The Veterans’ Gateway celebrates its first year in service

Homeland July 9, 2018

The Veterans’ Gateway, the 24-hour service that helps former service men and women to navigate their new lives as civilians, has recorded over 10,000 enquiries and 183,420 website users since its launch a year ago.

Designed to offer a one stop shop through which veterans can access advice on a vast range of areas, from housing to health concerns, the Veterans’ Gateway has seen over 37,000 click throughs to external sites, with the majority of users requesting advice on finance.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood recently visited the Veterans’ Gateway service centre near Cardiff in South Wales, where he met with veterans who now work as call handlers, using their experiences in the Armed Forces to benefit others, and giving back to the service community.

The 24-hour service is delivered by a Royal British Legion-led consortium with Poppyscotland, Combat Stress, Connect Assist, the Ministry of Defence and SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.

With requests coming from as far afield as Thailand, South Africa and St Maarten in the Caribbean, the service caters to veterans of all ages and backgrounds. 81% of users are under 65 years old, and 56% of web visitors access the site via mobile phones.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said: “The vast majority of veterans go on to live healthy and fulfilling lives, and most find employment within six months of leaving the military. But we need to offer support to those who find the transition more challenging.

“I’m proud to see the great work that goes on behind the scenes of the Veterans’ Gateway, and I’ve been inspired by the community spirit of all who dedicate their time and knowledge to supporting those in need.”