Suffolk Military Covenant: News

Here are some of the key news items on local services and activities and announcements.

21 January 2025. New Research: Veterans accessing social welfare benefits. 

A new Forces in Mind study published today highlights the experience of 100 ex-Service personnel accessing civilian benefits since 2017 and provides recommendations to address the challenges. Read the full report.

17 January 2025. New Research: Armed Forces and Mental Health PTSD. 

The King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR), King’s College London recently conducted research study: What does post-traumatic stress look and feel like for former UK Army and Royal Marine personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan? Read the full report.

19 December 2024. Recruiting : Suffolk Armed Forces Commissioner. 

The Suffolk Armed Forces Covenant Board and Suffolk County Council is recruiting for a new Suffolk Armed Forces Commissioner who will also be Chair of the Suffolk Armed Forces Covenant Board from mid-March 2025. Read the Press Release.

16 December 2024. UK Armed Forces and LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme

The Ministry of Defence has launched the £75 million LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme which will be open for the next two years. .The scheme provides two types of payment to recognise the discrimination and the detriment suffered by LGBT personnel under the Ban:.  Read the full government announcement.

13 December 2024. RBL Credit their Service Campaign. 

Earlier this year the Royal British Legion requested that when local authorities conduct benefit entitlement assessments for veterans who are in receipt of Armed Forces Compensation, that these monthly payments are not considered as income.  Upon review with local authorities in Suffolk, they are already meeting this policy ask.  Read the RBL Policy statement.

2 December 2024. Digital Veteran Card to make accessing support even easier for ex-service personnel. 

Veterans will be able to download their digital card instantly after applying, while their paper card is processed and posted.  The Veteran Card is currently used by 250,000 former service personnel across the country, and a new digital version will make sure people can prove their veteran status as easily as possible. Read the MoD Press Announcement.

8 November 2024. Government boosts support for veterans ahead of Remembrance.

Housing support for UK veterans has been guaranteed after the government committed new additional funding for veterans’ homelessness support programmes and builds on pledge to provide homes for heroes, as Prime Minister says, “Veterans represent the very best of our country, and we must honour their sacrifices.”. Read the full announcement.

5 November 2024. Greater Anglia free rail tickets for service personnel and veterans travelling to remembrance services reports the East Anglian Daily Times. 

2 November 2024. Once again, Medals2Matches initiative brought the armed forces community together through a partnership between Combat2Coffee and Ipswich Town Football Club reports Suffolk News Newspaper article. 

9 September 2024. Since 2003, Kings College London has been researching the enduring impact of mental health of serving and ex-serving personnel that served on Iraq (Operation TELIC) and Afghanistan (Operation HERRICK). The key findings of the latest phase of this 20 year cohort study has been published.

22 August 2024. New research  on UK Armed Forces personnel transitioning back into civilian life has been published by the Office for Veterans' Affairs.  Conducted as part of a wider Veterans Survey in 2022 the report and cites that 43.2% of respondents felt prepared or very prepared for life after service but over a third (34.7%) said they felt unprepared or very unprepared.

12 August 2024. Restorative measures for veterans who Served in HM Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched the ‘Application and Registration of Interest’ forms for those affected by the historic policy prohibiting LGBT personnel from Serving in HM Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000. A toolkit has been published. Further queries can be directed to the MoD by email: lgbt-restorativeaction@mod.gov.uk.

14 June 2024: To coincide with UK Armed Forces Week, the Department for Work and Pensions is a leading a consortium of partners to deliver a FREE Armed Forces Community Employment and Welfare Event at Ipswich Town Football Club on Tuesday 25th June 2024.  Around 35 employers, education and training providers, welfare and council services will be exhibiting.  For more information and to book.

5 June 2024: Suffolk Mind (charity) has been awarded a multi-year grant from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for their Frontline Families Project that they will deliver in partnership with Combat2Coffee CIC.  For more information.

23 May 2024: The UK Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey 2024 results have now been compiled into a report.  This is used by MoD teams and external bodies to develop policy and measure the impact of decisions affecting personnel, including major programmes such as the Armed Forces Covenant.

18 April 2024: Today saw the launch of the free 'At Your Side' guides, produced by Suicide Bereavement UK and commissioned by NHS England, have been written to support veterans, families and serving personnel, and were co-produced with bereaved individuals.

12 April 2024: Today the Prime Minister announced - OP PROSPER - a new service leavers and veterans employment support service. OP PROSPER will be backed by £2.1 million in government funding and support veterans in securing jobs, where they can hone the skills that they developed in the military in key sectors like cyber and digital, manufacturing, energy and financial and professional services. 

4 April 2024: Fundraising baker David Brown, fondly known as Lord Drizzle of Beccles, was presented with a Points of Light Award on the bank holiday weekend, in recognition of the £120,000 he has raised for Help for Heroes since 2009.

21 March 2024: The Forces Employment Charity research highlights a critical issue many female veterans face: underestimating their transferrable skills. 62% of female ex-forces sometimes downplay the valuable skills they acquired during their military careers, compared to only 56% of male veterans.

28 February 2024: BCC News article announces that Essex-based research into GP-prescribed fishing to be expanded.  The Casting Away Trauma project has helped hundreds of military veterans but could also support emergency service workers.  Trials will be carried out at lakes near Harwich over a number of years.

11 February 2024: The Armed Forces Public and Patient Voice (PPV) Group Impact Report 2020-2023 has been published.  The PPV membership stretches right across the Armed Forces Community and together we work in partnership with the NHS England Armed Forces Healthcare team and the Armed Forces Clinical Reference Group. This report highlights some of the achievements around informing service specifications, commissioning policies and decision-making. It remains my privilege to be part of the amazing group of people.

28 January 2024: Following a pilot tranche, applications to the new HM Armed Forces Veteran Card can now be made online - it's free to apply.  The HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a way to prove that you served in the UK armed forces. The card can make it quicker and easier to apply for support as a veteran.

26 January 2024: new report: A new report recommends reform to help ex-Service personnel avoid homelessness and rough sleeping.

24 January 2024: The Ministry of Defence announces the new armed forces resettlement contract that will offer more support for service leavers and veterans through REED in Partnership.

12 January 2024: Today marks twenty-four years since the Government lifted its ban on LGBT personnel serving in the British Armed Forces.  The Royal British Legion Urges Veterans Affected by the LGBT Ban to Claim Support./  

12 January 2024: Today marks twenty-four years since the Government lifted its ban on LGBT personnel serving in the British Armed Forces.  The Royal British Legion Urges Veterans Affected by the LGBT Ban to Claim Support./