Two charities that care for armed forces veterans living with disabilities, neurological conditions or dementia, and their families, have agreed to work towards a merger. 

Royal Star & Garter operates three care homes, in Solihull, High Wycombe and Surbiton, while Care for Veterans (formerly the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home) operates a single home in Worthing, West Sussex.   

The merger will bring together all existing services and expand the Royal Star & Garter group to four homes. 

The “current shared intention” is that Care for Veterans will become a subsidiary charity in a Royal Star & Garter group, with all existing services and buildings maintained, the charities said. 

Royal Star & Garter has annual income of about £25m, while Care for Veterans has annual income of £5m. 

Royal Star & Garter had 358 employees, 16 trustees and 34 volunteers in the year to the end of 2023, latest accounts show, while Care for Veterans had 116 employees, 10 trustees and 40 volunteers over the same period.

Andy Cole is the chief executive of Royal Star & Garter and Pete Inkpen is the interim chief executive of Care for Veterans. 

The aim is for a unified management structure after the merger, which is expected to be completed by Easter.

In a joint statement, the charities said “consolidating services will enable the charities to share expertise, resources and support functions, to provide a more effective, efficient and wider-reaching offer to the veteran community of all ages.” 

When asked by Third Sector what the impact of a merger would be on the existing workforces of both organisations, they said: “The charities have signed a memorandum of understanding that recognises the importance of supporting current residents and staff and enhancing the services delivered to veterans and their families.” 

They added that “as we have just announced the initiation of this merger, it is too soon to know what any integrated structure will be”. However, all four care homes will continue to operate.

Major General Tim Tyler, chair of Royal Star & Garter, said: “I am delighted to be working with the board of Care for Veterans with a view to bringing its home, residents and staff into the Royal Star & Garter family. 

“Both charities were founded as a result of the Great War, have shared similar experiences and ambitions ever since and today share common goals. Royal Star & Garter’s long-term strategy is to ensure consistently high-quality care is provided for those living with disability and dementia among the military family.

“This merger is absolutely consistent with this, and the two charities will develop and learn from each other for the benefit of our current and future beneficiaries.”

David Williams, chair of Care for Veterans, added: “Bringing together Care for Veterans and Royal Star & Garter into a single group unites two charities with a combined history of over 200 years of caring for the veteran community. 

“A merger will leverage the expertise of both charities to the benefit of veterans and their families in need of care. 

“It will also strengthen our financial and operational resilience to ensure that high-quality care is provided at the Worthing home now and into the future, while preserving the legacy of the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home/Care for Veterans.”