Behind many wounded, injured or sick veterans and serving personnel is someone quietly carrying the weight of care, often without recognition, support or time to focus on themselves.
Across the UK, thousands of women within the Armed Forces community are providing unpaid care for partners, spouses, children or family members affected by illness, injury, trauma or long-term health conditions linked to military service.
These women are often the unseen backbone of the veteran support network, balancing emotional support, financial pressure, family responsibilities and personal sacrifice, while frequently becoming isolated themselves.
That’s why Armed Forces Community HQ (AFCHQ), in partnership with Women of Our Time and funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, has launched The Invisible Ranks — a specialist support programme created specifically for female carers within the Armed Forces community.
Why Female Carers Need Specialist Support
Research consistently shows that unpaid carers experience significantly poorer mental health, wellbeing and financial outcomes compared to the wider population.
According to **Carers UK:**
- Over 70% of carers report long-term mental or physical health impacts because of their caring role
- Many carers experience isolation, burnout and loss of identity
- Female carers are disproportionately affected, often reducing employment or leaving work entirely to provide care (2024
Within the Armed Forces community, these pressures can become even more complex.
Military families may also face:
- PTSD and trauma-related challenges
- Transition difficulties after service
- Housing instability
- Social isolation after relocation
- Difficulty accessing joined-up support
Despite this, carers are often overlooked in wider conversations around Armed Forces wellbeing.
The Invisible Ranks programme exists to change that.
What Is The Invisible Ranks?
The Invisible Ranks is a flexible, person-centred support programme for women caring for wounded, injured or sick serving personnel and veterans.
The programme recognises that carers themselves need support, not only practically, but emotionally, socially and professionally.
Importantly, there is:
✔ No pressure
✔ No rigid timetable
✔ No expectation to attend everything
Instead, participants are supported to engage in ways that work for them.
As the programme states:
“Caring for someone else shouldn’t mean losing yourself, and you deserve support too.”
What Support Does the Programme Offer?
1:1 Coaching Support
Participants can access structured coaching sessions with qualified coaches focused on:
- Confidence building
- Resilience
- Personal goals
- Identity beyond caring
- Emotional wellbeing
For many carers, having dedicated space to focus on themselves can be transformational.
Peer Support and Group Coaching
One of the most common experiences reported by carers is loneliness.
The Invisible Ranks programme includes:
- Group coaching workshops
- Peer support sessions
- Safe spaces to connect with other women who understand similar challenges
This reflects the wider importance of connection across the Forces Wellbeing Collective and broader Armed Forces community support systems.
Specialist Welfare and Career Support
Many carers place careers, education or financial independence on hold while supporting others.
The programme offers access to:
- Welfare advisors
- Career guidance
- Financial support
- Needs-led signposting
This helps carers rebuild confidence and access practical pathways forward.
Trauma-Informed Spoken Word and Creative Sessions
One of the most unique aspects of the programme is its trauma-informed spoken word element.
Participants can take part in creative sessions designed to help women:
- Find their voice
- Share their experiences safely
- Reconnect with identity and confidence
- Build emotional resilience
Stories developed through the programme may contribute towards a professionally edited anthology, creating visibility for experiences that often remain hidden.
Building Community Through Connection
The Invisible Ranks also provides access to wider opportunities including:
- Networking events
- Monthly “Carer Drop Ins”
- Access to the Womaniverse community
- Volunteer expert support through “Donate an Hour”
This wider ecosystem of support reflects a growing understanding that sustainable Armed Forces wellbeing requires strong community connection, not just crisis intervention.
Why This Programme Matters
Across the UK, there is increasing recognition that carers are essential to the wellbeing of the Armed Forces community itself.
When carers become overwhelmed, unsupported or isolated, entire families can struggle.
Laura Ingham, Managing Director of Armed Forces Community HQ, explains:
“When we support carers, we strengthen families and when we strengthen families, we strengthen the entire Armed Forces community. This project is a crucial step in delivering that mission.”
The programme also reflects the wider values of the Forces Wellbeing Collective, collaboration, wellbeing, connection and person-centred support.
The Hidden Reality of Caring
Many female carers do not identify themselves as carers at all.
Instead, they often describe themselves simply as:
- “Just supporting my partner”
- “Helping my husband”
- “Managing things at home”
But the reality is that caring responsibilities can impact:
- Employment
- Relationships
- Mental health
- Physical wellbeing
- Social connection
- Financial stability
Without support, many women silently carry these pressures for years.
The Invisible Ranks aims to make those experiences visible, and supported.
A More Joined-Up Approach to Armed Forces Community Support
The programme is also part of a wider shift towards more connected, preventative and collaborative support across the Armed Forces sector.
Increasingly, organisations within the veteran support network are recognising the importance of:
- Family wellbeing
- Trauma-informed practice
- Early intervention
- Peer-led support
- Long-term resilience building
By combining coaching, creativity, welfare support and community connection, The Invisible Ranks represents a more holistic model of Armed Forces community support.
Looking Ahead
The Invisible Ranks is more than a support programme.
It is recognition for women whose contributions have often gone unseen for too long.
By investing in female carers, the programme strengthens not only individuals, but families, communities and the wider Armed Forces ecosystem itself.
For women supporting wounded, injured or sick veterans and serving personnel, this programme offers something many have lacked for years: space to be supported themselves.
To find out more about The Invisible Ranks, contact:
- spoc@armedforceshq.org.uk
- 01942 821 293