THE NEW FRONTLINE: VOICES OF VETERANS IN NEED JULY 2016 OVERVIEW His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent We owe a profound debt of gratitude to all the whom were on the frontline during recent conflicts CONTENTS men and women who have served our country. and have found the transition to civilian life As President of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, challenging. This report shines a spotlight on PAGE I am proud to have met many veterans over the these men and women and makes some practical years; they invariably combine a quiet modesty recommendations on how we as a nation can better 3. Overview - His Royal Highness Prince Michael Kent with a sense of pride. support them and enable them to fulfil their potential. 3. Foreword - Lord Guthrie This very timely report reminds us that we do not It is required reading for all of us who care about 4. Introduction - David Murray always see the human cost of the sacrifices made by the plight of veterans in this country. 6. Research objectives and approach our veterans. Some are suffering in silence, living in 7. Voices from the frontline financial hardship or coping with ill-health. Not used to asking for help, they can too easily be forgotten. 10. Financial hardship 12. CASE STUDY: DAVID SWIFT SSAFA’s research focuses on a particularly His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent GCVO 14. Physical and mental health vulnerable group of younger veterans, many of National President, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity 17. CASE STUDY: CHRISTOPHER LOCK 18. CASE STUDY: JANINA SWEENY 21. The battle for self-esteem 22. CASE STUDY: TOBY SOUTHGATE FOREWORD 25. Veterans and society Field Marshal the Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank 28. Conclusions When a young man or woman volunteers to not be disadvantaged as a result of their service. 29. SSAFA’s recommendations become a soldier, sailor or airman, he or she However, at that time I also cautioned the House 30. Who we help understands that they may have to take risks and of Lords how difficult it would be to honour that 31 . Footnotes make personal sacrifices on our behalf. promise without making a continuous commitment Our servicemen and women accept that reality to the Covenant. and embrace it. Although much progress has been made since During a lifetime spent in the Armed Forces, and then, this report from SSAFA makes for sober particularly as the Chief of the Defence Staff, I reading. It serves as a timely reminder that witnessed this attitude firsthand; acts of heroism there are still improvements to be made and and selflessness performed by inspirational people that the transition to civilian life is not always who believed it was all in the line of duty. straightforward. This report is based on research carried out by Mike Hudson, Jacinta Ashworth and Sue Clegg from Compass Partnership. In recent years the relationship between the In particular, it identifies a group of veterans who Armed Forces and society has changed, with feel undervalued and under-appreciated, who are Compass Partnership is a management and research fewer and fewer individuals having either served slipping through the net when we as a society consultancy specialising in the leadership, management and themselves or knowing friends or relatives who could prevent that happening. governance of civil society organisations. Founded in 1982, we have served. This had led to increasing numbers have worked with over 900 clients and have built a reputation Consequently, this research into the experiences of servicemen and women suspecting that for delivering top quality consultancy and research tailored to of working age veterans is long overdue and its political leaders do not necessarily understand the suit the culture and values of civil society organisations. recommendations have my utmost support. We difference between military and civilian life and simply must do better for those who have served Telephone: 01628 478561 too many veterans now feel that they and their our nation. Email: [email protected] service are taken for granted. www.compasspartnership.co.uk As a result of this, the Military Covenant was written into British law in 2011. It was a welcome recognition by the Government that servicemen Field Marshal The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank FRONT COVER IMAGE: Private David Swift, 1st Battalion the Queens Lancashire regiment. The diamond shaped primrose and women, veterans and their families would GCB LVO OBE DL coloured plinth which supports David’s badge was awarded to the regiment circa 1689-98. 2 THE NEW FRONTLINE: VOICES OF VETERANS IN NEED ssafa.org.uk 3 INTRODUCTION Air Vice-Marshal David Murray, Chief Executive of SSAFA For many people, a veteran is an old man with SSAFA knows that the transition period is civilians, those problems are left behind. Their social services and charities will be much better medals and a beret, marching on Remembrance a pivotal time for those taking their first welfare records do not come with them and equipped to help them if they are aware of past Sunday. The truth can sometimes be very steps back into wider society. Our key individuals can fall between the cracks. problems and future needs. different. We are now seeing a generation of recommendation within this report is for an early men and women leave the services at a young intervention programme focused on a group of We understand the legal and practical difficulties Disappointingly, the message that comes across age. Some have served their country on the service leavers who will struggle in civilian life. associated with data protection. Veterans cannot loud and clear from our report is that many of frontline and suffered life-changing injuries. Commanding Officers know who these people be coerced into allowing their confidential the veterans helped by SSAFA do not feel valued. Others have returned to civilian life abruptly are: they have struggled to cope, have never information to be shared – and nor should they Eighty-five per cent think the UK does not give because of disciplinary problems or a failure to been promoted, lack leadership skills and are be. But many of the veterans we surveyed seem them enough support. They have served our cope in their chosen career. At SSAFA, we do unprepared for the transition. to regard government agencies as hostile to country – sometimes suffered for our country – not distinguish between any of these people; their interests; we need to educate them that and yet they feel forgotten. we help all veterans, whatever their personal We must identify these vulnerable service circumstances or background. leavers before they walk out of the barracks for In 1892, Rudyard Kipling wrote his famous poem ‘Tommy’ which includes these lines: the last time. Each one needs to be allocated a Over recent years, Britain has become much mentor who will help them for at least the first We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too, better at looking after wounded and sick 12 months of their new life as a civilian. Mentors But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you; servicemen and women. We surely owe a similar act as a guide and they motivate, give advice and An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints, duty of care to veterans who have found it advocate on behalf of the veterans. Their role is Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints; difficult to make the transition to civilian life due to help service leavers to help themselves during While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind”, to deep-seated welfare problems or other issues. a period of their lives which one of SSAFA’s But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind, beneficiaries described to me as being “harder There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind, Most veterans do not struggle when they leave than any front line I have ever served on”. O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind. the services; indeed they flourish, often as a result of the skills they have acquired during their SSAFA knows from experience that if a support You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all: military career. However, this report holds a mirror mechanism, such as a mentoring programme, is We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational. up to our society. Our research has identified not put in place during the transition period, it Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face a cohort of veterans living in pretty desperate quickly becomes much harder to put lives back The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace. circumstances, often through no fault of their on track. Veterans quickly disappear from view; For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!” own. The average household income of the their problems multiply; and they reach crisis But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot; working-age veterans supported by SSAFA is just point, either unaware of where to turn or too An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please; £13,800 a year, a figure that will shock many. embarrassed to ask for help. An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool -- you bet that Tommy sees! These men and women are being forgotten, Our second recommendation is for the service We would all like to think those words no longer ring true, but this report will test that easy assumption.