The Armed Forces community is made up of:
- those serving in HM Armed Forces or Armed Forces Reserves: the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, the Royal Air Force and the Regular Army plus their constituent reserves
- ex-Service Personnel (‘veterans’). those who have served at least one day in HM Armed Forces as a regular or reservist, or Merchant Mariners who were part of a legally sanctioned operation
- their dependants including partners, spouses, children (even grown-up children if they are still living at home) and other dependent family members who are living in the household.
- the bereaved: the immediate family of service personnel and ex-service personnel who have died, whether or not that death has any connection with service.
Portsmouth’s armed forces community
Portsmouth is the home of the Royal Navy, and the armed forces is a significant part of the fabric of the city. At last estimate over 37,000 people living in Portsmouth were members of the armed forces community (either currently serving, a veteran, reservist, or immediate family’s members of) – that is about 18% of the population.
In November 2022 there were:
- 943 service children registered in Portsmouth schools
- 9,278 veterans living in Portsmouth (estimated)
- 7,600 regular serving personnel based in Portsmouth
The Royal Navy makes an estimated £450m contribution to Portsmouth’s economy.
Solent Armed Forces Partnership Board
Portsmouth, Southampton, Gosport and the Isle of Wight are signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant and in 2016 these local authorities came together to form the Solent Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Board (SAFPCB). In 2023 Havant Borough Council joined the SAFCB.
The Solent Armed Forces Covenant Partnership worked together to understand the needs of this community in the Solent region. You can view the full needs assessment and see an infographic about our work. The partnership have created an action plan to continue to deliver for the armed forces community. View the action plan.
Find out more about our partnership.