21/05/2013 Central Lobby Ahead of his debate today, Labour MP Alex Cunningham argues that the UK’s "routine" practice of recruiting 16 year olds into the armed forces has to stop.
news, information & resources
The information listed in this section covers the most relevant materials relating to our concerns and activities. They include:
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- key reports and research from different sources
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You can also click on the left submenu to see resources and news by category.
browse resources by theme
- adjusting to civilian life (5)
- advice (7)
- alternatives viewpoints (7)
- armed forces bill 2011 (6)
- conscientious objection (14)
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- military in schools (15)
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- ptsd & mental health (6)
- recruitment (9)
- recruitment age (9)
- remembrance (2)
- risks (14)
- terms of service (6)
- veterans' experience (8)
Media news and articles
20/05/2013 Telegraph The Army has launched a campaign to sign up 10,000 new recruits just weeks before thousands of experienced soldiers who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan will lose their jobs.
19/05/2013 Mail on Sunday Sir Nick Harvey describes policy is 'increasingly anachronistic'; Believes 16 and 17-year-olds more likely to die or be seriously wounded; Also claims millions of pounds is wasted due to high drop-out rates
18/05/2013 Independent From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
15/05/2013 Metro Joe Glenton, a former soldier in the British army, has served his country and risked his life in Afghanistan. He’s also been called a coward. The reason? After returning to Britain after his first tour of Afghanistan, he became a conscientious objector (CO) and refused to go back.
23/04/2013 The Telegraph Tens of millions of pounds is wasted on training young soldiers for roles that could be filled more cost effectively by adults, a report has found.
23/04/2013 BBC The "outdated" practice of recruiting 16-year-olds into the Army is wasting up to £94m a year and should stop, two human rights groups have said.
23/04/2013 Open Democracy The Ministry of Defence wastes £94 million every year training minors for army roles which could be filled more cost-effectively by adult recruits, says a new report launched today by human rights groups Child Soldiers International and ForcesWatch.
browse news and articles:
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latest resources
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March 2013
It is designed as a guide for 'State officials who are responsible for implementing laws, administrative decrees or regulations relating to conscientious objection to military service, as well as Members of Parliament and Government officials who may be involved in drafting laws or administrative decrees or regulations on this subject.' Additionally, the publication (below) 'is intended to guide individuals who may be called to perform military service and are unsure of what their rights are in this regard, and how and when they can be exercised.' Read more >> |
April 2013
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April 2013
A recent national ICM poll found that 70 per cent of respondents who expressed a view thought the minimum army recruitment age should be at least 18. Only 18% of all respondents thought that the recruitment age should be as low as 16 years old, as it currently is. Read more >> |
15 March 2013
Men who have served in the UK Armed Forces are more likely to commit a violent offence during their lifetime than their civilian counterparts, according to new research by King's Centre for Military Health Research at King's College London. Read more >> |
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March 2013
Unpacking 'recruitment' - what does the MoD mean when it says it does not recruit in schools? Read more >> |
Combat Stress works with veterans who leave the Armed Forces with psychological wounds. These can lead to depression, phobias, anxiety, relationship problems and, in some cases, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). |
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Research from Homeless Links's Survey of Needs and Provison suggests that while levels of homelessness among ex-service personnel is not high, it is widespread. Approximately half the day centres in England reported that they work with some ex-service personnel, however second stage accommodation reported much lower rates. This suggests that ex-service personnel do face a high risk of falling into patterns of rough sleeping, albeit for fairly short periods. Research by the Centre for Housing Policy at York University in 2008 found that an estimated six per cent of London’s non-statutory homeless population had served in the Armed Forces. Although this represented a substantial drop from the proportion (approximately one quarter) reported in the mid-1990s, it showed that a higher proportion of ex-service personnel have alcohol, physical and/or mental health problems compared to the rest of the rough sleeping population. Read more >> |
Veterans in Prison was founded by two members of the prison service and runds in an independent and voluntary capacity. It's core aim is to reduce re-offending and in turn the number of victims, by rehabilitating the veterans who are currently in the Criminal Justice System. The website has research and information and links to service providers. |
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December 2012
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November 2012
A series of throught-provoking short films: All major religions promote the ideal of peace and harmony, but many also condone the use of violence to defend a just cause. We ask young men and women to fight and die and kill in our name, in wars that many consider unjust and immoral. In the run up to Remembrance Sunday, 4thought.tv asks, “Who are the real heroes in war?” Read more >> |
The Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights has published a guide to applicable international standards and jurisprudence relating to conscientious objection to military service.
A ForcesWatch briefing on the Government policy of expanding cadets and promoting 'military skills and ethos' in schools. It looks at:
