Factsheet - Background information and demographics

Factsheet  (Recognition, understanding and communication) RUC 3: Background information and demographics

Dorset is a county with above average military presence, particularly veterans, and has strong existing relationships with its Armed Forces Community. 

• it has over 6,000 serving personnel across 4 bases
• Dorset has a large veteran population, being home to 2% of the UK’s veterans 
• Dorset ranks 5th in percentage of total population that are veterans 7.95% (58,000) 
• Armed Forces Community in Dorset is in estimated to be in excess of 100,000, around 12.9% of Dorset’s 771,900 population
• this means that at least 1 in every 7th person in Dorset could benefit from the provisions of the Armed Forces Covenant 

Army Reserve units based in Dorset are:

• 158 Field Company (Bovington Platoon) REME
• Regimental Headquarters Royal Wessex Yeomanry
• A squadron Royal Wessex Yeomanry
• C Company 6th Battalion The Rifles
• 63 (UKSF) Signal Squadron
• C Company Detachment 6 Rifles

Veterans 

The annual population survey UK armed forces veterans residing in Great Britain estimates that around 58,000 veterans reside in Dorset. Dorset has 2% of the country’s veteran population and 1.2% of the overall national population, meaning that Dorset has a greater proportion of veterans than the country as a whole.

Of the overall statistics of veterans in the UK it is estimated that 51.6% of the UK’s veterans are over 75. This reflects the fact that the youngest person to enter National Service would now be 74, meaning that the majority of males over 75 would have gone through some form of National Service.

Families

All of the above have families who are included as part of the Armed Forces Community and are included as part of the 100,000 Armed Forces Community in Dorset.

Dorset Armed Forces Covenant Programme

Dorset is fortunate to have a two year MoD Funded Programme that employs a Programme Coordinator who is responsible for the delivery of specific projects identified to support the Armed Forces community across the pan-Dorset area.

The main partners in this programme are Dorset County Council. Bournemouth Borough Council, Borough of Poole, Dorset HealthCare NHS University Foundation Trust, NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Dorset.

The overarching aim of the programme is to raise the profile of and to embed the Covenant in the day to day activities of all partner organisations across Dorset, ensuring that all members of the armed forces community are treated fairly and equitably.