A new year-long support programme is set to help Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans – and the families who have supported them throughout their service – build confidence, strengthen relationships and feel more connected as they navigate life beyond the Armed Forces.
Delivered by Accrington Stanley Community Trust in partnership with Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC), the Veterans & Families Wellbeing Network – Transition, Wellbeing & Community offers practical, personalised support for working-age veterans and their immediate families.
Leaving military service can bring significant changes. While many veterans transition successfully, others experience challenges such as loneliness, changes in identity, employment concerns or adjusting to civilian life. Families can also feel the impact, often balancing new routines, financial pressures and emotional changes of their own.
This new programme has been designed with those experiences in mind, recognising that successful transition is strongest when veterans and their loved ones are supported together.
Participants will have access to personalised transition planning, helping them identify goals around employment, finances, housing, wellbeing and social connection. Alongside one-to-one support, veterans will be able to take part in regular wellbeing sessions, social activities and peer support, creating opportunities to meet others with shared experiences and build lasting friendships.
Families are equally at the heart of the programme. Weekly Family Resilience Circles will provide a welcoming space for partners and immediate family members to develop practical coping strategies, strengthen communication and connect with others who understand the unique challenges of military life and transition. Family-friendly events and activities throughout the year will further encourage shared experiences and reduce social isolation.
The programme also aims to create sustainable community networks through peer mentoring, buddy schemes and regular community events, ensuring that support continues long after individual sessions have ended.
Mandy Harding, Head of Commissioned Grants at RNRMC, said:
“Leaving the Armed Forces is a significant change, not only for veterans but for the families who have supported them throughout their Service. We’re proud to fund a programme that recognises those shared experiences and provides practical support, opportunities to connect with others, and the chance to build a lasting network. We hope anyone that feels they could benefit will take a look at what is on offer and get involved.”
Accrington Stanley Community Trust said:
“We are incredibly proud to be working alongside Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity to deliver the Veterans & Families Wellbeing Network. At Accrington Stanley Community Trust, we’ve seen first-hand the positive impact that community, peer support and meaningful relationships can have on veterans’ wellbeing. This funding allows us to build on that work by providing tailored support not only for veterans, but for their families too, recognising that successful transition from military to civilian life is something that affects the whole household. Together, we hope to create lasting support networks that help veterans and their families feel connected, valued and supported long into the future.” – Martin Fearon, CEO of Accrington Stanley Community Trust
The Veterans & Families Wellbeing Network is open to Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans of working age and their immediate families.
To find out more about the programme, eligibility or how to get involved, visit stanleytrust.co.uk or contact via email: info@stanleytrust.co.uk
