Health, welfare and social needs of the Armed Forces community: a qualitative study

Abstract: This qualitative research assignment aimed to provide a thorough and robust evidence base for
planning by gaining a detailed understanding of the welfare needs of six specific beneficiary groups with significant unmet needs. The six groups investigated were:
• Those seriously injured by Service or their family members
• Veterans with a health condition or disability not caused by Service, and their family members
• Serving Armed Forces family members
• Estranged spouses and partners of Service personnel
• Family members or Service personnel who have died
• Gurkhas and Commonwealth soldiers discharged from the Armed Forces within the last
five years.
Over 150 people were included in the research. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted during March and April 2010. The respondents came from a variety of sources including Legion client databases, the Service Personnel & Veterans Agency (SPVA), SSAFA Forces Help, Armed Forces families’ federations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Brigade of Gurkhas