New research released by The Directory of Social Change (DSC), funded by the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), reveals that 78* Armed Forces charities deliver housing support to at least 11,600 beneficiaries annually, with charities spending at least £40 million on housing provision in the previous year.
47 charities provide accommodation services, collectively providing at least 4,700 properties across the UK, which have a total capacity to house at least 10,200 people.
Read moreThe Defence Committee will be publishing its Report, Armed Forces Covenant Report 2017, on Saturday 30 June at 00.01am.
This will be the Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2017–19 (HC 707).
Embargoed copies of the report will be available to witnesses, including those from Government departments, and the media on Friday 29 June from 11.00 am. Members of the press should contact Alex Paterson on 07917 488 488.
Read moreService children’s experiences may often give them skills and attributes valued by universities, but research by the University of Winchester has shown Service children to be significantly underrepresented in our Higher Education institutions and the Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance is working to find out more. Following the Alliance’s work, the new Office For Students recommends that HE institutions should be looking at support for this group’s access and success at HE. The Service Children’s Progression Alliance has a growing network of hubs across the UK bringing professionals together to make sure this cohort are supported in their education and empowered to make an informed choice about their future.
Read moreForces in Mind Trust (FiMT) has awarded £168,813 to King’s Centre for Military Health Research to conduct the first scoping study to explore the experiences of moral injury in UK ex-Service personnel.
The aim of the 15-month study is to address gaps in understanding of moral injury and researchers will focus on a number of areas including:
Exploring the experiences of moral injury in UK ex-Service personnel.
Investigating the impact of moral injury mental health and well-being.
Examining ex-Service personnel and clinician perceptions of potential risk and protective factors for mental health difficulties following moral injury.
A major research report, The Nation’s Duty: challenging society’s disservice to a new generation of veterans, is published today by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
The report is based on an extensive survey of more than 1,000 veterans helped by the charity, and other members of the veteran community, as well as members of the public.
SSAFA warns that it is dealing with a younger generation of veterans who feel increasingly alienated from society. The disturbing disconnect between younger veterans and the rest of nation, cannot be simply left to the Government or the military to resolve and must be addressed by society as a whole.
Forces in Mind Trust has commissioned YouGov to explore the public perceptions of ex-Service personnel and to understand what influences people’s opinions.
Researchers will hold four group sessions with the general public, lasting two hours and across four locations in the UK. Four online groups will also participate, consisting of: families of veterans, those who donate to veterans’ charities, those who would consider joining the Armed Forces and teachers.
The project will explore the impact of the media and the world around participants in forming their opinions.
Read moreAttitudes of the people of Northern Ireland towards current and former UK Armed Forces personnel have been revealed for the first time in a report released this week, titled ‘Public Attitudes to the UK Armed Forces in Northern Ireland’.
The Forces in Mind Trust funded an additional set of questions in the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey (NILT) and results were collated in a report produced by researchers from Ulster University.
42% of the NI population reporting a high/very high opinion of the UK Armed Forces today versus 12% having a low/very low opinion.
Read moreResponding to the report by Crisis, which sets out plans to make homelessness ‘a thing of the past’, Ed Tytherleigh said:
“We back this excellent report and agree that it’s definitely possible to end homelessness if we work together as a society to do so.
In fact we already have plans underway to eliminate homelessness among the Veterans’ community, which we hope will help the thousand plus ex-service personnel who, research shows, need urgent support each year to find accommodation.
Read moreA new guide launched on 7th June, to help care homes provide better support for the hundreds of thousands* of service men and women in assisted living in the UK.
Produced by Demos think tank, in partnership with the Forces in Mind Trust and the Care Cluster of Cobseo (The Confederation of Service Charities), the guide will be sent to all UK care homes and care home provider headquarters.
Read moreForces in Mind Trust (FiMT) has issued a request for expressions of interest (REOI) to conduct research to understand the transition to civilian life for ex-Service personnel with physical conditions as a direct result of Service or acquired whilst in Service.
The FiMT award is expected to be in the region of £150,000. Although there is no specific completion date, the Trust would like to see the report completed and published within two years of commencement.
The commission was the result of a consultation exercise with stakeholders where it was apparent that those Service personnel who leave the Services on medical grounds and with physical conditions can face particular challenges and may be more likely to experience difficulty when transitioning to civilian life.
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
