A Sussex NHS trust has been recognised for work with Armed Forces community

Thursday, 4 June 2026 07:00

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised for its continued work supporting the Armed Forces community.

The Trust has passed its one-year review as a Veteran Aware Trust, earning praise for the support it provides to veterans, reservists, serving personnel and military families.

Veteran Aware status is awarded to NHS trusts that make a series of pledges to the Armed Forces community. These include ensuring people are not disadvantaged when receiving care, training staff to understand veteran-specific needs, and supporting the Armed Forces as an employer.

Sussex Partnership has also developed a five-year Armed Forces Strategy. It is designed to support the promises of the Armed Forces Covenant, alongside the NHS Forward View and the Trust’s own five-year Organisational Strategy.

The review found the Trust has shown continuous improvement and a strong ongoing commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.

Andy Stubbs, Armed Forces Covenant Lead Manager at the Trust and a reservist serving as a Major in the Royal Army Medical Service 256, Multi-Role Medical Regiment, said: " Sussex Partnership were one of the first mental health trusts to gain the Veteran Aware Award five years ago.

"We are very proud to continually improve our service delivery for the Armed Forces community, which is recognised by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance who independently monitor us. This can only be achieved by the hard work of all staff at the Trust."

Dr Jane Padmore, Chief Executive at Sussex Partnership, added: “I am so delighted and proud to retain the Veterans Aware status for another year. This demonstrates the continuous hard work and dedication of our staff to understand how we can better support the Armed Forces community.

“Being Veteran Aware is all about improving the healthcare that veterans receive. We have a range of support available through OpCOURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health Service. We’re also part of ‘Step into Health’, an initiative that helps ex-service personnel gain employment or work experience in the Trust, bringing a huge range of experience and transferrable skills to the NHS.

“We hope this gives veterans living in our local community confidence that our staff understand their needs and are committed to giving them the right support when they need it.”

More information is available at veteranaware.nhs.uk and sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/veterans.

Get the latest BREAKING NEWS for the SOUTH on your phone by downloading the V2 RADIO APP today! Read with ease, no annoying pop-up ads.

V2VOUCHERS.CO.UK is offering half-price deals on a wide range of experiences across the South, from meals out at local restaurants to tickets for some of the region’s biggest events.

Amazing HALF PRICE local offers! Save money and get a great deal at V2vouchers.co.uk

More from Local News

Southampton adult social care 'requires improvement'

Southampton City Council’s adult social care service has been rated “requires improvement” by the Care Quality Commission after inspectors found problems in several key areas.
Weald School secures £2.6m funding for new activity studio and ICT suite

Weald School in Billingshurst is set to receive up to £2.6 million from the county council to fund a major redevelopment project.
Motorcycle crash survivor completes historic around-the-world challenge

Adventurer James Ketchell has said that the achievement of becoming the first person to circumnavigate the globe by air, sea, and land has not yet fully “sunk in”.
Pupils back to hot meals as Woodingdean Primary resolves kitchen issue

Hot meals have returned to pupils at Woodingdean Primary School in Brighton after a kitchen equipment fault disrupted the service for around a month.
Crawley rolls out new food waste service under recycling reforms

Crawley Borough Council is set to introduce weekly food waste collections this autumn, around six months after the government’s deadline for councils in England to roll out separate food waste services.
Portsmouth begins major fire safety overhaul of residential towers

Portsmouth City Council has launched a fire safety improvement programme worth up to £120m for its high-rise and mid-rise housing blocks. The council aims to appoint contractors by October, with work scheduled to address fire risk assessment requirements by 2030.
Hotel to 18-bed HMO plans

A prominent seafront hotel in Southsea could be converted into a 24-resident house in multiple occupation (HMO) under plans submitted to Portsmouth City Council.
Made In Chichester

A new exhibition celebrating the people, skills, and industries that have shaped the Chichester District has opened at The Novium Museum.
U-turn as Rejected Housing Development in Chichester is Given the Go-Ahead

Plans to demolish a bungalow in Loxwood and replace it with 18 homes have been approved after the developer returned with a revised version of a previously rejected scheme.
Major M27 lorry park and electric vehicle hub approved near Fareham

A major lorry stop, electric vehicle charging hub and storage facility serving Portsmouth International Port has been approved near Junction 11 of the M27, despite concerns about traffic and the impact on the surrounding countryside.