A charity that cares for armed forces veterans living with disabilities has been absorbed by a larger counterpart to provide a more effective, efficient and wider-reaching offer to members of the veteran community of all ages, the charities have said.

Care for Veterans has become part of the Royal Star & Garter group after a merger proposal was tabled last year.

Royal Star & Garter was established in 1916 and runs three homes, in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe, which provide care to veterans living with disability or dementia.

Care for Veterans was established in 1919 and operates a single home in Worthing, West Sussex. 

The merger was officially completed at the end of March and expands the Royal Star & Garter group to four care homes.

Royal Star & Garter has annual income of about £25m and 350 employees, while Care for Veterans has annual income of £5m and 105 staff. 

Andy Cole will remain as the chief executive of Royal Star & Garter and Pete Inkpen, former interim chief executive of Care for Veterans, has joined Royal Star & Garter as its director of integration.

The charities previously said they 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”.

Royal Star & Garter said it would work on a seamless operational integration over the next two years.

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.”

David Williams, trustee at Care for Veterans, said the 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,” Williams said.

“We look forward to beginning this new chapter with Royal Star & Garter.”

Royal Star & Garter had not responded to questions from Third Sector, about whether the merger would result in any redundancies or job losses and the new composition of Royal Star & Garter’s board, before publication of this article.