Thrive Together: Supporting Veterans and Their Families Across the South West

Since 2021, the Invictus Games Foundation has been working alongside a network of delivery partners to improve support for Veterans and their families across the South West region of the United Kingdom, leading the regional delivery of a major programme funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.

Thrive Together (2024–2027) is a multi-million-pound programme focused on building joined-up, sustainable regional support ecosystems for Veterans and their families. It is the second phase of the Veterans’ Places, People and Pathways Programme (VPPP), which ran from 2021 to 2024. While VPPP primarily focused on Veterans, Thrive Together broadens its scope to include Veterans’ families and carers, with a stronger emphasis on sustainability, resilient networks and long-term legacy.

Watch a special film presentation that showcases the amazing work undertaken by our funded partners and learn more about the programme below:

The Thrive Together programme aims to:

• Empower Veterans and families – providing a nationwide network offering seamless physical and mental health support.
• Create connections – enhancing Veterans wellbeing through sustainable support networks and community integration with a focus on collaboration for long-term impact.
• Build futures – build lasting partnerships and sustainable Veteran services for a stronger future.

For Veterans and their families, this will create an evolving nationwide network of physical and mental health support. Military charities and other organisations will work together to ensure there are easy-to-access and joined-up pathways both into and out of services both statutory and non-statutory.

For organisations, the programme will foster a strong focus on collaboration and long-term impact further emphasising sustainability and enduring legacy. By promoting strategic and cooperative endeavours, Thrive Together will establish more robust and interconnected support systems, driving future sustainability.

Thrive Together is delivered through regionally led portfolios across the UK and is built on the integration of statutory services and charities. As the regional lead for the South West, the Invictus Games Foundation has assembled a diverse portfolio of funded partners across the region. They have provided a range of sporting opportunities and mental health support mechanisms for Veterans and their families, and worked to strengthen referral pathways.

Our 12 funded partners are:

• Defence Gardens Scheme: deliver nature-based programmes and wellbeing workshops that support the mental health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces community.
• The Armed Forces Equine Charity: support individuals in the Armed Forces community through Equine Assisted Recovery and Rehabilitation, Equine Assisted Learning, and Equine Sport and Recreation.
• Scotty’s Little Soldiers: provide relief from the effects of bereavement to young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served with the Armed Forces.
• The Icarus Charity: offer online mental health support for Veterans and their families, through a range of conventional and complimentary psychotherapeutic treatments.
• The Warrior Programme: provide mental strength and resilience training courses, both online and in-person and within a 12-month support programme.
• On Course Foundation: support the recovery of wounded, injured and sick (WIS) service personnel and veterans through golf.
• Turn To Starboard: use sailing to support serving (medically downgraded) and retired armed forces personnel and their families who have been impacted by military operations.
• Armed Forces Community Support Hub Devon: The Hub supports Armed Forces personnel, Service Leavers, Veterans and their families in the Exeter area, helping them in finding the right services locally.
• NHS Somerset: provide collaborative health and wellbeing support to the whole Armed Forces Community, which addresses their specific needs.
• Wiltshire Council: provides dedicated support for the Armed Forces community, veterans, and service families through the Wiltshire Armed Forces Covenant, offering guidance on housing, education, healthcare, and transition to civilian life.
• Mission Motorsport: aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of those affected by military operations by providing opportunities through Motorsport and the Automotive Industry.
• Pantheon Health & Fitness: provide an inclusive fitness, health, and wellbeing service in Plymouth, primarily supporting current and former service personnel.

The Invictus Games Foundation's mission for Thrive Together in the South West reflects the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s national vision for the programme: “to build sustainable and resilient networks to ensure veterans receive prompt, effective and tailored support”.

The programme places a strong emphasis on a “no wrong door” approach, encouraging warm handovers and person-centred multi-agency care, reflecting a practical commitment to ensuring that any entry point can lead veterans and families to the support they need.