Who we are

Hands drawing diagrams on a whiteboard

We carry out research, policy development and consultation on the impact of military service on veterans and their families. Our world-leading research and evaluation informs and improves the wellbeing of veterans, service personnel and their families.

About us

Since our inception, we've published reports and academic papers relating to both commissioned research and to areas of specific research interest.

Our research team has a growing domestic and international profile and is involved in NATO research on military to civilian transition, and sexual violence, as well as collaborative work with universities from the Netherlands, United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

We're represented on a number of national expert groups including the Confederation of Service Charities (Cobseo) cluster groups on Criminal Justice, Foreign and Commonwealth Personnel & Families and Research, as well as the NHS England Veterans Mental Health Round Table Group.

Our people

View the full list of VFI staff.
Find out more about Abigail and her research

Meet Abigail Wood

VFI Research Assistant Abigail Wood talks about her work and why she enjoys working at the VFI

Find out more about Nick's work

Meet Nick Caddick

VFI Research Fellow Nick Caddick talks about his research and the importance of narrative

Our Advisory Board

We harness the views of associated professionals, organisations and researchers to assist us in maintaining a strategic direction that supports our mission for evidence to support veterans and their families.

Our Chairman

Brigadier Max Marriner CBE assumed the role of Chairman of the VFI Advisory Board in 2022.

Commissioned into The Royal Anglian Regiment in 1977, over the next 36 years he deployed on operational tours in Northern Ireland, Belize, The Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan and completed several tours of duty in West Germany and then, after reunification, Germany as a member of the Rapid Reaction Corps Headquarters.

From 2006-2009, he served as the Army’s Director of Staff and Personnel Support, charged with developing and then delivering policies and initiatives to support all Army serving personnel, their families and the veteran community.

For this work – especially in the areas of The Military Covenant and operational support – he was appointed CBE in 2010. He ended his career as the last Commander of British Forces in Iraq, based in Baghdad, from 2009–2012.

Max and his wife Louise live near the coast in North Norfolk with their three dogs. They have a myriad of interests in the local community, and both act as Trustee and Patron of several charities.