Armed Forces and veterans

Members of the armed forces serve their country selflessly and often re-integrate seamlessly with civilan life after discharge, but for some veterans the transition back to 'civvy street' can be more problematic.

Key issues

Housing is the primary concern for some service leavers and their families, who, when they leave the service, lose their military accommodation and find that they are in need of affordable housing.

Health issues can be a challenge when the high level of medical support ends post-discharge and service personnel then have to turn to NHS provision for health services with little knowledge of what services are available and how to navigate the system.  

Recent redundancies mean that there are significant numbers of former service personnel seeking jobs in wider society. Those with an Armed Forces background often have considerable transferable skills which they can bring to a civilian job. Employers often fail to recognise the full range of skills and experience ex-Service personnel can bring to their organisations. 

Finding school places can be difficult due to the mobility inherent in service life, families can be posted to new areas at very short notice. Children may have to move frequently between schools, and, as such, transition arrangements need to be considered.

Integration is a key part of transforming the relationship between the Armed Forces community and the wider community. Members of the Armed Forces and their families, may sometimes have limited interaction with civilian society. It is important to bring these two groups together through leisure activities.

You can find out more about how the councils of Westminster, and Kensington and Chelsea have made a commitment to the Armed Forces Community Covenant on these pages as well as find out about support networks and guidance for veterans.