Skip to main content

Future Transactions | Financial Advice for Veteran Families

Supporting families to get prepared for leaving the armed forces.

We understand there’s lots to consider when making this change – let us help things a little easier.

We are working directly with the veteran community to co-produce information, advice, and guidance.

From housing, energy and avoiding debt, to making the most of your savings, benefit entitlements and so much more.

Test your financial knowledge through our financial readiness tool, as well as check out information and our podcasts covering many different topics.

 

Do you have a question for us? Get in touch and we’ll contact you as soon as we can.

Contact us

 

Funded by the Scottish Veterans Fund.

 

Defining veterans status

Did you know that around 15,000 people leave the UK Armed Forces every year, and that there are circa 2.4 million veterans living in the UK?

Veterans are defined as anyone who has served for at least one day in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations.

A ‘Service Leaver’ is a term for someone who is in transition from or has ceased to be a member of HM Armed Forces. The term is typically used in legal documents, as understanding and use of the term ‘veteran’ does vary, not least amongst those who have served.

Future Transactions is for those who have left or are presently in the process of leaving the armed forces.

 

Whatever questions you may have, please get in touch.

Contact us

 

Funded by the Scottish Veterans Fund.

 

Take our financial readiness quiz

Our short quiz is designed to help you to consider important topics when it comes to your finances on Civvy Street.

Want to see how good your financial knowledge is? Take our quiz below to find out how ready you are!

 

Here are a couple of key terms that feature in the questions.

Median – middle value. The number that is in the middle of the dataset.

Average – the value that best represents the data set.

Gross salary – the total salary before tax, national insurance or any other deductions are made from your pay.

 

    1. What is the median cost of a house in Scotland?
    2. What is the average rent in Scotland?
    3. Average wait for a council house in Moray?
    4. What is the median Gross annual salary in Scotland?
    5. How many months of an emergency fund should I have?
    6. What is the average monthly cost of phone and superfast fibre connection (broadband)?
    7. Average weekly food shopping costs for a family of four?
    8. Do I know what my Armed Forces Pension equates to annually?
    9. Do I know where all my money goes each month?
    10. What is the average monthly cost of gas and electricity for a 3-bedroom house in the UK?
    11. Are you confident you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to? If not, we would encourage you to reach out to your local Citizens Advice Bureau and ask about the Armed Services Advice Project?
    12. Do you know about the Armed Forces Covenant Duty?

     

    Future Transactions Podcast

    Exploring topics that can impact managing finances on Civvy Street.

    Employability

    Did you know that on average 15,000 men and women leave the armed forces in the United Kingdom annually?

    The skills and qualifications veterans have acquired during service are in demand and employers recognise the value that ex-Forces personnel can offer.

    In this episode, we talk to Annette Berry from the Forces Employment Charity about enhancing your employability capital.

    Gambling Harm (A)

    According to research conducted by the charity Fast Forward, those who have served in the armed forces can face an increased likelihood of experiencing gambling harm.

    Learn more from Christina, from Fast Forward, about the reasons why, how to recognise the signs of gambling harm and its impact on finances, relationships, and health.

     

    Gambling Harm (B)

    According to research conducted by the charity Fast Forward, 50% of young people in the UK have participated in some form of gambling by the time they are 16 years old.

    Gambling ads find their way into the social feeds of young people so easily and can impact a family’s finances easily, which can spiral into significant challenges.

    Veteran Matters Podcast

    Making the change from military to civilian life

    Did you know that there are over 220,000 veterans living in Scotland right now?

    We have worked with Steven, Chris, and Fiona to talk about what it was like to make the change from military to civilian life.

    Steven Williams

    We spoke to Steven Williams about his transition to civilian life, having been medically discharged following a training exercise accident, to forge a career supporting fellow veterans.

    Chris Gillan

    We spoke to Chris about his experience leaving the armed forces due to injury, overcoming homlessness and setting up a social enterprise to support veterans.

    Fiona Forrest-Anderson

    We talk to Fiona about making the switch from the Military Police to working within the higher education sector, as well as transferable skills and the importance of networking.

    We’re looking for veteran families to get involved

    We have launched a call to veterans and their families to work with Forces Children Scotland to:

    1. Share thoughts, ideas, and creativity to co-produce e-leaflets and resources to help families leaving the forces to get better prepared for civvy street.
    2. Share lived experience of making the change from military to civilian life and managing finances, via a series of podcasts.
    Contact us

     

    Looking for an alternative way to get involved?

    No problem at all, please fill in our digital questionnaire to help us understand what could help other families.

    Complete questionnaire