News
July round-up
Officers’ Association Scotland Podcast
I really enjoyed speaking with Jane Burns on ‘From Combat Boots to Business Suits’ about my personal journey from military service to public service. We also discussed how government, charities and employers can work together to improve outcomes for veterans and service leavers across Scotland and beyond.
One of the key messages I shared is that veterans bring far more than technical skills to the workplace. Military service develops leadership, resilience, teamwork, adaptability and problem-solving abilities that are highly transferable across sectors. In our conversation, we discuss why businesses can benefit from hiring ex-military talent and how employers can better understand the strengths that veterans bring to their organisations. Thank you to Officers’ Association Scotland for the opportunity to be part of this important discussion. I hope listeners find the conversation insightful and helpful.
You can listen via the following links:
You may also find my recent report ‘Veterans and Employment’ of interest, as it expands on some of the areas we discussed.
Unforgotten Forces
A very fitting celebration took place to thank and congratulate Unforgotten Forces for the significant contribution made to the veteran landscape. Unforgotten Forces was established in 2017 with a three-year grant of £4 million from HM Treasury through the Aged Veterans Fund. This made possible a range of new services and enhancements to existing services, to better meet the health and wellbeing needs of veterans in Scotland aged 65 and older. In October 2020, the Scottish Government replaced the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust as funder of the Unforgotten Forces partnership and funding continued until this year.
Unforgotten Forces leaves a strong legacy as it winds up and much has been achieved. It is hoped that some of that good work - such as the guides for older veterans and the ‘gatherings’ for practitioners who support older veterans - will be continued by Age Scotland and other organisations, in line with the spirit of collaboration and partnership working that characterised the work of Unforgotten Forces.
Congratulations and best wishes to everyone who contributed to Unforgotten Forces over the years, and in particular to Frank, Karina and Laila for all they achieved.
VALOUR Website Launch
Launched earlier this month, the new VALOUR website connects veterans and their families with trusted local support across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, making it easier to access the right help at the right time, without having to navigate multiple organisations. Whether you need support online, in person, by phone or by email, VALOUR can help.
You can access the VALOUR website here.
If you know a veteran or military family member who could benefit, please share this link.
51 Brigade
I had a valuable meeting with 51 Brigade’s SO2 Welfare at Redford Barracks, discussing the challenges faced by Service Leavers and their families, particularly around health, employment and housing.
A key takeaway was the importance of Service Leavers accessing the support, briefings and information available to them, and ensuring that the advice provided reflects the realities of settling in Scotland. Access to the right information at the right time can make a real difference to a successful transition.
Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 Force Reception
I was delighted to speak with members of the Royal Canadian Navy and Air Force on board HMCS Ville de Quebec which visited Glasgow as the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1.
It was an honour to meet the commander of SNMG1, Commodore Maryla Ingham RN, and with other women Naval veterans.
New Research Report on the mental and physical health profiles of veterans
A new research report has been published examining the demographic, mental and physical heath profiles of former Service personnel accessing primary care. The research was conducted by the King’s Centre for Military Health Research at King’s College London and funded by the Forces in Mind Trust. The study provides a comparable UK-wide primary care health profile of veterans across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Commonly recorded conditions among veterans included musculoskeletal conditions such as lower back pain, chronic respiratory conditions, and depression.
The report also found variation between UK countries: Wales had the highest recorded GP consultation rate, chronic respiratory conditions (COPD) appeared more commonly recorded in the devolved nations than in England, PTSD and osteoarthritis were highest in Wales, lower back pain was highest in Northern Ireland, and depression appeared lower in Scotland.
The study’s use of primary care data is a major strength but it relies on further improving the quality and consistency of the recording of former Service personnel in primary care and their demographic and lifestyle risk factors. On that basis the researchers recommend:
- Improving veteran identification in primary care records across the UK, including consistent recording of veteran status and service-related information, so that veterans can be recognised in care and included in research datasets.
- Improving data completeness and granularity, including ethnicity, BMI, smoking, alcohol use, service branch, grade/role, and combat participation where appropriate, to enable more reliable comparisons and more personalised recommendations.
- Strengthening UK-wide and devolved nation research by improving representativeness, expanding data linkage, and prioritising under-researched groups, including women veterans and ethnic minority veterans.
- Using the findings to inform policy and prevention strategies across the UK, recognising that differences between nations may reflect health system organisation, recording practices, and population characteristics, as well as genuine variation in healthcare need.
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