A Veterans’ Alliance For International Aid

Across the world, the UK’s Armed Forces have contributed to far more than military success – and many Veteran continue to do the same.

From humanitarian airlifts and disaster relief to peacekeeping, aid delivery and international development missions, Veterans have offered a lifeline for communities in crisis around the world for many years. Yet too often, these powerful stories of courage, compassion, and leadership remain untold.

To change that, Veterans Can… is working with other members of The Veteran’s Alliance for International Aid to create the Britain’s First Line of Defence campaign to amplify this message. 

This initiative will unite Veterans who have served in humanitarian, development, and peacekeeping roles, whether in uniform or as Veterans. It will give them a platform to share their first-hand experiences, showcasing the reality of service: rebuilding after earthquakes, protecting vulnerable people, delivering critical aid, and supporting stability in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Our Purpose

The Veteran’s Alliance for International Aid has been established to:

• Showcase Veterans as a positive force for good, while reinforcing how international aid contributes to global security, stability, and influence.
• Reframe public perceptions, demonstrating the provision of aid and development demonstrates moral and strategic leadership, highlighting the benefit the UK’s Veteran community continues to offer.
• Provide a trusted space for authentic voices allowing Veterans to speak openly about how they continue to serve while reflecting on the positive impact they have witnessed around the world.
• Remind society and decisions makers about the importance of protecting the international aid budget

A letter to the Prime Minister

In May 2026 members of the Veterans’ Alliance for International Aid met in the House of Common to discuss the First Line of Defence campaign. At the conclusion of this highly productive session, Veterans working in REACT, Save The Children, The Halo Trust, World Central Kitchen and others, joined 50 fellow Veterans from all walks of life in signing a letter to be sent to the Prime Minister. This letter called on the Government to consider the decision they are making and remember how vital it is to protect the international aid budget.

 ‘If Britain is serious about security, it must not force a choice between defence and development. International aid helps tackle threats upstream, before they become more dangerous and more expensive to confront. It is one of the most effective tools we have to protect both vulnerable communities and our own national interest.’

As Garrath said afterwards, ‘This was an important discussion and empowering to think it’s the stories and opinion of Veterans that might be able to cut through the white noise.’

Building the Alliance

Veterans Can…, an organisation respected across the military community with a strong track record of celebrating Veteran stories, will guide this first phase of development. This includes:

• Via the Veterans Can… community, connecting Veterans who have been involved in HADR missions 
• Showcasing their stories and perspectives
• Creating compelling content for media and social platforms

Our aim is to build a visible, credible, and inspirational community of voices who can inform, influence, and inspire.

Get involved

Many Veterans have contributed to UK humanitarian, development, or peacekeeping operations and are invited to help shape a national conversation, ensuring the true impact of Veteran service is recognised, celebrated, and understood.

If you have been involved in the delivery of international aid as a Veteran or are supportive of our message and would like to stay informed or be involved in the Britain’s First Line of Defence campaign, we encourage you to click the link below and provide your initial responses to some simple questions.