'Heroes Return' veteran tour funding extended

The Big Lottery Fund has extended its Heroes Return 2 programme to enable veterans to apply for funding to make second trips. The programme deadline for closure will now be end of 2015. This will ensure Second World War veterans from the UK, Channel Islands and Republic of Ireland who have already been funded since the programme opened in 2009, will have a second opportunity to apply for a grant towards travel and accommodation expenses to enable them to make trips back to places across the world where they served, or make a commemorative visit in the UK.

Funds are available for WWII veterans (including former prisoners of war) resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland who saw active service overseas with or alongside the British and Allied Armed Forces between September 1939 and September 1945. WWII veterans may be accompanied by a spouse and/or carer. Widows and widowers of WWII veterans are also eligible, in most cases.

This grant enables WW2 veterans, their spouse and a carer (where necessary) to return to where they served in the UK or overseas with substantial funds being made available towards the cost of travel and accommodation. The amount awarded is a fixed amount per veteran and depends on the number of people taking part and the destination. This means that the amount of grant we will award will depend on where you visit.

For more information about grants from Heroes Return, call the advice line on 0845 00 00 121 or visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/heroesreturn