Unforgotten Forces Gathering explores support for ex-Armed Forces personnel

Last month 65 professionals and volunteers from organisations that offer  support to older members of the ex-Armed Forces community gathered in Glasgow at a conference organised by Unforgotten Forces.

Unforgotten Forces, the Age Scotland-led charity partnership for improving support to older ex-Armed forces personnel in Scotland, invited speakers to share advice and information looking at services that can improve quality of life for ex-servicemen and women.

First, we heard from academics at The Northern Hub for veterans’ research at Northumbria University.  The Hub undertakes a wide range of veteran-related research, learning from their lived experiences and involving members of the veterans’ community as researchers.

One study has linked Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans with social isolation and loneliness. Many of the veterans with PTSD that participated had difficulty understanding and connecting to themselves, their families, and their communities, which increased their social isolation and loneliness. They were also inclined to withdraw from support services if they felt these lacked compassion and understanding.  It is important for them was that the process through which they access support is joined-up, so they don’t need to retell their story again and again, and that the process includes their families.

Current Northern Hub research projects are looking at how food insecurity is affecting the veterans’ community, mapping geographical areas where veterans are more likely to need access to support services, and exploring how best to support people who have been bereaved due to military service. You can read more on the Northern Hub website.

Three breakout sessions followed.   Staff from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde shared ways of supporting individuals to quit smoking, identified by a University of Glasgow study in 2022 as a major issue affecting the health of the older veterans.  We learned that the physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits of quitting kick in almost immediately, and that support can be accessed from a range of places including pharmacies.  

Unforgotten Forces partners Age Scotland and The Armed Services Advice Project led a safari through the complex landscape of benefits relevant to older veterans.  And Brian Kelly introduced SACRO’s Veterans Mentoring Service, which supports veterans currently in, or at risk of becoming involved in, the criminal justice system, with the aim of enabling them to live independently, now and in the future.  Brian shared his own powerful story, encompassing traumatic experiences during military service, an encounter with the criminal justice system back in civilian life, and finally a new life and career thanks to SACRO’s support.  You can find out more about the SACRO service here.

Our final presentation was from Dr Katey Warran on the role of the arts in health and wellbeing.  Rather than being a ‘nice to have’ add-on to support, Katey shared evidence that regular involvement in arts activities can improve the lives of people living with conditions including cancer, lung disease and cardiovascular disease. It also lowers the risk of a dementia diagnosis, can ease chronic pain, and boost mental health and wellbeing.

Using video, she highlighted a project in Scotland that’s using dance to improve quality of life for people living with dementia. You can read more about this fascinating area of research here.

To keep up to date about matters affecting and support available to older ex-Armed Forces men and women, visit the Unforgotten Forces website and subscribe to our free monthly email.