The Office for National Statistics (ONS) defines a veteran as someone who has served in the UK Armed Forces for at least one day and is no longer serving. This includes those who served in the regular or reserve forces, or merchant mariners who served on legally defined military operations. Veterans make up a substantial but dispersed population, with most living in mainstream community settings, requiring integrated, place-based and family-aware service responses.
This East Riding JSNA webpage aims to provide data and insights from a range of different sources from the 2021 Census and from within the East Riding.
Findings from the East Riding Inclusion Health Needs Assessments (2025 & 2026)
East Riding of Yorkshire has a relatively large armed forces veteran population, with 17,732 residents (6.2%) having previously served, which is significantly higher than the national average. The local veteran population is notably older and predominantly male, with over half aged 65 and over and around one-third aged 80+, reflecting historic service cohorts such as National Service. Veterans are distributed across all parts of the East Riding, although some rural and coastal areas have higher concentrations.
The veteran population is diverse and includes older veterans with long-term health needs, younger veterans who have more recently transitioned out of service, and veterans’ families. These groups can have very different experiences, identities, and attitudes towards services. Understanding these differences is important, as they influence engagement with support and the type of interventions that are most effective.
Health needs
- There is clear evidence that veterans experience higher levels of health need compared to the general population. Physical health issues are common, with a higher prevalence of disability (30.6%) and conditions such as musculoskeletal problems and hearing impairments linked to service. Many veterans report unmet needs around access to physical health support, including rehabilitation, fitness, and affordable opportunities to maintain their health.
- Mental health is a particularly significant issue. Veterans are at increased risk of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Around half of respondents to local surveys reported experiencing multiple mental health problems, yet uptake of services remains low despite high awareness. This suggests that barriers to engagement, including stigma, reluctance to seek help, and a lack of tailored services, continue to limit access to support.
- Substance use is also a concern and is often closely linked to mental health. There are generational differences, with older veterans more likely to experience alcohol misuse linked to historic service culture, while younger veterans may be more likely to use drugs as a coping mechanism. These patterns highlight the need for targeted and age-specific approaches.
Engagement with services
- A key issue affecting outcomes is access to and engagement with services. Many veterans do not identify themselves as veterans, particularly those who have served more recently, which can result in missed opportunities to access support. There are also gaps in how veteran status is recorded across services, including within primary care. Awareness of available support is inconsistent, with around 80% of veterans reporting that they had not been informed about services specifically available to the armed forces community.
- Even where services are accessed, veterans often report challenges such as long waiting times, difficulty accessing NHS services (including GPs and dentists), and a lack of understanding of military experience among professionals. Many present with complex and co-occurring physical and mental health conditions, requiring coordinated, multidisciplinary responses that are not always currently in place.
- The impact of service also extends to families. Veterans’ partners and children may experience disruption linked to relocation and transition to civilian life, alongside reduced access to support compared to serving families. Children of veterans are not routinely identified within systems such as education, meaning additional needs can go unrecognised and unsupported. There are also challenges with continuity of healthcare when families move between areas.
Summary
Overall, veterans in East Riding represent a large, ageing and high-need population whose needs are primarily met through mainstream services. However, there are persistent gaps in identification, engagement, and service accessibility. Addressing these challenges will require a coordinated, system-wide response, including improved data collection, better awareness and signposting, more tailored mental and physical health support, and stronger partnership working across the local authority, NHS, and voluntary sector.
Further information
Please go to the East Riding Inclusion Health webpage for further information (see link immediately below):
Analysis of veterans recorded in the 2021 Census (national perspective)
Overview: The 2021 Census was the first to capture information on people who have previously served in the UK armed forces, providing a robust evidence base to support planning and delivery of services under the Armed Forces Covenant. Across England and Wales, there were 1.85 million veterans, representing 3.8% of the population aged 16 years and over (approximately 1 in 25 adults).
Service Background: The majority of veterans previously served in the regular armed forces (76.3%), with smaller proportions having served in the reserve forces (19.5%) or both regular and reserve forces (4.3%).
Households and Living Arrangements: 98% of veterans live in private households, with a small proportion (2%) in communal establishments. Around 7% of all households include at least one veteran (approximately 1.7 million households). Most veteran households contain a single veteran (96%), suggesting that veterans typically live within the general population rather than in concentrated settings.
Geographical Distribution: The proportion of veterans varies geographically:
- Higher prevalence in Wales (4.5%) compared to England (3.8%).
- Within England, the South West (5.6%) and North East (5.0%) have the highest concentrations, while London has the lowest (1.4%).
- Local authority areas with the highest proportions of veterans are typically located near current or former military bases, indicating that many veterans remain in the areas where they served.
2021 Census interactive map showing proportion of veterans by local authority and MSOA levels
East Riding of Yorkshire Military Needs Assessment
The 2017 version of the East Riding Military Needs Assessment (produced by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Policy Team) can be viewed below.