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Identity, Purpose and Belonging: The First Scottish International Conference on Armed Forces Research in Society

August 2024 saw Edinburgh Napier University host “Identity, Purpose and Belonging: The first Scottish International Conference on Armed Forces Research in Society.”

Napier’s Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement (CMREPE), in partnership with the Scottish Armed Forces Evidence & Research Hub (SAFE&R), held a range of seminars, colloquiums, workshops and public events over a four-day period with delegates from across the UK, the USA, Australia and Canada.

I attended a number of these events including sessions on Military History, the Armed Forces Covenant and Transition, the Armed Forces Family and Child, and Mental Health & Wellbeing – which included a session on the development of an evidence-based suicide bereavement pack for the Armed Forces community. Some inspirational speakers included Graham Short MBE who provided valuable insight into the experiences of military children, and Jilly Carrell of Beyond The Wire who spoke very movingly about the impact of in-Service bereavement on her family.

I also took part in a hugely well attended colloquium ‘Ex-service personnel in the Criminal Justice System’. Delegates heard from a number of organisations working in this field to provide support to veterans. These included Care After Combat, Sacro, and Nacro. We also heard from Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith and Dr Christine Haddow about the ongoing research work of CMREPE. This was followed by a round table discussion giving delegates the opportunity to explore the following key questions and identify new approaches for policy and practice in this area:

• Is the right support in place at all points of contact for the small minority of veterans in custody or who come into contact with the Justice System in Scotland?
• Is that support reducing the risk of re-offending?
• What support is available to spouses/partners and children?
• What can be learned from services supporting justice involved veterans in other countries?

Findings from this round table discussion will help inform my upcoming report Veterans and the Law which will explore whether the right support is in place for the small minority of veterans in custody or who come into contact with the Justice System. I will consider the role and contribution of veterans who work or volunteer within the Justice System including the Judiciary, Police Scotland, the Scottish Prison Service, and third sector organisations supporting veterans. As with previous reports from the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s office, I will be making outcome-focussed recommendations to the Scottish Government to support continuous improvement in support for the veteran community. 

The International Conference on Armed Forces Research in Society was a resounding success, bringing together military leaders, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and academics from around the world. The event fostered a collaborative atmosphere, where participants shared practice, innovative programmes, and research findings. In time I hope that the exchange of ideas will lead to actionable strategies and policy recommendations aimed at improving the lives of veterans and their families globally and a renewed commitment from all attendees to work together across borders to support those who have served their countries.

A programme from the Identity, Purpose and Belonging conference

With Clare Scherer from the Naval Children’s Charity

With Fiona Walker and Jilly Carrell of Beyond the Wire, and Dr Sharon McDonnell of Suicide Bereavement UK