We’re celebrating 15 years, but there’s more to be done

Walking With The Wounded was founded to challenge the narrative of pity that too often surrounded UK veterans struggling to transition into civilian life. From the very beginning, the aim was not to portray those who had served as broken, but to remind the country of their resilience, capability and potential. That belief is what led to our early expeditions, bold feats of endeavour designed to showcase the inherent skills, strength and determination of this community.

Changing the narrative for those who have served 

Over time, our understanding of the challenges veterans face has deepened. We have learned that people rarely struggle with just one issue. Instead, difficulties in mental health, employment and social welfare often combine, gradually eroding a person’s sense of purpose. In response, Walking With The Wounded has evolved to offer holistic, wraparound support that tackles these challenges together, helping our beneficiaries to rebuild stability, confidence and direction in their lives.

Since 2010, we have supported more than 15,000 people who have served in the UK military. That support extends beyond the individual, reaching spouses, children and wider family networks. Behind every number is a person, a life saved, a future reshaped. That is the achievement we are most proud of, not just the scale of our work, but the lasting difference it makes to real people and the families around them.

Thank you for your life-changing support so far

First and foremost, I want to thank our donors and supporters. Without your generosity, Walking With The Wounded simply would not exist. Your support enables our services to continue, and without those services, there would be a significant gap in care for veterans and their families across the UK.

I also want to recognise the wider Armed Forces community. Spouses and partners who encourage loved ones to seek support, veterans who help shape and improve our services through their lived experience, and those who share their stories of positive change so others feel able to come forward. We are equally grateful to those who have transitioned well and choose to give back, whether by funding our programmes, advocating for our work, or standing alongside us as ambassadors for change.

That collective support has allowed Walking With The Wounded to become a best-in-class service. It has helped us define a clear and distinctive role within the veteran support landscape, one that complements other organisations while focusing on what we do best. Most fundamentally, it has allowed us to operate for 15 years, and with continued support, we will keep delivering life-changing services for many years to come.

But there’s still more to be done

There is now much greater understanding of mental health across society, including within the Armed Forces community. That progress has helped reduce stigma, improve awareness, and encourage more people to seek support. This is a positive shift, but it has also created a misconception that the need for veteran support has diminished, particularly during periods when the UK is not visibly engaged in conflict.

The reality is more complex. Many of those we support today served years ago and are only now feeling the cumulative impact of their experiences. Equally, our work is about shaping better outcomes for those currently serving and those who will transition in the future. Supporting veterans is not just about responding to past conflict, it is about preparing individuals, families and systems for what comes next.

Looking ahead, one of the most significant emerging needs is linked to a more volatile global environment and the increasing demands placed on Reservists. Many Reservists balance service alongside civilian careers, often within Corporate UK. As expectations and deployment pressures increase, there is a growing risk that individuals with less exposure to frontline service may experience greater challenges when they return to civilian life. We need to be ready to support them, and the employers and communities around them.

Walking With The Wounded is well placed to meet this challenge. Few organisations offer holistic support that addresses mental health, employment and social welfare together, delivered within local communities and in partnership with other services. Our approach is tried and tested, and we know it works. That is reflected in the trust placed in us by veterans, families and institutions such as the NHS. That is why our work remains essential today and will be needed for years to come.

We need your continued support in 2026

Funding remains vital. As a charity, Walking With The Wounded depends on philanthropic income to deliver its programmes and reach those who need us most. But getting involved goes far beyond writing a cheque. Supporters play a crucial role in helping us raise our profile, so that people who might not otherwise engage with our cause are inspired to do so.

Raising awareness helps veterans and their families find us when they need support. It also helps us reach those who are struggling but not actively seeking help. Momentum matters, and visibility creates awareness. Every conversation shared, story amplified, and message passed on helps us extend our reach and deepen our impact.

This is particularly important now. We live in a world crowded with competing issues and urgent causes, and too often the challenges faced by those who served are drowned out. Yet as a society, we have a responsibility to stand by those who sacrificed so much in the service of others. While only a small proportion of those who have served struggle with transition, they are disproportionately represented in homelessness, unemployment and the criminal justice system. By focusing our efforts on this smaller, identifiable cohort, we can create meaningful, systemic change.

Corporate supporters play a particularly important role. Simply asking whether someone has served when they enter employment can help build a clearer picture of the veteran community and enable early support. Businesses can also review how their employee assistance programmes meet the specific needs of ex-military employees. Working in partnership with Walking With The Wounded to shape and deliver that support is a practical, effective way to make a lasting difference.

Being there for those who need us most

It is important that supporters understand that behind every statistic is a person. Continued support means reaching someone at the point they are struggling most. In some cases, it may prevent a life from being lost. In others, it helps someone become a more present parent, reconnect with their community, or find stability and purpose again. At its core, this work is about doing one of the most important things we can do as people: supporting those who are vulnerable when they need it most.

We see the impact of this support every day. Veterans tell our teams that they are still here because of our intervention. For many, that moment is just the beginning. With the right support in place, people often go on to thrive in new roles, contribute positively to society and support others in return. They serve again, just in different ways.

This is why continued support matters so deeply. It does not simply change a moment in someone’s life; it changes their trajectory. The benefit extends beyond the individual, shaping families, strengthening communities and creating lasting, positive impact for years to come.

Looking ahead 

Walking With The Wounded’s focus remains clear: to put those who have served at the heart of every decision we make. That means continuing to adapt our services to meet real need, listening to lived experience, and doing the right thing, even when that means taking the harder route.

We also know there are parts of the UK where veteran support remains inconsistent. The devolved nations, particularly Northern Ireland, require greater focus and more robust provision. Veterans should not be disadvantaged by where they live, and no one should miss out on support because of a postcode. Walking With The Wounded is ready to extend proven services into these communities, using approaches we know deliver positive outcomes. What is needed now is the resource to meet that demand.

Success over the next five to ten years means ensuring our support is available where it is needed most, so veterans are not subject to a postcode lottery. It also means building recognition and trust so that any veteran seeking support can find us easily, and we are better able to reach those who are struggling but not yet asking for help. That is the next chapter of our journey, focused on fairness, accessibility and lasting impact.

Celebrating 15 years of Walking With The Wounded

Marking 15 years is not about celebrating longevity for vanity purposes. It is about reflecting on our responsibility. Walking With The Wounded exists because the need exists, and our focus has always been on doing the right thing for those we serve. 

The progress we have seen over the last 15 years shows what is possible when people choose to act with care and purpose. But the work is not finished. How we support those who have served says something important about who we are as a society, and about the values we choose to uphold.

If we continue to listen, adapt, and stand alongside those who have served and their families, then the next chapter of Walking With The Wounded will not be defined by numbers or milestones, but by the lives shaped and futures strengthened along the way.

If you’d like to understand more about what we do or how you can get involved, please get in touch.