Veterans News and Communications Hub

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This collaborative project is delivered by Defence Relationship Management and Cobseo (The Confederation of Service Charities). The Hub enables forces-friendly organisations across all sectors to showcase the continued value of the UK’s highly skilled veteran community.

Latest news

Launch of ‘OP PROSPER’ to boost veterans’ employment

On Friday 12 of April, the Prime Minister met veterans, businesses and charities to announce dedicated employment support service.

OP PROSPER- a wraparound employment service to support veterans into work after they leave the Armed Forces. The scheme will support veterans in securing high paid jobs, where they can hone the skills that they developed in the military in key sectors that are helping to boost the economy.

Read the full story

Veterans Unclaimed Armed Forces Pensions – A Call to Action!

Campaigning is at the very heart of the Forces Pension Society’s ethos, history and reputation, and their ongoing campaign to assist veterans to claim their pension rights has been gathering momentum over the last couple of years.

This is partly as a result of the publication of the last Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) Annual Report (July 2023) showing the number of unclaimed deferred pension benefits has grown still further in 2022/3, reaching more than 17,100.

The Society is also pleased to report added momentum provided by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, announcing in its recent Veterans’ Strategy update that:

The OVA is working with the MOD and the Forces Pension Society to reunite more veterans with unclaimed, deferred pension benefits.

To re-state the key issues of this growing concern:

Anyone serving after April 1975 now aged 60 or over could have an Armed Forces pension if they served for two years or more.
The pension is not paid automatically – Veterans must apply to Veterans UK using AFPS Form 8 or call 0800 085 3600 for information.
Between June 2020 and May 2022, over 4,000 preserved Armed Forces pensions went unclaimed.

Forces Pension Society CEO, Maj Gen Neil Marshall said:

These unclaimed pensions, in many cases, represent quite substantial sums of money. And the situation has not improved, with the number of unclaimed pensions rising.

We urge anyone who may know a Veteran who has not yet claimed a pension to apply to Veterans UK using AFPS Form 8 or call 0800 085 3600 for further information.

For our part, the Society will maintain its focus on this issue until we see more of these pensions in the hands of those who earned them. We encourage you to join our campaign and share our message.

More information about the Forces Pension Society

Greenwich Hospital awards grant of £24k to HighGround

In recognition of HighGround’s expertise in providing horticultural therapy and land-based employment-focused experiences to former and serving military personnel, Greenwich Hospital has awarded the charity a grant of £24,448.

What is a veteran?

Veterans are defined as anyone who has served for at least one day in His Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations. There are currently 2.4 million veterans in Great Britain.

There are 2.4 million veterans in Great Britain. 40% of veterans are 16-64 years old. The percentage of working age veterans is set to increase to 44% by 2028. 60% of veterans are over 65. 75% of veterans own their home or have a mortgage. It is estimated that 3% to 6% of those sleeping rough have served in the armed forces. 75% are healthy, 17% have fair health and 8% have bad health. Want to learn more? Tune in to our ‘being forces friendly’ podcast’.

Listen to our team of veterans talk about their experiences: transitioning from the UK Armed Forces and what the word ‘veteran’ means to them.

You can find and listen to all of our Being Forces Friendly podcast episodes on Anchor.

Share your story: what does the word “veteran” mean to you? Use the hashtag #ProudToBeAVeteran on the platforms below:

X (Previously Twitter)
LinkedIn

Veterans’ employment

An employer’s guide to hiring veterans

The employers’ guide to hiring veterans (published by the OVA) was launched by the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP, Minister For Veteran Affairs at the Federation of Small Businesses HQ in London.

The guide provides support to organisations that seek guidance and best practices for the employment, retention, and career development of veterans. Case studies from existing organisations are included, providing tips and lived experiences.

Read the employers’ guide to hiring veterans

Career Transition Partnership

The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is a partnering agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Right Management Ltd, who are global career development and outplacement specialists and part of the ManpowerGroup. CTP provides resettlement services for those leaving the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Marines. Regardless of time served, all members of the Armed Forces can benefit from CTP support when leaving Service. In addition, they operate as an intermediary service for employers wishing to hire Service leavers.

To date, they have assisted over 235,000 Service leavers with the transition to civilian life and supported thousands of organisations looking to employ ex-Service personnel.

Find out how CTP can help your organisation harness military talent

CTP employment fairs connect employers with skilled and experienced individuals who have un-paralleled transferable skills in planning, communication, teamwork and leadership, along with adaptability, drive and resilience.

Career Transition Partnership leaflet (PDF, 95.2 KB, 1 page)

The Reed Group

The Reed Group has recently been awarded the Gold Employer Recognition Scheme Award.

The Reed Group has created an internal Armed Forces Veterans and Reservists Group (AFVR), a Group-wide community for Armed Forces/ex-Armed Forces staff to connect.

The AFVR Group’s benefits include:

offering employees a support group of people with similar experiences
recreating a sense of camaraderie that they may be missing from their time in the forces
offering an optional buddy system for mentoring new staff, especially when this is a member’s first civilian job
sharing Armed Forces events, news and experiences

Joanna Chapman, Reed Group business development manager, has said:

This shows our commitment to supporting Armed Forces personnel and ensuring they are not disadvantaged by their Service. We work continuously to create new and improve existing policies and initiatives that support those who have served and those who continue to serve, including guidance documents for our recruiting staff and job application support for those applying to work for Reed.

Their working group will also hold group-wide talks to raise awareness for employing the Armed Forces Community, the benefits they bring to employers, and how they can be supported. Reed opens group talks to external stakeholders to host and bring their expertise, and they welcome anyone who would be interested in attending. If you would like to participate, email the Reed Armed Forces Community at ArmedForces.Community@reed.com.

The Forces Employment Charity

The Forces Employment Charity stands by ex-Forces personnel through a range of programmes and practical support. Supporting anyone who has served at least one day in His Majesty’s Regular Armed Forces, or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations. Support is delivered by experienced advisors, many of whom also served. The Forces Employment Charity advisors are committed to helping veterans succeed through their working lives.

The Forces Employment Charity programmes provide a range of practical tools and advice to help veterans use their military skills to stand out from the crowd.

The support provided includes:

Advice on career choices
Researching the job market
Job matching
Advice on training
Recommendations for courses and education
Support for writing a CV
Advice on interview techniques
Expert industry knowledge and updates
Events and employment fairs

For more information visit The Forces Employment Charity.

Forces Friendly employers

More than 10,000 organisations have committed to improving the lives of service people and their families, with John Lewis becoming the latest signatory to mark this major milestone.

Since 2011, when the concept was enshrined into law, the Covenant reinforced the moral obligation between nation, government and Armed Forces which has since seen UK organisations of all sizes commit to treating our Armed Forces Personnel, and their families, fairly.

In addition to fostering commitments to the Covenant, the government has committed millions of pounds in funding to ensure veterans’ mental health, accommodation, and childcare, among other issues, is well catered for and funded.

Read more about Forces Friendly employers

Veterans and small businesses

Veteran-owned UK group signing the Armed Forces Covenant in March 2020. MOD Crown Copyright 2020.

Veterans: A Force for Business

X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) and the Federation of Small Business (FSB) have collaborated extensively over the last few years, beginning with an insightful report into the business landscape for service leavers: A Force For Business.

The report highlights the contribution of the UK’s veteran population to the small business sector, with 6% of small business owned by veterans in Great Britain. However the report shows that there is scope for this to be increased, greater numbers of veterans starting, growing or working in Great Britain’s millions of small businesses would see benefits for individuals, businesses and communities.

info graphic with stats for service leavers, it shows there are 925,000 veterans of working age in the UK in 2016, and that 6% of small businesses are owned by veterans. — (Copyright X-Forces 2021)

Veteran’s Support

Armed Forces & Veterans’ Breakfast Clubs

The Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Clubs (AFVBC) is now the single largest veterans organisation in the UK, and membership growing weekly.

With over 400 clubs nationally and 15 overseas, the AFVBC seeks to end social isolation for veterans. The clubs bring people with a connection to the UK Armed Forces together and offers a chance to reminisce, share stories and interact with a community that is missed by most when leaving the Armed Forces.

The AFVBC is also conducting five pilot programmes in HM prisons across the UK, building a Armed Forces community within HM prisons. These pilot programmes help with social interaction, rehabilitation and a support structure for veterans who are currently within the criminal justice system.

Lindsay Beadnall from the AFVBC, said:

The AFVBC acts as a beacon of hope and a landmark for those who are at HMP Stocken. It gives them a community, purpose, a chance to learn new skills. And somewhere to head to when they leave HMP Stocken. Our young veterans are gaining awards and are developing their skills for employment on their release. It gives most a second chance.

Find your local AFVBC.

Forces Pension Society

The Forces Pension Society is an independent, not-for-profit membership funded organisation. They act as a pension watchdog for the whole Armed Forces community and raise awareness about the complexities and benefits of their Armed Forces Pension.The Society empowers its members to make better, well-informed choices about their Armed Forces Pension, and provide members of the Armed Forces Pension Schemes and their partners with personalised pension guidance.

They also work in collaboration with government to ensure the appropriate delivery of your pension, and run a series of roadshows and other educational sessions to better prepare the Armed Forces community on all pension matters.

More information about the Forces Pension Society.

HM Armed Forces Veteran ID Card

Veterans from across the UK can now apply for their veterans ID Card. The roll-out, which started in January, enables veterans to apply for their card digitally.

The new digital verification service includes:

online applications via GOV.UK
identity checks using GOV.UK’s new One Login service
automated service checking to confirm veteran status for most applications using MOD service records databases
increasing MOD’s secure card-printing capacity to deal with the expected applications using a new high-capacity card printing machine

A paper-based application process is also available for veterans who are unable to use the online service.

Find out more about the Veteran ID card.

Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan

Top commitments in the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan include:

• employment and skills

• healthcare

• understanding the veteran community

View ‘Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan: 2022 to 2024’.

Veterans and the devolved nations

Northern Ireland

The UK Government is committed to making the UK the best country in the world to be a veteran. In 2019, it established the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) to lead the cross-government delivery of the Strategy for our Veterans and to provide leadership, advocacy and improved coordination of veterans’ issues across the UK.

The UK Government and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs are dedicated to ensuring that Northern Ireland’s veteran community fully benefits from the OVA’s resources and expertise. The OVA will therefore establish an enhanced presence in Northern Ireland to provide strategic coordination of organisations, programmes and initiatives that support veterans’ wellbeing locally. Service providers and veterans will be able to make the most of the full range of policy, research, data and communication competencies the OVA has to offer.

To avoid duplication of purpose and to facilitate greater alignment with the Strategy for our Veterans, the Northern Ireland Veterans Support Office (NIVSO), which has been instrumental in coordinating veteran support in Northern Ireland, will close on 30 September 2024. The OVA would like to thank the NIVSO’s dedicated staff for their commitment to supporting veterans and their families over a number of years, ensuring the local veteran community is valued, understood, supported and connected.

The OVA will work closely with the NIVSO to ensure a smooth transition over the next six months. Further information on the UK Government’s plans to improve support for veterans in Northern Ireland will be shared in the coming weeks. In the interim, veteran support services will continue as normal across Northern Ireland, including those grant funded posts and projects facilitated by NIVSO. In parallel with this, the Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland (VWS NI) continues to deliver high quality, holistic welfare support to veterans of all Capbadges and Services through its Field Teams across NI.

For further information, please contact: veterans@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Scotland

Grants from The Veterans’ Foundation

Legion Scotland have announced the award of £12k from the Veterans Foundation. This award is to allow Legion Scotland’s Veterans Community Support Service to begin planning for our service users living with isolation & loneliness and other complex issues to attend a Pilgrimage in 2024.

To apply, visit the Veterans’ Foundation website

Detailed guidance is available via the tab “Apply for a grant” including which documents to provide. Contact grants@veteransfoundation.org.uk with enquiries.

Wales

Caerphilly Veterans Support Hub

Nestled in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, the Caerphilly Veterans Support Hub is a thriving community for veterans and their families. With over 60 attendees weekly, the Hub offers complimentary refreshments and a warm atmosphere every Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 at the Centre for Sporting Excellence.

More than just a social gathering, the Hub provides vital support services, including housing, benefits, and mental health guidance. Generous grants and local donations enable monthly day trips to museums, markets, and sporting events, enriching the lives of veterans and their families.

Join the Caerphilly Veterans Support Hub for camaraderie, assistance, and memorable experiences in a welcoming environment dedicated to serving those who have served. For more information, please contact: info@caerphillyveteranshub.or.

Group of friends from Llandudno cycling 200km around Anglesey for military charity

Three friends from Llandudno are set to cycle 200km around Anglesey to raise money for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Read the story

Grants and funding

Funding and grants are available for organisations wishing to support the Armed Forces; however, they will not be available for individual support. If you require specific and individual assistance, please get in touch, and we will advise you on the best course of action.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) supports the Armed Forces Covenant by delivering funding programmes that create real change to Armed Forces communities across the UK.

The Trust is a charity and are classified as a Non-Departmental Public Body, or NDPB. The Trust looks after the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, worth £10m each year.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund has four broad funding themes now and in future years.

1. non-core healthcare services for veterans

2. removing barriers to family life

3. extra support, both in and after Service, for those who need help

4. measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the Armed Forces community to participate as citizens

Find out more about eligibility and grant support

Veteran education

High Ground

High Ground helps service leavers, reservists and veterans assess their military skills and experience and how these apply to the land-based sector. It also offers many opportunities for employment and self-employment.

High Ground offers Rural Weeks: 5 fully residential days at an agricultural college for 8 service leavers, reservists and veterans to learn more about the land-based sector from subject matters experts.

Rural Weeks are run by our Rural Employment Manager in conjunction with the delivering agricultural college.

Service Charity Sector: Insight and Engagement

Cobseo (The Confederation of Service Charities), through its membership of service charities represents the whole serving and Veterans Community. Visit the Cobseo website where you will find the most up to date news, funding opportunities, help and transition guidance for Veterans and their families.

Veterans Awards

The Veterans Awards are open to all Armed Forces veterans, serving reservists and organisations and companies that support or employ people from the Armed Forces community.

Contact us

FAQs

Have a question about support services available to Veterans?

Submit your question here

Read the FAQs

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To add your updates to the Veterans News and Communication Hub please contact: CO-COMMS@RFCA.MOD.UK.

Veterans News and Communications Hub

Latest news

Launch of ‘OP PROSPER’ to boost veterans’ employment

Veterans Unclaimed Armed Forces Pensions – A Call to Action!

Greenwich Hospital awards grant of £24k to HighGround

What is a veteran?