Age UK has collaborated with the military charity Fighting With Pride to launch a new project aimed at providing support to older LGBT+ veterans. The initiative is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and will leverage Age UK's expertise to offer extensive support and advice to older LGBT+ veterans through Age UK's national Advice Line.

Many veterans who faced discrimination due to the ban on LGBT+ individuals serving in the Armed Forces before the year 2000 are now aged 50 and over. This project seeks to ensure they receive the necessary support on various issues, including finances and benefit entitlements, housing, health, and care.

The project coincides with groundbreaking research by Fighting With Pride, highlighting the devastating impact of the ban on many veterans. Dismissals due to sexual orientation or gender identity affected veterans' mental health, finances, employment, housing, and overall well-being. Loneliness and isolation were also common experiences among these veterans.

Key findings from Fighting With Pride's survey include:

• 86% of LGBT+ veterans felt that their dismissal from the Armed Forces due to sexual orientation or gender identity affected their mental health.
• 74% of those dismissed reported financial impacts.
• 65% said it affected their employment and careers.
• 56% reported housing challenges.
• 84% of respondents reported experiencing loneliness.

Fighting With Pride will work alongside Age UK to refer older LGBT+ veterans to Age UK's Advice Line. Age UK's Advice Line team will receive comprehensive training from Fighting With Pride on how to best support these individuals in addressing daily challenges and healing from past trauma.

The Advice Line is a free, national telephone service that provides expert information and advice to older people on a wide range of areas, including benefits, care, health, loneliness, and housing. The collaboration between Age UK and Fighting With Pride aims to offer high-quality, integrated support to enhance the well-being and circumstances of older LGBT+ veterans.

Age Cymru Dyfed is a non-profit organisation that offers support and services to older individuals.