A care home in Oxfordshire has become the 300th in the UK to earn specialist accreditation for supporting military veterans, marking a major milestone for a scheme now helping thousands of former service personnel.
What veteran-friendly accreditation means
Benson House in Wallingford reached the milestone after completing the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF), a free accreditation programme that helps care homes provide support tailored to veterans and their partners. To qualify, homes must meet eight standards, including identifying veterans’ wellbeing needs and addressing social isolation. The process typically takes around four months to complete.
- Care homes are assessed against eight veteran-specific standards
- Veterans’ Armed Forces status is built into their care planning
- Accreditation usually takes about four months
A milestone for veterans’ care nationwide
The VFF is run jointly by Royal Star & Garter and the Royal British Legion, in partnership with the NHS Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance. Benson House is one of 18 eligible homes run by the Caring Homes group, over half of which have now achieved accreditation.
More than 2,250 veterans and partners are currently supported by VFF-accredited homes across the country, and the framework aims to eventually reach the estimated 25,000-plus veterans living in UK care homes. An independent evaluation of the scheme found that it improves social connections and reduces isolation among residents.
How the scheme began
The Veteran Friendly Framework was launched in 2023 following a two-year collaboration between Royal Star & Garter, the Royal British Legion and the NHS Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. Ten care homes achieved accreditation during the pilot phase, including facilities run by Royal Star & Garter and the Royal British Legion themselves, with around 20 more homes pursuing the standard shortly afterwards. At the time, fewer than 20 of England’s roughly 15,000 care homes offered any specialist support for veterans, prompting then-veterans minister Johnny Mercer to say the goal was to make “this the best country in the world to be a veteran.” Reaching 300 accredited homes just over two years later shows how quickly the framework has grown.
What it means for residents
George King, Customer Relationship Manager at Benson House, said the achievement reflected months of hard work by staff: “We’re thrilled that our hard work has resulted in the home being VFF approved.”
Kathryn Glass, VFF Project Lead, praised the milestone: “It truly is a phenomenal achievement.”
For residents, accreditation isn’t just a badge — it means staff are trained to understand military service and its lasting effects, and that veterans’ wellbeing needs, including social isolation, are actively addressed as part of their care.
Why this matters
Fewer than 20 of England’s roughly 15,000 care homes offered specialist veteran support when the VFF was first piloted, so reaching 300 accredited homes represents significant progress. As the UK’s veteran population ages — the 2021 census recorded almost 1.85 million former service personnel in England and Wales — schemes like the VFF are likely to play an increasingly important role in ensuring veterans receive care that recognises their military background.
