The Chelsea Pensioner Veterans Outreach Programme is hosting its first garden party for veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum on Thursday 24 September. The free event will bring together veterans from all three services and the Merchant Navy for activities, camaraderie and access to veteran support organisations.
The expansion to the North follows research by the Royal Hospital Chelsea showing positive outcomes from the programme. Among 330 participants who attended events between 2023 and 2025, 85% reported improved wellbeing after attending regular social activities with fellow veterans. Half reported a stronger sense of purpose, 60% reported an increased sense of belonging, and 40% noted increased physical activity and participation in new activities.
However, the findings also highlight ongoing need. The research identified 47% of older veterans as experiencing loneliness according to the UCLA 3 Loneliness Scale. The Royal Hospital Chelsea website has seen a 390% increase in searches for Veterans Outreach events between January and June 2026 compared to the same period last year, with searches for Veterans Outreach also increasing by over 80%.
We are thrilled to be bringing our first-ever Chelsea Pensioners Veterans Outreach Garden Party to the National Memorial Arboretum and to be engaging with veterans in the north of England and beyond our iconic London base and across all three services and the Merchant Navy. Our recent research reveals the importance of our outreach programme for older veterans and the need to expand our reach as far as possible.
Giles Woodhouse, Director of Chelsea Pensioners Veterans Outreach at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, said the programme aims to provide friendship and a sense of purpose through regular events and a digital community called Old Comrades.
The Chelsea Pensioners Veterans Outreach Programme supports veterans across the UK through outreach sessions, a network of veteran support organisations and regular activities. The Old Comrades App provides a digital platform for veterans to access support, stay connected and engage with news, events and resources.
