Beyond the Uniform CIC and My Health Route
Beyond the Uniform CIC works with My Health Route because we need to know that the people we signpost will be in capable, trustworthy hands. Asking for help can be difficult, especially for someone who has spent years being expected to cope, carry on and look after others. We would not ask a veteran to take that step towards a service we did not know or trust ourselves.
Our confidence in My Health Route comes from knowing the people involved, the experience they bring and the way they approach each person. It also comes from a direct understanding of military life. One of My Health Route’s directors served for 18 years in the military, followed by 22 years in the private security industry. He is also a director of Beyond the Uniform CIC. We are open about that connection. His experience helps shape both the CIC’s understanding of veterans’ needs and our decision to work with My Health Route.
Leaving the services (Civil or Military) is rarely just a change of employment. Service can give a person a demanding routine, a strong sense of purpose and a network of people who understand each other without much explanation. When service ends, those things can change quickly. Some veterans build a new life with little difficulty. Others find that the loss of structure, friendship and identity takes much longer to come to terms with than they expected.
For those who have lived through traumatic events, the adjustment can be harder still. But it would be a mistake to assume that every difficulty is simply a mental health problem. A person may be struggling to find work or secure housing. Relationships may be under strain. They may miss the closeness of their former unit or feel uncomfortable asking for help from people who have not shared that experience. Often, practical pressures and emotional strain build on one another. If no one helps address them, isolation can deepen, confidence can fall and some people may turn to alcohol or drugs to get through the day.
Support needs to begin with the person’s actual circumstances. Beyond the Uniform CIC takes time to listen, understand what has changed and identify what would help now. That might be practical assistance, a connection with other veterans, help finding a specialist organisation or support in navigating services that are already available. We do not expect everyone to arrive with a clear explanation of what they need.
Where health or wellbeing support is part of the picture, we can signpost someone to My Health Route with their agreement. The first step is a conversation: an opportunity to explain what is happening and consider what sort of help is appropriate. That may involve support through My Health Route, or help identifying a suitable NHS, local or specialist service. The purpose of the collaboration is to give people a clearer route forward when they are unsure where to turn.
We know there can be a difficult space between leaving service, recognising that something is wrong and finding help that makes sense for everyday life. Beyond the Uniform CIC and My Health Route work together to make that space easier to cross. The CIC remains focused on the wider circumstances affecting the person; My Health Route can help them explore appropriate health and wellbeing support. Both start by listening.
The services may be part of someone’s history, but it is never their whole story. Our commitment is to see the person behind the uniform, take their concerns seriously and help them find a practical next step.
