RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity – exists to provide life-long, life-changing support, job opportunities, and training to service leavers and veterans, irrespective of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving.
Founded in 1885 and operating across the UK, we have the specialist knowledge and understanding to bridge the gap between military life and civilian employment. We work in partnership with other organisations and employers who, like us, respect and value the unique qualities and abilities of all those who have served.
Supporting transition
Many service leavers need help understanding the civilian employment market. Those who have never held a job outside the armed forces lack the experience required to find a job and to understand what transferable skills they have. Without our help, many would struggle.
Service leavers are eligible for Career Transition Partnership (CTP) support from two years before discharge to two years after discharge. RFEA provides the employment service within the CTP for all service leavers.
Since 2011, RFEA has provided expert support to wounded, injured and sick service leavers who, due to the nature of their injuries, face significant barriers. Initially delivered through the Recovery Careers Service, this service has been funded by the MoD as part of the CTP since 2015. RFEA's CTP Assist team is made up of experienced Specialist Employment Consultants who meet the vocational and career needs of the individuals it supports.
The Future Horizons Programme was developed by RFEA in response to the need to improve resettlement provision for Early Service Leavers who were not eligible for CTP support before 2015. In 2015 the MoD recognised this need and funded the programme as part of the CTP Contract. CTP Future Horizons continues to be delivered by RFEA.
RFEA's CTP Employer Engagement Team works in partnership with employers to generate appropriate and quality job vacancies, which are then listed on RightJob, a jobs board available exclusively to ex-military personnel. Our Central Support Team tracks and matches all of our clients, providing them with a single point of contact to stay in touch with throughout their transition and employment support by phone.
CTP Employment Service Programmes
- CTP Assist
- CTP Future Horizons
- CTP Employer Engagement Team
- Central Support Team
Supporting veterans
We know that people don't only need employment support once in their life. In today’s rapidly changing jobs market everyone faces the risk of redundancy. Our assistance can prevent long-term unemployment and reduce the need for welfare support.
RFEA provides vocational advice and job opportunities to all military veterans irrespective of when they left the armed forces through regionally based, comprehensive employment support to all veterans, including those who are overseas. Many of the people we help did not receive the transition support which is available to service leavers today.
We provide support to everyone, including those who face barriers to work such as disability and other health issues, as well as those who have been unemployed for longer periods of time.
Veterans Employment Programmes
- RFEA Ex-Forces Programme
- Central Support Team
Supporting those who need specialist help
Some service leavers and veterans need specialist help. This includes those furthest from employment, who are supported by welfare charities, and those with medical issues including mental health.
RFEA also delivers employment support in partnership with other armed forces charities.
On behalf of Walking with the Wounded we deliver Home Straight. Our advisors provide residents of housing charities with the support and training they need to move back to sustainable employment and regain their independence.
We also provide Careers Advisors within the Help for Heroes Career Recovery programme in their Recovery Centres at Tidworth, Catterick and Colchester.
By working within other charities, RFEA can bring our expertise, career tools and knowledge of employment markets to a wider range of beneficiaries.
Specialist Programmes
Supporting veterans in the criminal justice system
Between 3.5% to 7% of the current prison population is comprised of former service personnel.*
Veterans involved in the criminal justice system face a range of barriers to employment and are some of the most disadvantaged jobseekers. In addition to their criminal records, these barriers include poor basic skills, low self-esteem and sometimes behavioural and health problems.
Project Nova supports veterans who have been arrested and enter police custody. It also supports veterans who are referred because they are at risk of arrest. Launched on 1 July 2014, it is delivered as a partnership between RFEA and Walking With The Wounded and is operated by staff with a blend of experience from the armed forces, the criminal justice system and charities.
Working via veterans' forums and one to one advice, we also provide career advice to veterans who are in prison in the east of England. Our support allows them to develop the aspiration, motivation and skills to secure employment when they are released.
* Former Members of the Armed Forces and the Criminal Justice System, a Review on behalf of the Secretary of State for Justice Stephen Phillips QC MP 5 November 2014
Criminal Justice Programmes
Thank you
We couldn't help those we do without the assistance and funding we receive from our supporters. Thanks to you, in 2016-17 we helped 20,000 service leavers and veterans take their next steps into new employment.
RFEA's staff are the people who make our work happen. Whether it’s advising service leavers and veterans on how to get a new job, working with ex-Forces who are in trouble with the police, or working in our head office supporting those out in the field, it all adds up. It adds up to something of which we’re justifiably proud. So, to everyone who had a hand in all that RFEA has achieved in the past year, thank you.
Stephen Gledhill, Chief Executive
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RFEA is a registered charity in England & Wales No. 1061212 and Scotland No. SC039262