Female Veterans Transformation Programme: National toolkit launched
The Female Veterans Transformation Programme (FVTP) has announced the official launch of its much-anticipated toolkit, during a launch event at the iconic Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The toolkit is designed to support and empower service providers in the commercial, statutory and charitable sectors to transform service provision for the circa 272,000 female veterans living within the UK.
This UK-wide programme is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (AFCFT), NHS England and the Veterans Foundation, in partnership with the Cobseo Female Veterans Cluster and the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association.
In addition, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs provided funding to develop communications products to raise awareness of women as veterans, as well as their needs and experiences, which are also available as part of the toolkit. The toolkit is hosted on the AFCFT website and feely available.
“Female Veterans are not treated the same or celebrated the same – adverts are all men. It has got better but there’s still work to do. There’s lots of charities out there to help, but women still don’t see themselves as veterans so won’t ask for help even if they need it.”
~ Anonymous Female Veteran
Drawing on extensive research and coupled with co-production with over 800 female veterans’, service providers and employers, the toolkit offers guidance, case studies, and signposting to aid service providers in giving female veterans support so they can thrive after service.
“The programme aims to build a legacy where female veterans feel confident to access the right support, at the right time, and in the right way for them.”
~ Colonel (Retd) Alison Brown OBE, Chair of the Cobseo Female Veterans’ Cluster.
“We don’t need special treatment, but we do need to see representation. How am I supposed to get support from a service that I only see men in? I don’t feel I belong.”
~ Anonymous Female Veteran
“For me, the success of this trailblazing project is down to the focus on collaboration and co-production throughout. This strong understanding of the female veteran cohort … has allowed the development of this fantastic toolkit which tackles the key themes of mental and physical healthcare, pensions and financial advice, care provision, housing provision, employment services, self-identification as a veteran and combatting loneliness. I commend this fantastic toolkit to any and all organisations seeking to offer appropriate support to female veterans.”
~ Anna Wright, CEO Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
For more details about the FVTP, visit https://www.fvtp.org.uk