Charities and organisations are set to benefit from £200,000 of funding in a programme looking to build community-led projects to honour, recognise and support the UK's nuclear test veterans and their families.
The fund is now open for bidding from groups and comes following the UK Government's decision in November to recognise nuclear test veterans service with medals – 70 years after the first British test of a nuclear weapon.
The veterans contributed to Britain's nuclear testing programme, which also saw personnel serve in Australia and the south Pacific between 1952 and 1967.
Johnny Mercer, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, said it is "only right that we support and recognise the experiences of our nuclear test veterans, so future generations can learn from their experiences".
"To this day the nuclear deterrent remains the cornerstone of our defence and that is substantially due to the service and contribution of the brilliant nuclear test veterans," he said.
"The funding provided today kickstarts that process, and I look forward to seeing the fantastic projects put forward by our third-sector partners."
In order to receive funding, the projects must meet at least one of three criteria.
They must either directly support nuclear test veterans and their families, memorialise nuclear test veterans and their experiences, or provide educational activities to raise public awareness of their service.
A Government steering group will make the final decisions on funding.
The Office for Veterans' Affairs will also continue its work with academic institutions to create a living history project, further raising awareness of nuclear test veterans and their experiences.
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