The Problem
Losing Identity - Losing Connection
Each year, around 16,000 individuals leave the UK Armed Forces, many of whom struggle due to social isolation and loneliness (SIL) compounding mental health issues such as depression, PTSD, and suicidality.
Many of these outcomes are influenced by individuals’ experiences during the military-to-civilian transition, with many service-leavers feeling socially isolated after leaving the military, and half of veterans reporting feeling lonely. There are programmes designed to reduce the stress of leaving the military, but these all but ignore the social isolation and lack of social support affecting service-leavers' health.
The Benefits of Social Group Memberships for Health
Research has repeatedly shown that positive group memberships enhance physical health, longevity, mental health, and general well-being. It has been shown that maintaining and gaining group memberships can protect us from many health impacts – especially during life transitions, such as becoming a student, a parent, a retiree, or a veteran – because such groups provide us with valuable resources we can rely on in times of stress.
More information on the evidence behind VCP can be found here.
Supporting Veterans
​​
The Veteran Connection Programme
From Veterans for Veterans
In VCP, the experience of veterans is front and centre. Not only have we
co-developed VCP with veterans and veterans charities from the UK and Australia, it is also group-based and co-delivered by a trained veteran.
VCP is a free offer for veterans and rather than competing with existing transition support programmes, VCP is designed to complement existing support for service-leavers.
Promising Results​
Our pilot study in 2024 showed significant improvements among veterans in thriving, group gain, and confidence in managing their social transition, and Military-Civilian Adjustment and Reintegration. Findings suggest that VCP is especially useful in fostering a sense of purpose and reducing loneliness among veterans.
Our participants say
“You’d see the look in their eye of like ‘I’m not by myself anymore… I’m not abnormal. This is okay… They’re not alone.’”
