Care for Veterans has completed its merger into fellow armed forces charity Royal Star & Garter, the organisations have confirmed.
The two charities, founded in response to World War I, agreed on the merger in November 2024 and finalised the plan at the end of March this year.
As a result of the merger, a unified management structure is in place and a new board has been formed, a charity spokesperson told Civil Society.
There has been no change to frontline staff in delivering care at Care for Veterans, and “very few roles” have been affected by the merger, the spokesperson said.
Royal Star & Garter’s workforce has grown by over 100 to 518 employees as a result of the merger and it now operates four care homes including one in Worthing, West Sussex, which will continue to carry the Care for Veterans name.
Established in 1916, Royal Star & Garter will continue to run its three other care homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe.
Royal Star & Garter recorded an income of £23.7m for the year ending 31 December 2023, with 358 employees. It also held assets, including long-term investments, worth over £100m.
Care for Veterans, formerly known as the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home, most recently recorded an income of £4.96m for the year ending 31 December 2023 and had 116 employees.
‘Strengthening our financial and operational resilience’
Both charities will work on operational integration over the next two years.
Royal Star & Garter chief executive Andy Cole said: “Our strategy at Royal Star & Garter is to ensure consistently exceptional care is provided for those in the armed forces community living with disability and dementia.
“The merger underpins this ambition as our two charities unite, developing and learning from one another to benefit the veteran community, now and into the future.
“We are privileged to welcome Care for Veterans, its home, residents and staff, into the Royal Star & Garter family.”
Care for Veterans trustee David Williams said: “This merger brings together two charities sharing common goals and values, with expertise in caring for armed forces veterans and their families living with disability.
“Combining our skills and strengthening our financial and operational resilience will ensure that high-quality care continues to be provided at our Worthing home.
“We look forward to beginning this new chapter with Royal Star & Garter.”
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