OVER 25,000 HAVE NOW BACKED THE CHARTIY’S CAMPAIGN ASKING THE NEXT GOVERNMENT TO SIGN THE VETERANS PLEDGE
The veterans’ charity Help for Heroes is concerned that party manifestos do not go far enough in their commitment to support veterans, and in the last seven days before the General Election is calling on all political parties to sign its Veterans’ Pledge.
According to ONS census data there are more than 2 million veterans in the UK*. The survey revealed that approximately 11.4 per cent of veterans reported being in bad or very bad health, compared to 6.1 per cent of people who have not previously served.
More than 40,000 personnel have had to leave the Armed Forces due to injury or illness over the last 20 years, and this number grows daily, with an average of four people medically discharged every day**. Research from the Charity shows that almost 70 per cent of the medically discharged veterans it supports had a negative or very negative transition experience following medical discharge from the Armed Forces***.
Only 15 per cent of the public think the UK government is effective in supporting veterans, and 14 per cent think the UK’s treatment of veterans is better than that of other countries****.
The Veterans Pledge aims to end ongoing injustices faced by veterans and their families and to ensure this becomes a reality, Help for Heroes is asking the next Prime Minister to:
- Keep the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, led by a cabinet attending minister, giving veterans a voice at the heart of government.
- Commission an independent review of the medical discharge process, to kickstart the reform needed so that all veterans leaving service due to injury or illness get the support they need.
- Remove unfair barriers to receiving benefits and compensation so that every veteran gets the financial support they need and deserve, including those experiencing chronic pain, and to bring an aid tomultiple assessments for amputees to qualify for benefits, who often must prove their entitlement every two years even though their limbs will never grow back.
These three pledges will lead to life changing improvements for veterans if the next government commits to them.
Top 10 veteran populations in England:
Wiltshire – 31,378
Cornwall – 30,229
Dorset – 22,884
County Durham – 22,615
Suffolk – 22,524
Leeds – 20,401
Norfolk – 18,643
Plymouth – 18,279
Birmingham – 17,771
East Riding of Yorkshire – 17,732
*Office for National Statistics (ONS) census published in 2021 (updated June 2024) shows there are 2,029,191 veterans across England, Wales and Scotland
** Based on official statistics from theMinistry of Defence’s annual reportson medical discharges in the UK among regular service personnel, referenced from all reports dating from 2005/06 to 31 March 2023, published 13 July 2023
*** Results of survey by Help for Heroes conducted between 19 and 30 August 2019 using a sample of help-seeking 403 Veterans who have been medically discharged from the British Armed Forces and are supported by Help for Heroes
****The Office of Veterans Affairs Public Perceptions report (Published 12th January 2023)
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