Armed Forces Equine Charity joins the VALOUR South West partnership

We are proud to announce that the Armed Forces Equine Charity is part of the VALOUR South West partnership, a new Government-backed initiative supporting veterans across the region.

Led by Alabaré, the partnership brings together seven organisations to deliver a more joined-up and accessible network of support for the Armed Forces community. This includes the development of veteran support centres, with one based at Alabaré’s Riverside Sanctuary in Salisbury.

The VALOUR programme, launched by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, is designed to improve access to essential services, including:

• Health
• Housing
• Employment
• Community support

Our role in the partnership:

As part of this collaboration, the Armed Forces Equine Charity will contribute by providing:

• Equine Assisted Support sessions
• Places for veterans on our Active Recovery Courses

These programmes use the unique connection between humans and horses to support recovery, build confidence, and improve long-term wellbeing.

Working together to strengthen support:

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving outcomes for veterans and their families by creating more connected pathways into support.

Alongside partners including Defence Medical Welfare Service, Defence Gardens Scheme, Icarus Charity, The Poppy Factory and The Warrior Programme, we are helping to ensure that Veterans can access the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

Why this matters:

The VALOUR programme represents a significant step forward in how support is delivered to the Armed Forces community.

By working collaboratively across the sector, we are:

• Expanding access to specialist support
• Strengthening referral pathways between organisations
• Delivering more holistic, person-centred recovery journeys

Together, this approach enables us to better support both serving personnel and veterans through structured programmes and community-based services.

Looking ahead:

We are excited to be part of this important initiative and look forward to working closely with our partners to make a lasting difference to the lives of veterans and their families across the South West.