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

London Poppy Day raises over £1.2 million

Volunteers and members of the Armed Forces community came together at 70 different locations across the capital for Poppy Day. In a single day, they managed to raise £1,285,000, surpassing the £1 million target.

Royal British Legion beneficiary and veteran Laurence Moore said: “Thank you for donating to the Poppy Appeal. You are helping the Royal British Legion provide vital support services to the Armed Forces community.”

The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal has been running since 1921, with this year marking its 104^th anniversary.

Tens of thousands of veterans and civilians came to pay their respects to the fallen at the annual National Service of Remembrance in London. Representatives of the Armed Forces, Fishing Fleets and Merchant Air and Navy were also present.

The march past featured veterans alongside charities and civilian organisations. Overall, 326 different groups marched in the procession.

Full list of marching organisations

Career Transition Partnership (CTP) Employment Fairs

CTP employment fairs are free to attend and feature hundreds of forces-friendly recruiting employers.

They support veterans by providing resources, networking opportunities and access to employers with experience of hiring veterans and service leavers.

This employment fairs are open to serving and ex-military personnel who have registered to attend through the Career Transition Partnership and not to the general public.

Register to attend a CTP Employment Fair

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 (Formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn

Veterans’ employment

An employers’ guide to hiring veterans

The employers’ guide to hiring veterans (published by the OVA) was launched by the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer, former 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.

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 with 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 12,000 organisations have committed to improving the lives of Service people and their families.

Since 2011, the Armed Forces Covenant has been a promise that, as a society, we will acknowledge that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces and their families should be treated with fairness and respect.

Read more about Forces-friendly employers

Hiring a veteran is good for business

New figures were released by the Forces Employment Charity on Armed Forces Day 2024, revealing that the number of employers actively looking to hire veterans has risen by over 20% in the last 5 years. This is an increase from 2,981 in 2018, to 3,603 in 2023.

Read the full story on the Forces Employment Charity website

Veterans and small businesses

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)

Veterans’ support

Support for veterans and their families - OVA directory

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) and Ministry of Defence (MOD) have launched Support for veterans and their families, replacing the Veterans Gateway.

The services include support with physical and mental health, finance, employment, housing and social care.

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.

Royal British Legion

As the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, the Royal British Legion offers a large range of support to the community. They offer support after just one day of Service and continually through life, long after Service is over.

The Royal British Legion’s online Knowledge Base can help you find out what support the charity offers and what you could be eligible for as someone who has served.

Find out more about how the Royal British Legion could help you.

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.

Pension awareness webinar - 15 October

Hosted by the Forces Employment Charity, the webinar will cover:

topical pension-related issues to help become more ‘pension aware’
the latest information about AFPS 15 Remedy (McCloud) and how it might affect serving, transitioning or recently retired service people
the pension choices serving personnel have when planning for their second career
changes to the pension taxation rules (Annual Allowance and Lifetime Allowance)
how the Forces Pension Society can help you make the right pension decisions now and in the future

The webinar is for Service leavers and veterans.

Register for the pension awareness webinar.

Veterans and the devolved nations

Northern Ireland

The Veterans Commissioner provides an independent voice on behalf of veterans and their families living in Northern Ireland on a range of issues, including health, housing, welfare and social interaction.

More information about Northern Ireland’s Veterans Commissioner.

Applications now open for role of Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner

The newly advertised role seeks a dedicated individual to represent and advocate for veterans’ interests across Northern Ireland.

Scotland

The Scottish Veterans Commissioner works to improve outcomes and opportunities for veterans and their families in Scotland. This involves influencing policymakers to address any changes required in devolved public services.

More information on the Scottish Veterans Commissioner.

The Scottish Government and its Veterans Unit support the veterans and their families in Scotland. They can inform you and your next of kin about topics including housing, education, or employment.

Follow the Veterans Unit on X.

New report calls for improved identification for veterans in Scotland’s justice system

The Scottish Veterans Commissioner Susie Hamilton has called for improved identification of veterans within the justice system and more strategic use of data to enhance support, shape policy and develop future services.

In her latest report ‘Veterans and the Law’ (24 October) the commissioner examines whether the right support is in place for the small minority of veterans in custody or who come into contact with the criminal justice system, as well as considering the role and contribution of veterans who work or volunteer within the system.

Read the full article

Veterans Assist Scotland

Veterans Assist Scotland is a platform created for veterans and Armed Forces families living in Scotland. The website holds resources resources they might need including help finding the right school or college; options for places to live; getting access to a War Disablement pension; and routes into employment.

Wales

Welsh Government, public sector bodies, the tri-Services, employers and the charitable sector work in partnership to provide information and support for Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families in Wales.

Specific information and guidance is available in the following areas:

Wales CTP Jobs Fair

On 7 of November 2024 CTP will welcome you to the Welsh Job Fair. Every year CTP organises jobs fair across the country, giving the opportunity for veterans to network and meet potential employers.

More information on how to attend can be found at CTP Cardiff Employment Fair 2024.

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 is classified as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). The Trust looks after the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, worth £10 million each year.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund has 4 funding themes for now and the future:

Non-core healthcare services for veterans.
Removing barriers to family life.
Extra support, both in and after Service, for those who need help.
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.

Families and children

Education support is available for veterans and serving families through the following programmes:

Armed Forces Education Trust - for children and young adults whose education has been compromised as a result of a parents’ past or current Service.
Reading Force - uses reading to bring forces children and families closer together.
Forces Children Scotland - provides general support for children and young people from Armed Forces families in Scotland.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers - Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people from 0 to 25 years who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. When a young person joins Scotty’s, they become a member and are supported until their 25th birthday. Whether it be one-to-one bereavement support, a respite break with the family, an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation, or access to extracurricular activities, Scotty’s is always there for its members to ensure they don’t feel alone.

Service Charity Sector: Insight and Engagement

The Confederation of Service Charities logo.

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

Companies and organisations across the UK are celebrated for their support to the Armed Forces community.

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.

English Veterans Awards: 23 October 2024

Applications are now closed.

Northern Ireland Veterans Awards: 23 October 2024

Applications are now closed.

Welsh Veterans Awards

The Welsh Veterans Awards were hosted by Polly James and held at the 4* Vale Resort, Cardiff. The awards were sponsored by Vindico, in support of the Army Benevolent Fund, and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.

These were the fifth and largest Welsh Veterans Awards to date.

For more information and the winners visit Welcome to our Winners at this year’s Welsh Veterans Awards 2024.

Soldiering On Awards: 16 October 2024

The Soldiering On Awards recognise outstanding achievement in the Armed Forces community.

The winner of this award category is decided by public vote, which closed on 26 August 2024.

The inspirational finalists are:

Andy Reid MBE
Hari Budha Magar MBE
Jonathan Thomson CBE QGM

Meet the finalists.

Heropreneurs Awards

The Heropreneurs Awards celebrate the achievements of the military community in a commercial environment.

The 2024 winners will be announced on 14 November 2024 at the awards ceremony at The Shard, London.

Contact us

Enquiries

If you have a question about support and services available to veterans, please contact us.

Sign up to our monthly newsletter to stay updated on veterans’ news, giving you direct information from around the veteran eco system.

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

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Veterans News and Communications Hub

Latest news

London Poppy Day raises over £1.2 million

Career Transition Partnership (CTP) Employment Fairs

What is a veteran?

Veterans’ employment

An employers’ guide to hiring veterans

The Reed Group

The Forces Employment Charity

Forces-friendly employers

Hiring a veteran is good for business

Veterans and small businesses

Veterans: A Force for Business

Veterans’ support

Support for veterans and their families - OVA directory

Armed Forces & Veterans’ Breakfast Clubs

Royal British Legion

Forces Pension Society

Pension awareness webinar - 15 October

Veterans and the devolved nations

Northern Ireland

Applications now open for role of Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner

Scotland

New report calls for improved identification for veterans in Scotland’s justice system

Veterans Assist Scotland

Wales

Wales CTP Jobs Fair

Grants and funding

Veteran education

High Ground

Families and children

Service Charity Sector: Insight and Engagement

Veterans Awards

English Veterans Awards: 23 October 2024

Northern Ireland Veterans Awards: 23 October 2024

Welsh Veterans Awards

Soldiering On Awards: 16 October 2024

Heropreneurs Awards

Contact us

Enquiries

Newsletter

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