THE STRATEGY FOR OUR VETERANS VALUED. CONTRIBUTING. SUPPORTED. SG/2018/236 THE STRATEGY FOR OUR VETERANS Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Defence by Command of Her Majesty November 2018 CM 9726 © Crown copyright 2018 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at [email protected] ISBN 978-1-5286-0856-5 CCS1118886948 11/18 Printed on paper containing 75% recycled fibre content minimum Printed in the UK by the APS Group on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office CONTENTS FOREWORD 2 VISION AND PRINCIPLES 4 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 7 CROSS-CUTTING FACTORS 13 Collaboration between organisations 13 Coordination of Veterans’ services 13 Data on the Veteran community 14 Public perception and understanding 14 Recognition of Veterans 15 KEY THEMES 17 Community and relationships 17 Employment, education and skills 17 Finance and debt 18 Health and wellbeing 18 Making a home in civilian society 18 Veterans and the law 19 NEXT STEPS 21 1 Rt Hon David Lidington Rt Hon Gavin Williamson Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP Edward Argar MP Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP CBE MP CBE MP Minister for the Cabinet Secretary of State for Minister for Defence People Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Office and Chancellor of Defence (co-Chair) and Veterans Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the Duchy of Lancaster Ministry of Justice (co-Chair) Baroness Buscombe Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP Alun Davies AM Graeme Dey MSP Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP Secretary of State for Wales Cabinet Secretary for Minister for Parliamentary Minister of State for School Parliamentary Under Local Government and Business and Veterans, Standards Secretary of State for the Public Services, Welsh Scottish Government Department for Work and Government Pensions (Lords) Rt Hon David Mundell MP Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP Jackie Doyle-Price MP Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP Heather Wheeler MP Secretary of State for Minister for State for Parliamentary Under Chief Secretary to the Parliamentary Under Scotland Immigration Secretary of State for Treasury Secretary of State for Mental Health, Inequalities Housing and Homelessness and Suicide Prevention. 2 FOREWORD from the Ministerial Covenant and Veterans Board As former members of the finest Armed Forces in We should be proud of the care, support and respect the world, our military Veterans have demonstrated our society gives to Veterans. But there is more values, skills, commitment and willingness to to do. Every day, organisations across the public, make the ultimate sacrifice for others. They have private and charitable sector work to support and always, and continue, to provide a rich contribution empower Veterans. This Strategy builds on that work to society, and the overwhelming majority of our and sets clear goals for the future. In the year that we Veterans thrive. It is right that we as a nation – look back 100 years to the Armistice that ended “the government, charities, business and the wider public war to end all wars”, we must also look forward, to – support and empower those who have served see how we as a nation should support the Veterans us in our Armed Forces. We have a long history of the future. of doing this in the UK, and it remains our duty to support those who step up to serve this country. Looking ahead to the next ten years, this Strategy But it also presents a wider opportunity to make a sets the intent for delivery of public services to difference. Veterans, young and old, offer a wealth Veterans across the UK. The consultations that of experience, skills and knowledge that are vital for will follow this publication will use the best ideas to civil society. establish how to make this happen. By 2028, we aim that every Veteran feels even more valued, supported Veterans live across the UK and draw on services and empowered and, in accordance with the Armed from across governments. We are therefore delighted Forces Covenant, and in Scotland, Renewing Our that this Strategy is a UK-wide document, endorsed Commitments, will never be disadvantaged as a by UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments. Delivery will result of their service. look different in each part of the country, however, in signing up to this Strategy, all parts of the UK are committed to achieving a shared Vision and Principles and the best outcomes for our Veterans. 3 VISION This Strategy has a 10 year scope to 2028. Through the 10 year timescale, the Strategy addresses the immediate needs of older Veterans as well as setting the right conditions for society to empower - and support - the newer generation. Initiatives and proposals will work towards an enduring Vision articulated by three key principles. Those who have served in the UK Armed Forces, and their families, transition smoothly back into civilian life and contribute fully to a society that understands and values what they have done and what they have to offer. PRINCIPLES The Principles articulate in greater detail the strategic objectives of the Vision Veterans are able to Veterans are Veterans are access support that first and foremost encouraged and meets their needs civilians and continue enabled to maximise when necessary, to be of benefit to their potential as through public wider society civilians and voluntary sectors These Principles encompass Regular and Reservist Veterans and where appropriate, their families and the bereaved. The focus is on those Veterans of the UK Armed Forces resident in the UK. In due course, we will consider encompassing Veterans who return to or choose to live overseas. These Principles are consistent with, and underpinned by, the Armed Forces Covenant. CROSS-CUTTING FACTORS That affect service provision for Veterans across all Key Themes Collaboration Coordination Data Perception Recognition KEY THEMES That emerged as affecting Veterans’ lives Community and Employment, education Finance and relationships and skills debt Health and Making a home in Veterans and the law wellbeing civilian society 4 SUMMARY OF 2028 OUTCOMES CROSS-CUTTING FACTORS 1 Collaboration between Improved collaboration between organisations offers Veterans organisations coherent support. 2 Coordination of The coordination of Veterans’ provision delivers consistent aims and Veterans’ services principles over time and throughout the UK, ensuring Veterans, their families and the bereaved are treated fairly compared to the local population. 3 Data on the Veteran Enhanced collection, use and analysis of data across the public, community private and charitable sectors to build an evidence base to effectively identify and address the needs of Veterans. 4 Public perception and The UK population value Veterans and understand their diverse understanding experiences and culture. 5 Recognition of Veterans Veterans feel that their service and experience is recognised and valued by society. KEY THEMES 1 Community and Veterans are able to build healthy relationships and integrate into their relationships communities. 2 Employment, education Veterans enter appropriate employment and can continue to enhance and skills their careers throughout their working lives. 3 Finance and debt Veterans leave the Armed Forces with sufficient financial education, awareness and skills to be financially self-supporting and resilient. 4 Health and wellbeing All Veterans enjoy a state of positive physical and mental health and wellbeing, enabling them to contribute to wider aspects of society. 5 Making a home in Veterans have a secure place to live either through buying, renting or civilian society social housing. 6 Veterans and the law Veterans leave the Armed Forces with the resilience and awareness to remain law-abiding civilians. 5 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Demographic changes over the next 10 years will Veterans and the wider Veteran community over see a generational shift in the Veteran community. the next ten years. It also sets the right conditions Today, the oldest Veterans in the UK are those who for society to empower and support them for the served in the Second World War and subsequent next 100 years. Though the future of warfare is conflicts up until the early 1960s as conscripts, uncertain, we can be sure that both the experience volunteers and as part of National Service. Nearly and the ‘look and feel’ of our Armed Forces may be half of the current Veterans in the UK are over 75 different to those of today. Technological advances years old1. A second cohort consists of Veterans will likely change operational experiences and the who served entirely from personal choice post focus may move away from physical to mental early 1960s until the early 1990s and a third strain as value judgements in operations become cohort are those Veterans who served from the more complex. The UK Armed Forces will continue early 1990s after the end of the Cold War, again to diversify as it recruits from the general population joining from personal choice. Many have had and across the world. Future editions of this operational experiences, often across multiple Strategy will build on the enduring Vision to adapt, conflicts, and we can expect that the needs and as necessary, to these contextual changes. Agile, expectations of this younger generation of Veterans relevant, evidence-based policy is an essential are different compared to their predecessors. foundation for this. Advances in medical science has allowed Service men and women with injuries which would only a few years before have been fatal to survive. This Scope of the Strategy hugely positive development brings with it new uncertainties about how long-term physical and This Strategy sets an enduring Vision and Principles mental injuries and wounds will develop and change for the whole of the UK and is applicable across as Veterans age.