Yorkshire Ambulance Service re-accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) has been re-accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) after first achieving the accolade in 2021. 

The Trust has been recognised for the significant work that has been undertaken since 2021 to support its Armed Forces community, including identifying and sharing best practice across the NHS and being an exemplar of the best standards of care for those associated with the Armed Forces. 

To become Veteran Aware, an organisation must meet eight accreditation standards, including: understanding and being compliant with the Armed Forces Covenant; raising awareness of veterans and the Armed Forces community; and having a clearly designated veterans and Armed Forces ‘champion team’. 

To offer support and comradeship for staff and volunteers of the Armed Forces community, YAS has an Armed Forces Network which provides members with a shared voice and creates a platform to improve the workplace experience of the Trust’s veterans, reservists and family members.  

As well as being a supportive space for colleagues who have similar experiences and backgrounds, the network influences policy-making and monitors existing policies to ensure that equality is proactively considered for the Armed Forces community. The network has been key in raising the profile of the community at YAS. 

Dave Green, Executive Director of Quality and Chief Paramedic and Executive Sponsor of the YAS Armed Forces Network, said: “Being a veteran myself, and being one of the senior leaders at YAS, I am fully supportive of the work being undertaken to support veterans. This includes helping veterans join our team and giving them the opportunity to start a new career, or being there if we are called to help veterans in their time of need. Being a veteran aware organisation helps set out our intention to support veterans wherever we are able to do so.” 

In addition to the Veteran Aware accreditation, YAS is a proud recipient of the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award, which was awarded in 2023. This prestigious award recognises the service’s commitment to supporting both current and former members of the Armed Forces – veterans, families, reservists and cadet instructors – and being a valued employer of choice for those leaving the military.