Where to turn if things get tough

Welfare support in the British Army

Joining the British Army is a big step and one that can lead to a lot of exciting new opportunities, like learning new skills, meeting new people, or just seeing where the journey takes you. But it’s normal to have questions about what it’s like when things don’t go according to plan or when life is a little more stressful than usual.

If you need to speak with someone or you’re looking for certain resources that you can’t find, the Army has a range of welfare and wellbeing services that are specifically set up to support your unique needs.

Along with third party providers, these teams are ready to listen, give advice, and help you find the right support when you need it.

You'll have people around you who can help

When you join the Army, you become part of a team. And that teamwork mentality isn’t just about the skills you learn or the job you have. Everyone looks out for each other. That means the people around you know what Army life is like and are there to help you.

• Every unit has a Unit Welfare Officer who acts as a first point of contact whenever you need support beyond the day-to-day. But your unit welfare support team is just one of the resources that you can lean on.

• HIVE Information Centres are information central for everyday military life. You can chat with them in person, by email, or over the phone. From accommodation to finance and everything in between, the HIVE team will point you in the right direction.

• You can also speak to senior members of your unit, chaplains, medical staff, or any other staff that may be able to help. And you don’t need to wait until things feel overwhelming.

Welfare staff in the Army deal with all sorts of problems, from childcare to emergency family situations. They’re also a great resource when you’re new to Army life. You won’t know how everything works yet and that’s completely fine.

There is specialist welfare support for you and your loved ones

Army life can be busy, and like anyone else, you may have times when you feel under pressure. In that case, a quick chat or advice might be all you need to help manage everyday stress.

But life can also present you with much more complicated concerns and that’s when specialist support may be better suited.

The Army Welfare Service provides professional welfare support to serving personnel and their families. That includes both military and civilian personnel. They can offer advice and support to address a range of personal and family matters. These can be things like relationship issues, a change in caring commitments, or mental health and wellbeing.

If you need more personalised support and you’re not sure where to start, that’s okay. The welfare teams are set up to handle your concerns discreetly and get you on the right path.

You’ll make friends and build a community of support

One of the best parts of an Army career is getting the chance to meet new people from all walks of life. Between training, working, and simply taking on new challenges, you’ll find that deep friendships can form quickly. Everyone’s in it together. For many people, it’s the one of the most rewarding parts of Army life.

Inclusive Army Support Networks bring communities together and provide support and advice on things like parenthood, identity, and faith. They’re led by Army personnel and anyone can join.

If you’re worried about moving away from your family or starting somewhere new, remember that other people around you are going through the exact same thing. You’ll get to know people and build your own circle of friends and trusted community.

You don’t need to have everything figured out

Joining the Army can be a great choice if you need a fresh start. You don’t need to have every part of your life planned out or have a 10-year plan in place. In fact, it can better if you go into understanding that there’s a lot that you don’t know and a lot more that you can learn about yourself.

Because an Army career can give you the chance to develop as you go, you may find that you need advice and guidance on things you never even considered. If you decide to make a change around your education, family life, job role or anything else, you’ll have the support to see it through.

Having expert support and a strong network of friends and colleagues around you makes that process of self-discovery a lot easier.

You won’t be dealing with everything alone

When you’re in the Army, you’ll have people around you from the very start. From senior staff on the ground to support teams over the phone.
Most importantly, you don’t have to know exactly what you need before you reach out. If you’re ever lost or not sure where to begin, all it takes is a conversation.

The first step is simply saying, 'I need some advice.' That is absolutely enough.
The vast network of welfare and wellbeing support around you is designed to help you focus on making the most of the opportunities ahead.