Press Release

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION REVEALS FIRST SURVEY OF NEEDS IN EX-SERVICE COMMUNITY

10th November 2005

• The ex-Service community represents one in six of UK population
• 46% report living on net income of less than £10,000 per annum
• Half of adults (4.42 million) have long-term illness, disability or infirmity
• 530,000 people say they are not receiving the help, advice or support they need for current difficulties

On the eve of Armistice Day and the annual Two-Minute Silence to mark the moment when the guns fell silent at the end of World War I, The Royal British Legion announces the results of the most significant survey of the needs of the ex-Service community ever undertaken.

The Legion canvassed more than 6218 people including 1,200 adults in the ex-Service community, 2500 of its own beneficiaries and 160 case workers along with other ex-Service charities to make the first accurate estimation of the size, personal circumstance and welfare needs of the ex-Service community.

Today’s report entitled “Profile of the Ex-Service Community in the UK”, is the first in a series of studies which will highlight the welfare needs of the ex-Service community   and be a useful tool enabling the Legion and its partners to develop even  more effective solutions and services.

Just over 10.5 million people, or one-in-six of the UK population, are part of the ex-Service community. The figure, which is made up of 47% veterans and 53% their dependents, shows the vast pool of people who can call upon the Legion.

The vast majority (84%) of veterans are men and nearly all adult dependants (94%) are women.  One in six of the ex-Service community (1.74 million) are children aged under 16.

The survey reveals:

• Nearly half (4.42 million) of the adult ex-Service community have a long-term illness, disability or infirmity, and the frequency of ill-health increases with age, most common complaints are cardio-vascular/respiratory or musculo-skeletal conditions
• Mental health problems are more prevalent among 25-54s and peak among 35-44s
• 6% (equivalent to 530,000 people) say they are not receiving the help, advice or support they need for the difficulties they are currently experiencing
• Average net household income is £15,500 per annum, but nearly half (46% report living on a net household income of less than £10,000 – equivalent to 3.88 million people
• Apart from fear of violence or crime, the top five difficulties facing the adult
  ex-Service community are: difficulty with house and garden maintenance (11%); difficulty getting around outside the home (11%); exhaustion or pain (10%); feeling depressed (9%); not enough money for day to day living (9%)
• 85% of the adult ex-Service community report being satisfied with their current standard of living, but 420,000 and 170,000 people reported being fairly or very dissatisfied respectively
• Just under a third (31%) of the ex-Service community live alone, compared with a fifth (19%) of UK adults
• Worryingly 11% of over 65s report never going out to see relatives or friends and 4% are never visited by a relative of friend (equivalent to 570,000 and 180,000 people respectively)

Sue Freeth, Director of Welfare for The Royal British Legion said:“This survey is a first important step for us to develop and provide more effective services for the ex-services community. While we help so many people already, our survey demonstrates a considerable unmet need. 

“We will be sharing the results with our colleagues in other organisations that provide for the ex-Service community and we will be reviewing our plans and our welfare offering and will make every effort to work with those other  charities and the Government to meet the needs of our clients. 

“With around 1.26 million people expecting to call upon at least one of our welfare services in the next few years, this is a timely review and one that demands investment on our part and on the part of other stakeholders,” she said.

A full copy of the research findings can be obtained by emailing fhoy@britishlegion.org.uk  or downloading from www.britishlegion.org.uk  after 12.30pm on Thursday 10 November.

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