the establishment of centres across the UK, improving access to face-to-face advice, guidance and support. It is funded by the OVA within the Ministry of Defence and administered on its behalf by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. In the second wave of funding, 20 new lead organisations received awards, alongside additional funding for an existing centre.
• VALOUR is a wider system of support, not just its recognised centres. Veterans can access support anywhere in the UK through MOD Veterans Services, including telephone-based case management, while online self-help resources are also available. Many recognised centres also provide outreach. VALOUR will continue to develop throughout 2026 and 2027, with full maturity expected in 2028.