Honouring Pride Month: Supporting our LGBT+ Veteran community
This pride month, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on one of our newly funded initiatives from The Bridge For Heroes , partnership working with Fighting with Pride called LGBT+ Veterans Voice, awarded through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund under the Fulfilling Futures Programme. At its heart, the project is about recognition, support and connection. It’s designed to uplift LGBT+ veterans, their families, carers and minority groups by addressing the unique challenges they face.
Through targeted services, improved awareness, and stronger ties with existing veteran organisations, this project will work to ensure no one is left behind.
What the Research Tells Us
The idea for the project has been powerfully shaped by recent research, The Lost and Found report (Fighting with Pride and Northumbria University, June 2023) provides a detailed account of the severe and lasting impact of the historic ban on LGBT+ personnel in the armed forces.
Alongside this, the Etherton Independent Review (Lord Etherton, May 2023) offers a stark, evidence-based examination of the systemic injustices faced by LGBT+ service members.
Together, these sources highlight the urgent need for meaningful, targeted interventions that acknowledge the past and actively build a better future.
Many LGBT+ veterans have experienced isolation, lack of recognition, or difficulty accessing the right support. LGBT+ Veterans Voice aims to change that by listening, acting and building lasting systems of inclusion within the veteran community.
Laying the foundations of change
The project, still in early stages, has enabled Fighting with Pride to appointed a Veteran Community Worker who will work closely with the Thrive Together team to build a national database of LGBT+ veterans. This work will prioritise outreach and relationship building with pride groups, veteran organisations, and other community spaces where individuals may need support.
Crucially, the project will target a notable gap in the East of England, where inclusive veteran services are particularly limited. By focusing on underrepresented groups, including LGBT+ and female veterans, the project aims to reduce isolation, increase access to inclusive support, and ultimately improve quality of life.
Helen Taylor, CEO, and Darren Hickie, Thrive Together Programme Manager, reflected on the project’s importance:
“The launch of LGBT+ Veterans Voice marks a long-overdue commitment to right past wrongs. By working in partnership with Fighting with Pride and the Thrive Together network, we are laying the foundations for long-term, inclusive support that reflects the true diversity of our veteran community. This project is not just about support – it’s about justice, belonging, and building a better future.”
Find out more
Read more:LGBT+ veterans – The Journey Home : Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
Full list of all awards made under the Fulfilling Futures programme here
Explore the lead organisations across the UK for theThrive Together programme here