Op ASCEND – Careers After Service

Op ASCEND is a free, government-backed service to support veterans in growing their careers.

Whether you’re a veteran seeking employment or an employer looking to attract skilled veterans to your workforce, find out what signing up to the Op ASCEND service can do for you.

For more information visit

Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme reopens for applications

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has announced a new round of funding under the Reducing Veteran Homelessness (RVH) Programme in a bid to deliver further sustainable, supported housing options for veterans in need.

The Trust is delivering this important programme on behalf of the Office of Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) in support of the government’s ambition to end veteran homelessness and ensure veterans have access to the support they need, including housing.

Pinnacle Group: Free Coaching & Mentoring

Do you have links to the military community? Pinnacle Group's Social Value team deliver employability, money management and business mentoring programmes which are free to SP, Veterans, Reservists, and their Spouses / Partners and their families.

 
So whether you are looking to change your job or find yourself out of work we can support you to get that next role via our employability programmes and if you are someone looking to start a business or maybe you are a Veteran or Spouse / Partner with an Existing Business looking for support to grow your income and profits, we have business mentoring programmes where experienced Business Mentors will support you all the way.


For more information please use this link or email psv@pinnaclegroup.co.uk​.

National Transition Event, Silverstone, 24 Feb 25

‘Bringing together a community of communities’: Registration now open for the National Transition Event at Silverstone on 24 Feb!

Now in its 6th year, the National Transition Event (NTE) brings together Service Leavers, Veterans, Reservists, spouses & partners and family members to aid successful, sustainable transition & networking opportunities, recognising, demonstrating and celebrating the value of the Armed Forces. 

It uses the backdrop of the iconic GP racetrack to offer a unique event giving those attending a way to find out about careers and roles across different industry sectors while having a memorable day.

NEW for NTE25 is an invitation for 16–18-year-old Cadets to come along and hear about the opportunities open to them in the job market, apprenticeships and training.

This is the largest event of this kind in the UK and you are invited!

Within the five large Exhibitor Halls there will be exhibitors from sectors including Automotive, Renewable, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Professional Services, Construction, Engineering, Project Management, Cyber, Digital & AI, Facilities Management to name a few. 

In addition, there will be small business support, CV writing, interview techniques and LinkedIn advice; government and charity support services; a Family Zone and training & apprenticeship information.

Three reasons to attend:

1. The UK’s largest Armed Forces community event of its kind – feel welcome and have your valuable skills understood

2. Over 200 exhibitors wanting to share their knowledge and insight into the world of work – including meeting many veterans, reservists & family members working in industry

3. The Troops’ Track Day– run by Mission Motorsport on the GP Circuit To Register for free simply click this Eventbrite link here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-national-transition-event-2025-tickets-1086959307549?aff=oddtdtcreator

A) Social media suggested posts:

Calling all members of the Armed Forces community. The National Transition Event returns to Silverstone on 24 Feb. To register for free, hit this link: 

New Digital Veteran Card helps confirm veteran status super fast

New Digital Veteran Card to make sure former service personnel can prove their Veteran status as easily as possible, enabling smoother access to often essential support.

DVC Link

Veterans Access to Healthcare Research Briefing

 

Read the full report here 

Quest Magazine November Edition

 

Read the latest issue here

NHS Step into Health: Internship Vacancy now open for Service Leavers and Veterans

NHS Step into Health are pleased to announce that recruitment for their Programme Assistant Internship is now open. 

To be eligible to apply for the internship you must be in the process of being or have been medically discharged from UK Armed Forces regular service within the last 5 years.

Location: Leeds with agile working (home based will be considered)

Role: Fixed term (12 weeks). Full time, flexible working patterns considered.

Salary: £22,837 (pro rata)

Closing Date: 23:59 17th November 2024

The post-holder will join the Step into Health team and will gain valuable experiences and skills which will be beneficial and transferable into other NHS roles. The full job description can be found via this link, and is also attached here [insert GDrive link to PDF attached]. Although SitH cannot guarantee employment when the internship comes to an end, they are able to support individuals to apply for other roles within the NHS.

To apply, please use the link on the vacancy page.

For more information on how the Step into Health programme can assist Service leavers and veterans into an NHS career, please go to https://www.militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk/

Armed Forces in Policing Recruitment Event

We have planned the 2025 series of events called National Joining Forces – these are police recruitment events for all police organisations in England and Wales. 

They are designed to provide insight and understanding into police careers; the recruitment process and the structures in place to support candidates through the process. 

In particular the events highlights the qualities and skills veterans possess which are transferable into British policing.

​The events are advertised on Eventbrite and are as follows: 

• Tuesday 14th January 2025 from 1800 x 1900
• Tuesday 15th April 2025 from 1800 x 1900
• Tuesday 15th July 2025 from 1800 x 1900
• ​Friday 14th November 2025 from 1800 x 1900

Veterans ID Card accepted as Polling ID

The government has backed the armed forces community by allowing HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards to be used as Voter ID in forthcoming elections.

More information can be found here.

The Value of UK Military Service; Exploring Perspectives From the Ex-Forces

​It is often stated that the majority of personnel transition well post-Service, but there is limited evidence and understanding of those experiences and how Serving in the military may have added value to and benefitted post-Service life. 

The purpose of this study is to build evidence about the impact of military Service that focuses on the 'normative' experience rather than on the challenges and difficulties.

For information about the study itself, and a link to the recruitment survey:  visit the website 

BFBS Social Media Specialist?

*Ring ring* 📞 It's the social media police calling! 🤭

We think it's time to 'up' your social media game. 💻✨

In case you didn't get the memo, BFBS are now offering FREE social media courses to...

✨ Partners of UK military personnel

✨ Bereaved forces families

✨ Veterans

✨ Partners of veterans


Sign up for any (or all) of our seven courses 

Open University Disabled Veterans' Scholarships Fund

Fund applications are now open!

​Last year, The Open University supported around 28,000 disabled students. And, since the Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships Fund was established, more than 300 additional disabled students have been able to access higher education with us.

What is a Disabled Veterans' Scholarship?

If you’ve been injured or disabled in, or as a resu​​lt of, military service, you could be funded to complete a full Open University qualification.

We offer 50 scholarships annually. All undergraduate and postgraduate modules and qualifications are eligible. You’ll have your fees waived for up to 120 credits per seasonal academic year, up to a maximum of 360 credits, which is equivalent to a full honours degree.

Information and eligibility criteria can be found here

Disabled Veterans' Scholarships | How to Pay | Open University

Join the RBL at the National Memorial Arboretum to Mark the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.

The Arboretum will be open to the public as normal on 6 June as RBL host WW2 veterans and their families, and commemorate the service and sacrifice of all those involved in the Normandy Campaign.

Members of the public can watch the D-Day 80 Service of Remembrance in the grounds, with seating available on a first come, first served basis.

Entry to the Arboretum is free, but booking your visit in advance is recommended to guarantee entry, and save on parking (£4 in advance, £6 on the day)

Defence Discount Service: Veterans Privilege Card Video

Defence Discount Service have introduced a new video to support veterans with signing up for a Defence Discount Service Privilege card.  To watch the video, please go to this YouTube link. 

Certes IT Services - Support to Former Forces

Certes IT Services Solutions offer a free service seeking to create a community with knowledge and understanding that supports each other and champions ex-military personnel.

 
For more details on the offer to former​-forces please see the website below:

Link to website

Defence Discount Service: Veterans Research

NEW STUDY REVEALS THAT NEARLY FOUR IN FIVE VETERANS FEEL LACK OF RECOGNITION DESPITE SACRIFICING KEY LIFE EVENTS

New research conducted by Defence Discount Service has revealed that nearly four in five (75%) veterans feel they are not sufficiently recognised or rewarded by society for their service, despite many sacrificing key family events.

The study, which surveyed 11,500 veterans in the UK, found that while in service, 40% had missed key life events such as Christmas, anniversaries, weddings, funerals and even the birth of their own children.

The Ripple Pond - February Newsletter

The Ripple Pond Newsletter (ourmailserver7.com)

​

Apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card

An 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.

It’s free to apply HERE

You can currently only apply for a Veteran Card if you have a UK address. Veterans who do not have a UK address will be able to apply later this year.​​
 

NHS England: Help us to ensure veterans receive the very best healthcare support in 2024

In 2019, NHS England commissioned the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) to develop and introduce the Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation scheme, a free support programme designed to help GP practices in England to deliver the best care and treatment to patients who have served in the UK Armed Forces. Since then, over 2,760 practices have signed up.

To help encourage more practices to sign up, the Royal College of General Practitioners, NHS England and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs are working together to increase awareness of veterans’ healthcare needs and any challenges that prevent people who’ve served in the Armed Forces from seeking help from their GP.

If you have served in the Armed Forces and live in England, we would be grateful if you could spare 10 minutes to fill in this online survey. If you are a veteran support organisation, please could you share the survey with your veteran members who live in England.

By filling in this survey, you are ensuring that your thoughts and experiences are more likely to be understood and acted upon. This will help to encourage more GP practices to sign up so they can help veterans get the best healthcare support.