CIL supports Royal Hospital Chelsea with outreach campaign

As Chelsea Pensioners look to support ageing veterans beyond the walls of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the group has launched a new outreach service. The programme was developed with pro bono support from consultants at CIL.

James Silk, partner and lead of CIL’s healthcare and life sciences practice commented, “Supporting meaningful causes like the Royal Hospital Chelsea allows us to give back to the communities where we live and work, using our expertise to drive real change. This project - focused on expanding their reach to support even more elderly veterans - has been a privilege to be part of.”

CIL is an international growth strategy consulting firm, and Silk added that pro bono work is “a core part” of the firm’s own ESG strategy, reflecting its commitment “to creating positive social impact”. Over the course of the project, CIL developed a research methodology and framework to support the charity to target its efforts where it is needed most in relation to loneliness and isolation in older veterans.

This included identifying areas that are most attractive to veterans, and where there’s a high number of elderly veterans and where there is existing provision. At the same time, CIL performed a deep-dive assessment of the existing provision for older veterans in the Southeast of England and identify third party organisations which provide support for veterans so that the charity can begin an active programme of engagement with them.

Silk stated, “We are immensely proud of the work, and particularly the close collaboration between our teams. It was incredibly rewarding to apply the same strategic tools and techniques we use with our clients to support the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s important mission.”

Founded in 1682 by Charles II, the Royal Hospital Chelsea is an Old Soldiers' retirement home and nursing home for some 300 veterans of the British Army. The Chelsea Pensioners often seen in distinctive red coats, raising funds for the hospital across London, are residents at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Looking ahead, CIL’s work aims to help Chelsea Pensioners support elderly veterans beyond their usual zone of influence.

Giles Woodhouse, director of Chelsea Pensioners Outreach, remarked, “The support from the team at CIL Management Consultants has been timely and invaluable in helping the Royal Hospital Chelsea develop a data informed approach to our new regional Outreach service to the older veteran community in the Southeast of England allowing us to target our efforts where it is most needed. We will be more confident in our approach based on the outputs of this research, which we would not have been able to manage ourselves. Additionally, the development and sharing of a methodology and tools will allow us to conduct in-depth ‘market’ analyses of future regions we wish to operate in.”