More than three-quarters of veterans (76%) and seven in ten UK adults (70%) are worried about affording Christmas presents, according to new research released today by leading Armed Forces charity, Walking With The Wounded (WWTW).
Meanwhile one in four UK veterans (25%) and one in five UK adults (21%) are worried about spending Christmas alone this year and two in five veterans (40%) and one in four UK adults (26%) say they are worried about their mental health.
The research supports WWTW’s Walking Home For Christmas campaign, which raises funds for veterans and their families. This year’s theme, ‘Home is more than a roof over your head’, highlights the importance of helping every veteran to have a place to call home where they feel safe and secure. Home means more than shelter — it means having a job, people who care and somewhere to turn when life gets tough.
The survey was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Walking With The Wounded in October 2026. It surveyed 2,000 UK adults and 500 UK veterans about their experiences, concerns and perceptions of home ahead of the festive season.
The findings reveal that home is closely associated with safety and wellbeing. Half of UK adults (50%) and half of UK veterans (50%) describe home as a safe place, while 41% of UK adults say it is somewhere to relax and switch off. Almost two-thirds of UK adults (64%) say having a place to call ‘home’ is very important to mental wellbeing this Christmas.
Alie Salford, Clinical Lead at Walking With The Wounded, commented,
“Home is about more than a place to live. It is about feeling safe, having people you can turn to and feeling that you belong. Christmas can bring what’s missing into sharper focus, whether that is someone we’ve lost, relationships that are difficult or worries about making ends meet. For some veterans, the loss of shared purpose and everyday connection after leaving the Armed Forces can be felt particularly strongly at this time of year. If you’re struggling, you don’t need to have everything worked out before talking to someone, or wait until things feel unmanageable. Telling someone you trust that things are difficult can be a first step. At WWTW, we take time to understand what is happening for each person and work alongside them to find the support they need.”
The research also examines challenges to veterans’ sense of belonging after leaving the Armed Forces. Among UK adults surveyed, 57% believe mental health difficulties can affect a veteran’s ability to feel at home, 48% cite the loss of camaraderie and friendship, and 57% identify difficulties adjusting to civilian life as barriers to veterans feeling at home on civvy street.
Among UK veterans, 56% identify difficulties adjusting to civilian life and mental health difficulties as factors affecting their ability to feel at home after leaving the Armed Forces, while 46% cite the loss of camaraderie and friendship.
Tony Hulton, WWTW CEO, explains,
“The survey responses demonstrate that both civilians and veterans face similar pressures when it comes to the holiday season.
Our theme this year, ‘Home is more than a roof over your head’, reflects our commitment to helping veterans find that sense of safety, camaraderie and belonging once they’ve left the Armed Forces. For some veterans, the sense of home is lost when they leave the Armed Forces, and the challenges can feel acute around Christmas time – especially because the distance between where they are and where they want to be can feel the greatest.
Through our mental health, employment and care coordination programmes, we help veterans to rebuild their sense of purpose and navigate life on civvy street. Ultimately, we want to help them to find their way ‘home’.”
This December, join Walking Home For Christmas and help veterans and their families find their way home. Sign up, organise a walk with friends, family or colleagues, and raise vital funds to support those who have served.
Find out more: Home | Walking Home For Christmas
