Scarborough Veterans To Receive Support Through £50,000 Freemasons Grant

Around 75 local veterans and unpaid carers in Scarborough and the surrounding areas will receive tailored support thanks to a £50,000 grant awarded to Carers Plus Yorkshire.

Around 75 local veterans from Scarborough, Ryedale and the surrounding areas are set to receive dedicated support over the next twelve months.

Carers Plus Yorkshire has been awarded a £50,000 grant from the Yorkshire North and East Riding Freemasons to fund the Carer Connections for Veterans project.

The initiative aims to enhance support for unpaid veteran carers while developing community-based volunteer opportunities across the region.

A key focus of the newly funded project is supporting unpaid carers from the Armed Forces community. This includes individuals caring for veterans who are experiencing physical injuries, mental health challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder, substance misuse, or age-related conditions linked to their military service.

According to Carers Plus Yorkshire, the project will provide practical and emotional support, as well as tailored information and advice. It is designed to address significant barriers faced by former service personnel, including stigma, issues of identity, and the transition to civilian life.

A specific proportion of the grant has been dedicated to activity provision, which will ensure that veterans can access peer support and group activities.

The organisation notes that the project will significantly strengthen support for veteran unpaid carers by recognising the unique cultural, social, and systemic factors that can impact both veterans and their families.

All services provided to carers through the project will be free of charge, with support delivered through dedicated one-to-one work by a Veterans Adviser from Carers Plus Yorkshire.

Carers Plus Yorkshire highlighted that many people with military experience are proud, resilient, and used to getting on with things. The organisation warned that this mindset can lead to individuals remaining isolated and not seeking help until they reach a crisis point.

The project aims to change this pattern by providing accessible, tailored support earlier on, alongside opportunities for engagement that reduce isolation and improve overall wellbeing.

In addition to direct support, the project will work closely with local Freemason groups linked to the Masonic Charitable Foundation. They plan to develop volunteering opportunities, co-design initiatives with those involved, and strengthen community-based support networks to create practical and sustainable ways for volunteers to contribute.

The funding will support local veterans such as Andy Baddley, who served in the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards. He completed tours in Northern Ireland in 1984, Cyprus with the United Nations in 1989, and was deployed during the Gulf War. He now acts as a carer for his wife.

Andy Baddley said:

"This funding means a great deal to veterans like me. It opens opportunities to take part in activities and outings that simply wouldn’t be possible otherwise. The individual support that comes with it is just as important; it really does make a difference to people’s lives."

Carers Plus Yorkshire stated that Andy Baddley is not alone in his situation, noting that around 73 per cent of local veterans have a caring role for someone with dementia, mental ill health, or a long-term health condition.

Elizabeth McPherson, the Chief Executive Officer at Carers Plus Yorkshire, said:

"We’re very grateful to Yorkshire Freemasons for their generous grant. This £50,000 funding plays a crucial role in allowing us to deliver essential support to veterans. It enables us to offer both one-to-one support and group activities, helping veterans improve their wellbeing and stay connected within their communities, following their service to our country."

Martin Eggermont from Yorkshire Freemasons said:

"I’m really pleased we’ve been able to support our local military veterans through this excellent project from Carers Plus Yorkshire. I’m very proud Freemasons are giving something back to those who have given so much to our country."