09. How can I return to where I served overseas in the Second World War?

If you served in the Second World War, a new scheme called Veterans Reunited can help you return to where you served.

The Veterans Reunited scheme has been set up by the Big Lottery Fund to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

There are three parts to the scheme:

• Heroes Return - this helps organise and pay for veterans and their families to go back to the places they served during the war.
• Home Front Recall - this helps organise and pay for events to celebrate the part played by people in the UK during the war.
• Their Past, Your Future - this gives information on activities for schools and young people to learn more about the war and understand what happened because of it.

The Heroes Return scheme 
This helps veterans of the Second World War who served in the British and Allied forces overseas, including prisoners of war and Merchant Navy veterans, to arrange visits back to the places where they saw active service. In some cases, widows and widowers will also be able to take part. The scheme will pay for travel costs and help veterans record their experiences so that new generations can learn from them.
 
There will be a fixed sum of money for each veteran and their husband, wife or long-term partner, to pay for their visit. If you need a carer to travel with you, you will receive money to pay for them to go too. The amount of money will depend on where you go. Money is available only for a visit in 2004 or 2005, and you should apply by 31 March 2005.
 
Money will usually be given to veterans' organisations to allow them to arrange group visits. However, in some cases individual veterans will be able to apply directly for money.
 
Most visits will be to do with events in 1944 and 1945, but if you want to return to a country where you served during other years of the Second World War, you will also be able to get help to do this.
 
Every veteran who goes on a Heroes Return visit will receive a pack explaining how they can link to the schools' scheme 'Their Past, Your Future', so that new generations can learn from their experiences.
 
For more about the scheme, and how to take part, contact the Veterans Agency for details. See 'Further Help' below for details on how to contact the Veterans Agency. 

If you need a passport to take part in a Heroes Return visit, the Home Office will give you a free one-year passport, called a concessionary passport. To get one, you must be eligible for a British passport, and:

• have taken part in the action being commemorated; or
• be the husband, wife, partner, widow, widower or carer of a person who took part. 

The Home Front Recall scheme
This provides money for activities in the UK to commemorate the events that led to the end of the Second World War. The scheme will help pay for activities to bring communities together, and to make sure that all generations can commemorate and remember the contribution made by the people of Britain during the War.

These activities can include:

• street parties;
• services;
• reunions; and
• parades. 

It is intended that the scheme will not just provide funding for veterans organisations but for a wide range of projects that can commemorate the contribution and experience of, for example: 

• UK-based armed service personnel
• firefighters;
• auxiliary services;
• Bevin boys; 
• dock workers; 
• industrial workers;
• nurses; and
• codebreakers.