- Despite stable force numbers, challenges facing the RN & RM community are increasingly defined by complexity and family impact.
- Granular analysis, together with financial modelling, is helping shape how welfare support to the Naval community will be prioritised to 2040.
Commissioned by Greenwich Hospital and undertaken by RAND Europe, the Meeting the Needs of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Community report, provides the most granular analysis to date of how the size, demographics and support needs of the RN & RM community are evolving, and what this means for the future of Naval welfare.
The research finds that serving RN & RM numbers are projected to remain stable at 32,000–35,000 through to 2040. However, the research highlights changes in lived experience with separation due to deployments, operational unpredictability and the growing prevalence of “weekending” emerging as the greatest sources of strain on families.
The findings highlight a clear need for increased investment in prevention, early intervention, family-centred support, and more flexible services as patterns of need and global uncertainty continue to change.
Partners report higher levels of loneliness and poor mental wellbeing, especially when living away from Naval bases. Families with younger children and those with additional needs particularly feel the strain during deployments, with significant challenges around childcare. The transition to civilian life can be difficult for some, with heightened risks around mental health, employment and financial security. The former serving RN & RM population is expected to decline by a third by 2040, becoming increasingly intergenerational, as younger service leavers combine with an ageing cohort.
The research notes that while resilience and self-reliance remain strengths of the RN & RM community, these qualities can also delay help-seeking, with support often accessed only at crisis point. The findings stress the need for early intervention to prevent pressures from escalating, particularly in the areas of mental health, financial security, employment and family relationships, emphasising the interconnectedness of many of these challenges.
In response, Greenwich Hospital is collaborating with Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) to develop a sustainable funding strategy through to 2040. Together with Naval charitable partners, this unprecedented and detailed understanding of the Royal Navy community is enabling the sector to address the report’s recommendations and enhance support delivery. By integrating the findings with financial modelling undertaken by EY, Greenwich Hospital will establish a robust, long-term funding profile for the sector.
Deirdre Mills, Director of Greenwich Hospital, said:
“This research allows us to move beyond headline numbers to understand the true lived experience of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines community. Alongside financial modelling, it provides a firm foundation for Greenwich Hospital and its partners to deliver relevant, responsive and sustainable support now and into the future.”
