£1m veterans’ support hub planned for Leeds

A new centre in Armley is expected to connect veterans, reservists and their families with services across West Yorkshire from July 2027.

Leeds is set to become the base for a regional support hub after a partnership of five West Yorkshire councils secured £999,014 in government funding.

The bid was led by Leeds City Council, working with Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield councils. The funding comes from the Government’s VALOUR-recognised centres development fund and will support a centre at Armley Community Hub, as well as outreach and partnership work across the five council areas.

A single point of access

The centre is intended to operate as a “no wrong door” service: a single point of access where people can discuss what help they need and be connected with the relevant organisation. It will coordinate referrals and warm handovers, with the aim of helping people navigate services without having to repeatedly explain their circumstances.

Support is expected to cover housing, health, employment, education, welfare and financial guidance. It will be provided through a combination of direct help, partner organisations and coordinated referrals. The project plans to work with charities, NHS services, housing providers, employment and skills services, and community organisations.

People will not need to travel to Armley to access all aspects of the project. Community Connectors are expected to work across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield, developing local partnerships, identifying unmet needs and delivering outreach.

Projected reach

Over the three-year funding period, the project aims to support around 1,500 veterans and reservists directly. A further 3,100 people, including family members, are expected to benefit indirectly.

The centre will build on existing partnership work between the five councils and local Armed Forces Covenant networks, charities, public services and community organisations. It is also expected to work with partners across Yorkshire and the Humber, drawing on the experience of Hull4Heroes, described as the region’s first VALOUR-recognised centre.

VALOUR is a UK-wide government programme intended to help veterans and their families find appropriate support. The council information says people can also seek help from anywhere in the UK through MoD Veterans Services, including telephone-based case management, or use online self-help resources through the VALOUR website.

The Armley centre is expected to open in July 2027. The funding announcement describes the award as part of the second wave of the development fund, in which 20 new lead organisations received awards, alongside additional funding for an existing centre.