About us
The Armed Forces and Veterans Network aims to support DCHS in the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant Commitments.
- The group is for any DCHS staff who might have a military connection, or who are simply interested in championing awareness of equality for veterans, Armed Forces personnel and their families, who might be disadvantaged when it comes to accessing healthcare.
- We believe that our network is a key way to achieve this, by offering support and guidance for staff, raising awareness of key issues, challenging inequality and networking with like-minded colleagues
- We have executive sponsorship, and feed back to the executive team if we feel that we need to facilitate change.
Our aims and objectives:
The armed forces community staff network aims to:
- Create a safe and supportive space for staff members who are reservists, veterans, family members, cadet leaders and allies.
- Provide appropriate signposting for support for staff and patients from the armed forces community.
- Hold 2 main networking events throughout the year to celebrate and support our staff and their achievements.
- Ensure both trusts uphold the armed forces covenant duty and maintain their awards and accreditations, e.g. Veteran Aware, Pride in Veterans Standard and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
- Collaborate with partner agencies and charities.
- Spread the key message amongst the Trust to ensure all staff ask the question: ‘Have you or a member of your immediate family served in the UK Armed Forces?’
VE Day 80th Anniversary
On 8 May 2025, we mark the historic 80th anniversary of VE Day, with the peoples, families and communities of our great nation coming together to unite and celebrate 80 years of peace since the end of World War II in Europe that so many millions paid the ultimate sacrificed to achieve it.
“Together, we honour the past and celebrate a future built on unity, hope, love and peace”.
David Mellors Chair of the AFN DH raising the flag accompanied by Pte Darling Army Air Corp. Tribute read by Melanie Dyke Chair of the AFN DCHS
HM Armed Forces Veteran Card
A HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a way to prove that you served in the UK armed forces. The card can make it quicker and easier to apply for support as a veteran.
It’s free to apply.
You can currently only apply for a Veteran Card if you have a UK address. Veterans who do not have a UK address will be able to apply later this year.
Apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card - GOV.UK
Every April, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) celebrates the ‘Month of the Military Child’ - a time to highlight Service children and remind people of the positive impact they make in their schools and communities.
Six ways to celebrate the Month of the Military Child:
- Enter the Month of the Military Child art and poetry competition.
- Hold an assembly to discuss Service life and the many things Service children have experienced.
- 25 April is ‘Purple Up! Day’. Wear purple to show your support for Service children and run an event on that day. Remember to use the hashtag #MotMC.
- Brainstorm ideas with your children to create a permanent reminder in the school of your support for Service children.
- ‘Share your story’project: ask children to think about their life experiences and how they might share this with the rest of the class.
- Mark all the locations your Service children have lived on a map and build this into lessons.
Month of the Military Child April 2025
A Military Child's Story of Resilience, Pride, and Family
To mark the Month of the Military Child, we’re proud to share our first story in our new section on our website, Salute! - a platform dedicated to honouring extraordinary journeys of service, care, and family in the Armed Forces community.
You can read more of our publication here.
Charities for support:
Dates for network meetings:
- Thursday 13th February - 1000 hrs MST
- Thursday 24th April - 1500 hrs MST
- Thursday 8th May #VEDay80
- Wednesday 25th June Armed Forces Day Celebration
- Thursday 29th August - 1000hrs MST
- November TBC Armistice Bruch
- Thursday 4th December - 1000hrs
Army insight and leadership day - 7 May 2025
Military Referral Sources
This is not an exhaustive list of service and support available, but the main charities listed. Click here for more information.
Armed Forces Covenant
- The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
- It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to members of the Armed Forces and their families, and it establishes how they should expect to be treated.
- It exists to redress the disadvantages that the Armed Forces community faces in comparison to other citizens, and to recognise sacrifices made.
- The purpose of the Covenant is to put the individual (or family) in a position comparable to that of an equivalent citizen (or family) that is not in the Armed Forces. This is about bringing the Armed Forces individual/family up to the level of the ordinary citizen rather than getting them beyond what an ordinary citizen may be entitled to. You can read more about the covenant here.
Veteran Aware
We have been formally recognised as ‘Veteran Aware’ by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), as an NHS healthcare provider committed to providing the best standards of care for the Armed Forces community. Read more here.
Veteran Aware information leaflet: We have developed this leaflet to give out to veterans if requested.
Op Courage - The Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
- This new veteran-specific service is funded by NHS England and it brings together the existing TILS (Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service), CTS (Complex Treatment Service) and HIS (High Intensity
- They were ‘re-branded’ earlier this year to make the referral process simpler, and bring each service together under the ‘Op Courage’ name.
- There is one centralised number for each region (we come under the Midlands) to make a single point of access - they will triage referrals and either see the patient themselves or redirect to the most appropriate service
- Call 0300 323 0137 or email mevs.mhm@nhs.net
Updating your military status
10 Things to know about a Veteran
The purpose of the '10 things to know about a veteran and their families' is to help you better understand veterans and their families who you might interact with as a colleague, manager, patient or staff. Understanding more about this community will allow you to design, adapt and evolve your work to make sure it is accessible and effective.
Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA)
Zero Suicide Alliance have free short e-learning courses, one version of which is focussed upon veterans:
This specific course, which was apparently designed in conjunction with Help for Heroes, covers:
- Facts about suicide
- How to spot signs that someone may be considering suicide
- How to have a conversation with someone you’re worried about
- Where to signpost to for help and support
Service Champion Training - Armed Forces Network
Please let Melanie Dyke know if you have attended training so a DPM lanyard can be forwarded to you!
ESR Training
As a Veteran Aware organisation, DCHS has made a commitment to support and improve the healthcare of our armed forces community. This includes increasing our staff awareness of the health issues affecting our veterans, and encouraging staff to be curious during patient encounters; just ask the question – 'have you ever served in the military?'.
On ESR, search ‘000 NHS Healthcare for Armed Forces’ for three e-learning modules for front line staff on how to engage and support our armed forces community patients, with useful links to other organisations for sign posting. You can also find the training within e-learning for health (e-LFH). If you have an e-LFH account, just search; 'NHS Healthcare for Armed Forces' to bring up the modules.
There is a plethora of Military charities out there, providing excellent support for veterans and Armed Forces personnel, and their families. They are always happy to provide you with advice, or signpost you in the right direction. Here are just a few of them which may be useful;
SSAFA the Armed Forces Charity works to ensure that the needs of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families are met in an appropriate and timely way. They offer a wealth of support and services for veterans, serving AF members and their families. They have a local branch in Derbyshire who can be contacted on 01773 828116.
Combat Stress provides a range of community, outpatient, and residential mental health services to veterans with complex mental health problems. They currently provide services in-person, and via phone and online.
Perhaps best known for the yearly Poppy Appeal and Remembrance services, the Legion is a campaigning organisation that promotes the welfare and interests of current and former members of the British Armed Forces. They provide support with physical and mental wellbeing, financial and employment support, and have local community connections.
There is a huge network of organisations supporting the Armed Forces community, so finding the right one can be tricky. The Veterans Gateway act as a ‘gatekeeper’ to make it quick and easy by being a first point of contact for whatever support people may need. Many of the team are veterans themselves so they understand the issues that people face after leaving the Armed Forces. They work with people on a one-to-one basis, connecting them with the right support as soon as possible.
Blind Veterans UK helps ex-Service men and women of every generation rebuild their lives after sight loss. Particularly in our elderly patients, sight loss can lead to social isolation and difficulties coping at home. Please bear this charity in mind particularly if you come across elderly veterans who are suffering with sight loss; they may well be able to support them in lots of ways.