Collaboration and impact

Policy

Several of our projects have either resulted directly in enhancements to UK government policy or have enabled and underpinned policy level discussions and decision-making processes. Examples of our impact on policy include:

• Employment support for military spouses has been introduced through a series of trial programmes evaluated by the VFI. Our research demonstrated the key requirements for provision of support to spouses, and enabled the UK Ministry of Defence to reach an informed decision regarding the continuation of their approach to supporting spouses.
• Transition support for Early Service Leavers (ESLs) has been rolled out nationwide following the VFI’s evaluation of the Ministry of Defence’s ‘Future Horizons’ programme, which is now available to around 4,000 ESLs who leave the UK military every year.
• Moves toward fair treatment for non-UK service personnel, veterans, and families have been bolstered by the VFI’s research examining the support available to the non-UK community within the British Armed Forces. Our research has underpinned policy discussion regarding the visa and immigration requirements for this cohort.

Service provision

Our work has helped to drive change and improvement to the services provided to veterans and their families offered by a range of charitable organisations. These include our 'Caring and Coping' project. Working with Blesma: the limbless veterans' charity, we introduced a new Limb Loss Support Model designed to assess and underpin the support needs for family carers of veterans who have lost limbs either through conflict or post-service. Our theoretically-informed model is now routinely used by Blesma to help improve the overall wellbeing of military families affected by limb loss.

National partnerships

The VFI work with a wide range of partners and contributors at a national level to directly influence policy and practice in supporting UK veterans and families. The team has extensive links with the military charity sector, with industry, and with other UK HEI institutions.

International partnerships

Members of the VFI team are active contributors to various international groups, bodies, and panels which set strategic objectives and debate policy matters closely related to care and support for veterans and their families. Our international collaborations and memberships include roles with business, government and statutory authorities, third sector organisations and academia.