Lifting our Sights: Beyond 2030 – the impact of future trends on the transition of our Armed Forces Community from military to civilian life

by Caroline Dewing

In the Spring of 2020, Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) commissioned Future Agenda to undertake a focused study looking at “Future trends and their impact on the Armed Forces Community in 2031 and beyond - with a focus on transition.” The aim is to engage a wide community of experts to understand the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Armed Forces veterans so that collectively we are more prepared for the future as it unfolds. This project is being conducted in three phases, and includes stakeholder interviews, expert workshops, and ethnographic research. It will culminate in the publication of a final report, “Lifting our Beyond 2030 – the impact of future trends on the transition of our Armed Forces Community from military to civilian life” in February 2021. This is an initial perspective, summarising the first phase of the discussion. It begins with a summary of the macro societal shifts that are taking place. It goes on to look at some national shifts likely to take place over the next decade, considers some trends affecting the Armed Forces Community as a whole, then focuses on those that may impact the charity sector that has developed around it. It does not attempt to provide a full analysis of the trends. This will occur during the next two phases of the project. All of the trends have been developed from 45 interviews undertaken with a range of informed, senior stakeholders and subject matter experts from across the Armed Forces Community and beyond, and have been complemented with existing Future Agenda research. Participants include academics, policy makers, senior members of the charity sector, and representatives from the business community. We thank them most sincerely for their support. Please note that, as these discussions were undertaken under the Chatham House Rule, the quotations we have used are not attributed to individuals. However, for greater understanding of the different perspectives, we have identified their expertise in endnotes.We would very much welcome your contribution, feedback, and constructive critique to help improve these insights, prioritise those of most significance, and identify any gaps. Therefore, in addition to being made available for public comment, the ideas we have begun to outline will be used as stimulus in a series of expert workshops which will explore the potential implications and key questions that arise for stakeholders to consider over the next decade.

90 pages, Paperback

Published August 19, 2020