Age Scotland signs up to Armed Forces Covenant

The national charity for older people, Age Scotland, has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, publicly committing itself to supporting the Armed Forces Community, and has offered its support to other Scottish charities to do the same.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

There are an estimated 220,000 UK Armed Forces veterans living in Scotland, 5% of all household residents, with more than half age 65 or older.

Since 2017 Age Scotland has worked to benefit older veterans with opportunities to enjoy group camaraderie by phone as part of a Comradeship Circle, access to specialist information, advice, and free advice guides, via their 0800 12 44 222 helpline, and to Unforgotten Forces partner services, support for healthy active ageing, and free training and resources for community organisations interested in improving how they support older veterans.

Signing the Armed forces Covenant, Age Scotland has pledged to:

Develop its services so that they are as responsive as possible to the needs of older veterans and their dependants.
Ensure support that it offers is accessible, and specifically promoted, to older members of the veterans’ community.
Review its HR policies and procedures to ensure they don’t disadvantage members of the Armed Forces Community and veterans.

Age Scotland Chief Executive Brian Sloan said:

“We are proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant in recognition of the tremendous contribution our Armed Forces Community makes to society. While Age Scotland is not a traditional armed forces or veterans charity, we have been working on boosting support and the health and wellbeing of ex-service men and women as part of the Unforgotten Forces consortium since 2017.

“Often, veterans are unaware that they could be entitled to extra support and opportunities as a result of their service, and that might these may be available from charities and organisations both in and outside of the armed force community.

"It is important that we are able to say to them, loud and clear, that we are here for them too. And with such a large number of older veterans living in Scotland we want to do everything we can to demonstrate that we are relevant, welcoming and supportive.

“It would be great if many more charities were able to take that step and sign the Armed Forces Covenant. We can help then to do this and to “think older veteran” with our awareness training and guides to support them.”