About us
Our mission is clear and our determination is strong
Our mission
To improve the lived experience and long-term outcomes of the armed forces bereaved community*
We’ll achieve our mission by:
Supporting the bereaved community directly, for example through developing an online Bereavement Hub, so people feel cared for and connected.
Pushing for social, cultural and policy change, in recognising the unique challenges faced by armed forces community.
Developing research to evidence the need for, and impact of, improvements in armed forces bereavement support.
Forming key partnerships that help us innovate and advocate for improvements in bereavement support within both the armed forces and civilian world.
Five immediate changes we are pressing for
1.
A two-year, protected ‘breathing space’ for bereaved families.
A minimum two year ‘breathing space’ for bereaved families, set as policy across all services, and enshrined in the Armed Forces Covenant. This facilitates families retaining housing, schooling, and access to support from the chain of command and associated services as they address the complex changes which occur to their day to day lives, after the loss of their loved one.
2.
A simpler benefits policy
The implementation of a streamlined and easy to understand benefits policy, ensuring it is easy to access and navigate, accessible, trusted and inclusive.
3.
Enhanced Visiting Officer training & approach
The UK should set a national standard for Visiting Officer allocation, training and delivery, and consideration given to a specialist tri service team to oversee and support the VOs and ensure policy is equitably applied.
4.
The removal of cause of death as a criteria for compensation.
Armed Forces Bereavement Scholarship (AFBS) should be available for all bereaved children across all services, regardless of the categorisation of their parent’s death. Beyond the Wire wants to end the current discrimination that significantly exacerbates the impact of bereavement on children. AFBS should be available up to the age of 25, as is the case for looked after children/young people.
5.
The term Military Connected Families becoming a stand alone reference.
To recognise Armed Forces families in their own right, by the formal adoption of the term ‘Military Connected Families’. The role of families is currently downplayed when they are referenced as an add on, for example ‘Veterans and their families’ or ‘serving personnel and their families’. By recognising the Military Connected Families as a distinct group of people, this will allow Armed Forces families to have their own identity within the services and amongst the civilian population.
Donate & make an impact
Beyond The Wire is a non-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) and relies exclusively on grants and donations for its work.
You can donate online. Any amount, no matter how small, contributes to us working to improve outcomes for the armed forces bereaved community, so we’d like to say a huge thank you in advance.
