³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

A new pilot scheme has been established to help veterans in Northern Ireland with their physical and mental health.

The £500,000 scheme, led by charity Defence Medical Welfare Service, will run for 18 months.

It is being funded by the Office for Veterans' Affairs - which was set up by the UK government in 2019.

The new scheme will link veterans to support services and provide advice on issues from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) to musculoskeletal problems.

It is hoped it will also provide an insight into veterans' health needs.

Staff from the Defence Medical Welfare Service charity will work across Northern Ireland.

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Johnny Mercer said he wanted to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran.

"This new pilot service for veterans in Northern Ireland will provide important advice and support in areas such as mental and physical health, as well as where to access the right care," he said.

"I'm proud that this is the first Northern Ireland-specific funding from the Office for Veterans' Affairs."

It is hoped that anonymous data gathered by the scheme will give an insight into veterans' unmet needs.

Danny Kinahan, Northern Ireland's veterans commissioner, said that as well as providing "much needed support", the project would "ensure veterans living here feel more included and valued for their dedicated and selfless service".