Veterans News and Communications Hub

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

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Expansion of government career support for veterans

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Read the full story

Sign up to Op ASCEND

New veterans career guide for automotive industry

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Mission Automotive have launched a new sector career guide for veterans. The guide contains advice for service-leavers considering a career in the industry, including the roles in high demand and the qualifications and skills needed for them.

Read the guide

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

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An employers’ guide to hiring veterans

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

OP ASCEND – careers after service

Veterans in the UK now have access to OP ASCEND, which aims to improve the career support available to veterans, regardless of when they left service.

Sign up to Op ASCEND

The Reed Group

The Reed Group has created an internal Armed Forces Veterans and Reservists Group (AFVR) community.

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

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.

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.

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 the Royal British Legion

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

2025 Unclaimed Pensions campaign

Blind Veterans UK

Blind Veterans UK is the national charity for ex-service men and women with severe sight loss.

The charity helps blind veterans to learn vital life skills and gives them the rehabilitation, training and support they need to live independent lives.

Find out more about Blind Veterans UK

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

Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner launches podcast to share NI veteran stories

Now 3 months into his role as the second Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland, the Commissioner is launching a podcast to share the stories of veterans living in Northern Ireland.

Titled ‘Once a Warrior: Life Beyond the Uniform’, the podcast will premiere on 28 March 2025. The series will explore the personal experiences of those who have served in the armed forces, bringing to light the challenges, resilience, and contributions of veterans.

Guests will include Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers, who recount their experiences of surviving assassination attempts and teaching their loved ones how to use personal protection weapons. The podcast also features insights from the Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP.

More information about the podcast

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

Female Veterans Transformation Program (FVTP)

One year from its launch, the FVTP has published its consultation report: ‘In Their Own Words’. The report calls for greater awareness that women veterans may have different needs from their male counterparts and emphasises the importance of recognising the diversity within the community. It follows 6 months of engagement with over 800 women veterans and 40 support organisations,

Find out more

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:

• housing
• employment
• general support for serving Armed Forces personnel and their families

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.

Armed Covenant Fund Trust

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) funds projects that support the delivery of the nation’s covenant promise to our serving personnel, veterans and their families.

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

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund has 4 aims:

1. Providing non-core healthcare services for veterans 2. Removing barriers to family life 3. Supporting serving personnel and veterans who need help 4. Integrating military and civilian communities and allowing the armed forces community to participate as citizens

In 2024 the Trust launched its first Covenant Fund funding model based on evidence gathered from a wide-ranging consultation.

Find out more about the funding model

Available funding opportunities

Organisations that have been awarded grant funding

Information about the impact of the Trust’s work

Veterans’sVeterans Foundation

The Veterans’ Foundation was set up in 2016 to raise funds to help improve the lives of all within the armed forces community who need it. The funds raised are then donated to charities and organisations that have a real impact on those currently serving, veterans, and their families. These organisations support a range of needs, including mental health, physical therapy and rehabilitation, homelessness and education and training and more.

Charities and charitable organisations find it increasingly difficult to raise the funds they need to continue their vital and often life-changing work and rely on The Veterans’ Foundation for grants to support them. That was why retired Major General David Shaw set up The Veterans’ Foundation in 2016 and why it has grown to be one of the UK’s leading military charities.

Its main fundraising vehicle is the Veterans’ Lottery – the largest single-cause lottery in the UK – that has raised millions of pounds and enabled more than £25 million to be donated to good causes that support the armed forces community.

Apply for a grant

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.

Further education career support for female veterans

HighGround has developed a two-year programme designed to support female veterans in their transition to careers within the further education land-based sector, including a Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) recognised qualification.

There will be information sessions on 31 March and 1 April at Bicton College and Sparsholt College for those interested in applying.

Register for the sessions

Further information on the course

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

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

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.

Applications are open:

• Scottish Veterans Awards: 1 December 2024 - 23 February 2025
• Welsh Veterans Awards: 1 March - 24 May 2025
• English Veterans Awards - 1 June - 17 August 2025

Soldiering On Awards

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

Soldiering On Awards opens for nominations

The Soldiering On Awards have opened nominations for 2025, marking 15 years of celebrating the remarkable achievements of the armed forces community.

Since its inception the Soldiering On Awards has showcased the resilience, innovation, and commitment of those who serve or support our armed forces community.

Nominations are now open in twelve categories, offering opportunities to celebrate those who inspire, innovate, and make a lasting difference. From Family Values and Animal Partnership to Defence Inclusivity, Inspiration, and Business, there is a category for every story of extraordinary achievement.

Key dates for 2025:

• Nominations open: 9am, 13 January 2025
• Nominations close: 11:59pm, 30 March 2025

Visit the Soldiering On Awards website to submit your nominations.

Heropreneurs Awards

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

Nominations for the 2025 Heropreneurs Awards are now open. This year’s ceremony will be held on 3 November at The Shard, London.

Read about the categories and submit a nomination

Contact us

Enquiries

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

Newsletter

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.

Related content

• New Employer Engagement Handbook
• Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA)
• Defence Relationship Management
• Cobseo - the Confederation of Service Charities
• The Strategy for our Veterans
• Veterans Fact Sheet 2020
• An employers’ guide to hiring Veterans
• Supporting veterans’ transition to civilian life through employment
• Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club
• Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner
• Scottish Veterans Commissioner
• Wales - Armed Forces and Veterans