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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鈥檚 highly-skilled veteran community.

Latest news

Veterans in North of England set to benefit from government鈥檚 new support network

Veterans across northern England will benefit from VALOUR, the government鈥檚 new 拢50 million support system giving former members of the armed forces greater access to tailored support.

• Thousands of veterans in the north of England will be the first to access streamlined support through new VALOUR network.聽聽聽
• Announcement of pilot region will help ensure no veteran falls through the gaps, delivering on government鈥檚 Plan for Change.聽聽
• The first VALOUR network, set up in the North, will serve as a blueprint for future networks across the UK, recognising regional differences and requirements.聽聽

Read the full press release

Pledge to protect armed forces community as government delivers on manifesto commitment

Military personnel, their families and veterans are to have their unique circumstances legally protected by central government for the first time under new plans announced by the Prime Minister.

• Transformative protections for military personnel, veterans and their families, including the bereaved, have been announced by the Prime Minister today.
• Legislation will be brought forward to deliver manifesto promise to bring Armed Forces Covenant fully into law, placing the armed forces community at the heart of government decision-making.
• Comes after a year of delivery for our armed forces and veterans, including 鈥渉omes for heroes,鈥� new funding for wraparound support and new Armed Forces Commissioner to advocate on behalf of the service community.

Read the full story

Reading Force memoir writing competition

Reading Force have announced their 2025 memoir writing competition open to tri-Service members of the armed forces community, including serving, veteran, spouses, partners, children and relatives. Prizes include the chance to be published by Pen & Sword publishing house, Army & You,听Homeport, and聽Envoy聽magazines.

Entries can be submitted from 1 May to 1 August 2025.

What is a veteran?

Veterans are defined as anyone who has served for at least one day in His Majesty鈥檚 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 鈥榖eing forces friendly鈥� podcast鈥�.

: transitioning from the UK Armed Forces and what the word 鈥榲eteran鈥� means to them.

You can find and listen to all of our .

Share your story: what does the word 鈥渧eteran鈥� mean to you? Use the hashtag #ProudToBeAVeteran on the platforms below:

• (formerly Twitter)

Veterans鈥� employment

Office for Veterans鈥� Affairs (OVA)

The Office for Veterans鈥� Affairs (OVA) is part of the MOD, leading on the government鈥檚 policy on veterans. The OVA work with devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, local governments, charities and businesses to provide support to veterans when they need it. They offer programs and resources to help veterans get into better employment and continue making great contributions to society after leaving the armed forces.

An employers鈥� 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鈥� guide to hiring veterans

OP ASCEND 鈥� 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.

The Reed Group

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

The AFVR Group鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 .

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.

Veterans and small businesses

Veterans: A Force for Business

聽Enterprise (XFE) and the聽聽have collaborated extensively over the last few years, beginning with an insightful report into the business landscape for Service leavers:聽.

The report highlights the contribution of the UK鈥檚 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鈥檚 millions of small businesses would see benefits for individuals, businesses and communities.

Veterans鈥� support

Support for veterans and their families - OVA directory

The Office for Veterans鈥� Affairs (OVA)聽and聽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鈥� 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.

Royal British Legion

As the country鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.

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.

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.

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.

Armed forces celebrated at Newtownards Airfield on Armed Forces Day 2025

Newtownards Airfield celebrated Armed Forces Day on 21 June 2025, proudly hosted by Ards and North Down Borough Council. With an estimated crowd of over 40,000 attendees, the event was a vibrant celebration of the UK鈥檚 Armed Forces and their role in our communities.

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.

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聽,听, or聽.

Recognition and redress for LGBT+ veterans

As Pride Month concludes, the Scottish Veterans Commissioner shares important reflections on the dual nature of this period for LGBT+ forces personnel and veterans - a time of celebration but also reflection on historical injustice.

The report examines the lasting impact of the military鈥檚 former LGBT+ ban and highlights the ongoing work needed to ensure all veterans receive proper recognition and support.

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:

Equine therapy at the heart of an award-winning, veteran-led community hub in the Rhondda Valley

Valley Veterans was founded 20 years ago by Falklands War veteran Paul Bromwell, initially as an informal support group for veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Having served in the Welsh Guards during the Falklands Conflict, Paul was all too aware of the effects of returning to civilian life after leaving the armed forces. He suffered from PTSD as a result of his time in the South Atlantic, and initially struggled to get the support he needed on his return home. It was that struggle that led him to set up an informal support group for PTSD sufferers that has now grown into a vibrant, veteran-led community hub with more than 140 active participants.

Read the full 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.

Armed Covenant Fund Trust

The (The Trust) funds projects that support the delivery of the nation鈥檚 covenant promise to our serving personnel, veterans and their families.

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

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund has 4 aims:

1.聽Providing non-core healthcare services for veterans 2.聽Removing barriers to family life 3.聽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.

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鈥� Foundation for grants to support them. That was why retired Major General David Shaw set up The Veterans鈥� Foundation in 2016 and why it has grown to be one of the UK鈥檚 leading military charities.

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

Veteran education

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 : 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.

Families and children

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

• - for children and young adults whose education has been compromised as a result of a parents鈥� past or current Service.
• - uses reading to bring forces children and families closer together.
• - provides general support for children and young people from Armed Forces families in Scotland.
• - Scotty鈥檚 Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting children聽and聽young people from 0 to 25 years who have聽experienced the death of a parent who served聽in the British Armed Forces. When a young person joins Scotty鈥檚, 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鈥檚 is always there for its members to ensure they don鈥檛 feel alone.

Service Charity Sector: Insight and Engagement

, through its membership of Service charities represents the whole serving and Veterans Community. Visit the 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

聽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:

• English Veterans Awards - 1 June - 17 August 2025

Soldiering On Awards

罢丑别听聽recognise outstanding achievement in the Armed Forces community.

Soldiering On Awards opens for nominations

The Soldiering On Awards聽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.

贬别谤辞辫谤别苍别耻谤蝉听础飞补谤诲蝉

罢丑别听聽celebrate the achievements of the military and veteran community in a commercial environment.

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

Contact us

Enquiries

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

Newsletter

to stay updated on veterans鈥� 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鈥� Affairs (OVA)
• Defence Relationship Management
• The Strategy for our Veterans
• Veterans Fact Sheet 2020
• Supporting veterans鈥� transition to civilian life through employment