Thrive Together: Strengthening Support for Veterans and Their Families
The Thrive Together Programme (TTP), funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, represents the next phase in the evolution of veteran and family support across the UK. Building on the success of the Veterans’ People, Places and Pathways Programme (VPPP), TTP (2024–2027) focuses on creating sustainable, resilient networks that deliver timely, tailored, and effective assistance to veterans and their families. This review of practice, conducted by the Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement at Edinburgh Napier University under the leadership of Dr Linda Irvine Fitzpatrick, examines the processes through which partnerships within the Thrive Together Programme (TTP) are established, enabled and sustained. Adopting a realist-informed qualitative methodology, the study extends and refines the original Incite Model, (Irvine Fitzpatrick, 2020) developing it into Incite 2 (Irvine Fitzpatrick & Matthews-Smith 2025). The revised framework now identifies six interrelated mechanisms: safe psychological space, narrative, momentum, time, identity, and power that collectively underpin effective and enduring intersectoral collaboration. The findings highlight that genuine impact arises not only from service delivery but from how relationships are built, trust is fostered, and power is shared across statutory, voluntary, and community sectors. TTP demonstrates that when partnerships are intentionally designed and nurtured, they create lasting systems of support that ensure veterans and their families can truly thrive together.
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A Game of Snakes and Ladders
This study is the first comprehensive investigation into the experiences of children from armed forces families with Additional Support Needs (ASN) who are living in or transferring to Scotland. Funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and conducted between April 2023 and March 2025, the research sought to understand the educational challenges and support needs of this underexplored group, identify barriers and enablers within the Scottish education system, and develop evidence-based pathways to improve policy and practice. Through literature and policy reviews, data analysis, and interviews with school staff, children, and families, the study highlighted how fragmented systems, inconsistent terminology, and differing legislative frameworks across the UK create confusion and hinder continuity of support for mobile armed forces families.
Findings revealed that while the incidence and nature of ASN among armed forces children broadly mirror the general population, frequent relocations and administrative complexity often exacerbate difficulties. Families reported struggling to access coherent guidance, consistent record transfers, and timely assessments. The report proposes three interconnected pathways: strategic, operational, and individual to improve system coordination, ensure timely support, and empower families. Ultimately, the study supports the view that systemic inconsistencies across UK jurisdictions leave many families feeling as though they are playing a “game of snakes and ladders,” making progress in one area only to face setbacks upon relocation. The proposed pathways aim to foster stability, equity, and confidence in ASN provision for armed forces children in Scotland.
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Armed Forces Transition study in Scotland
The Centre of Military Research, Education & Public Engagement (ENU) together with the University of Edinburgh received funding from the Forces in Mind Trust to conduct a two-year study to understand the transition from service from the Scottish perspective. The interim report was delivered in November 2021 entitled "You’re in Your Own Time Now: Understanding Current Experiences of Transition to Civilian Life in Scotland a two-year study".
The final report entitled "You’re in Your Own Time Now: Understanding Current Experiences of Transition to Civilian Life in Scotland” is now complete and launched in June 2022. The outcomes and recommendations of this study are expected to shape policy and practice decisions for those transitioning from service (and their families) who choose to settle in Scotland. Download the final report here.
Service Children Study
In 2021 The Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement collaborated with ADES to research challenges that the children of Service, ex-Service and Reservist personnel can face as a result of their parents’ work. The final report entitled “Rallying to the Flag: A Consolidated Picture of Armed Forces Children’s Education in Scotland in 2021: Laying Foundations & Promoting Development” goes a long way to establishing a better knowledge base from which educationalists and policy makers can consider how they can better support this group of children and young people in future.
Lothian Armed Forces Veterans Project
In September 2017, Lothian Local Authorities and their partners tasked a team of three staff employed by the City of Edinburgh Council, with a two-year project to improve the delivery of the Military Covenant within the Lothians.
Edinburgh Napier University were asked to appraise the project to elicit views and conclusions of a purposive sample of key participants involved in an initiative to enhance the implementation of the Military Covenant. Dr Gerri Matthews Smith evaluated the Lothian Armed Forces Veterans Project and produced a report in 2021 with recommendations. Click here to read the “Lothian Armed Forces Veterans Project Evacuation 2017-2020.”