For Veterans, Families, and Professionals
- Wellbeing
- Mental Health
- Holistic Support
- Peer Support for Families Members
- Serving Families Support
- Services for Children
- Employment
- Physical Health
- Housing
- Other Resources
Wellbeing
| The Confederation of Service Charities www.cobseo.org.uk |
COBSEO represents the whole Serving and Veterans Community. Membership is open to Charities who promote and further the welfare and general interests of the Armed Forces Community. They have a Members Directory area, and it has the facility to search for charities within areas or for specific input etc. |
| Veteran’s Gateway www.veteransgateway.org.uk Tel: 0808 802 1212 Text: 81212 there is also facility on the website to email them or online chat. For app search “Veterans Gateway” in Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store. |
Information point for Veterans and their families as a first point of contact for all your welfare needs. From healthcare and housing to employability, finances, and more. They will also directly refer you to their vetted partners. |
| Forces Connect app Search “Forces Connect” in Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store. |
This has been designed to be able to link users to quickly to organisations offering help and support across a wide range of services. Including health, crisis support, homelessness and much more. The free app is aimed at the entire armed forces community – serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families – as well as frontline public services staff. |
| The Samaritans Veterans app For the app search “Samaritans Veterans” in Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store. |
This is a pilot app currently and provides UK Military Service Leavers and Veterans with emotional health and wellbeing information, guidance and resources and is free to download. |
| Op COMMUNITY NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) and NHS Kent & Medway ICB
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Following a robust engagement exercise with service users and providers on an appropriate name for the single point of contact service for Armed Forces families, this is now called Op COMMUNITY: Armed Forces Community Support. This model of care navigation for those in the wider Armed Forces community seeks to ensure individuals and families are able to access NHS services without disadvantage. This is particularly important for mobile service families and those transitioning from military to civilian life. |
Mental Health
| Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service within the NHS. South East England Contact details: Call 0300 365 2000 (option 4) or email Further details can be found on services on the website. |
Op COURAGE is an NHS service supported by trained professionals who are from, or have experience working with, the Armed Forces Community. This service can help if you’re finding life difficulty after leaving the military. Working together with Armed Forces Charities, Op COURAGE will help you get the right type of specialist treatment, support, and treatment for your specific needs. You can contact the service yourself or ask your GP, a charity or someone else, such as a family member to do this for you. |
| Combat Stress www.combatstress.org.uk 24/7 Helpline for Veterans on 08001381619, text 07537404719 or email For Serving Personnel: 0800 323 4444, you can also text on 07537 404719 and email: |
Combat Stress provide specialist treatment and support for veterans from every service and conflict, focusing on those with complex mental health issues related to their military service. Referrals can be made via email or telephone. |
| Help for Heroes www.helpforheroes.org.uk Tel:0300 303 9888 |
They provide input in a variety of ways to support Veterans, families and serving personnel. From physical health to psychological input, welfare support and much more. Psychological input from Hidden Wounds service. |
| All Call Signs www.allcallsigns.org Tel: 023 9438 7914. |
Is an award-winning peer support organisation for veterans and serving military personnel. Currently working alongside, walking with the wounded and NHS HIS services within the South East. |
| The Warrior Programme www.warriorprogramme.org.uk Tel: 0808 801 0898 |
Is a non-clinical programme to enables individuals to manage their emotions and to develop the resilience, focus and motivation to succeed in today’s world. The programme has been developed over the last ten years to meet the demands and challenges experienced by past and present members of the armed forces and their families |
| Walking with the Wounded www.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk |
Can provide psychological input via their Head Start Programme are unable to accept self-referrals, all referrals are to be submitted by a healthcare professional e.g. NHS Teams, DCMH, other charity clinician. They can also provide employment support |
| TogetherAll www.togetherall.com |
(formerly Big White Wall) provides 24/7 safe, anonymous support FREE to all UK serving personnel, veterans and their families |
| Crisis Helpline Support within SABP 24/7 0800 915 4644 for telephone support. |
Referrals can be accepted from any health or care professional, including GP’s talking therapy providers and private practitioners. Safe Haven / Virtual Safe Havens info: www.sabp.nhs.uk/our-services/mental-health/safe-havens |
Holistic Support
| SSAFA’s Forcesline ssafa.org.uk Tel: 0800 260 6767 Open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:30. |
Support available: Welfare service for military families, support for older veterans, welfare & benefits advice on social care, advice and housing for the Armed Forces Community. Mental Wellbeing and disability support. Gurkha Service: Specialist Nepali Language services for member of the Brigade of Gurkhas, and their families. |
| Royal British Legion www.britishlegion.org.uk Contact centre 7 days per week 8am-8pm. Tel: 0808 802 8080. Online chat facility also available. |
Support available for: Care and independent living, physical and mental wellbeing, financial and employment support, local community connections and housing support. |
| Royal Air Force Association www.rafa.org.uk Tel: 0800 0182361 Monday to Friday 09:00 – 18:00 excluding bank holidays and weekends. |
For over 90 years, the RAF Association has championed a simple belief – that no member of the RAF community should ever be left without the help that they need. For the sake of everyone who needs our help, we must continue to evolve and innovate to meet these new challenges and remain at the leading edge of service provision. We must champion the best interests of the RAF community more strongly than ever before. |
| The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust www.rnbt.org.uk Tel: 02392 690112 |
Provides financial assistance and support to Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel and their families in times of need |
| ABF The Soldiers’ Charity www.soldierscharity.org Tel: 0207 901 8900 |
Award grants to individuals and families and provide essential funding to leading charities and organisations that support the Army family. |
| Gurkha Welfare Advice Centre (GWAC) UK www.gwt.org.uk Tel: 01252 315152 or 01252 329460 |
They help to assist in the coordination of welfare for retired Gurkhas in the UK, working closely with government departments, Service charities, ex-Gurkha communities and other agencies to support those in need |
| Veterans Welfare Service For London, SE & SW region: Tel 02392 702232 Email: |
Run by the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Veterans UK they provides free one-to-one support to veterans or anyone supporting a veteran, their families and dependants, with a national network of welfare managers across the UK and Republic of Ireland. They work together with the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, local authorities, voluntary organisations, service charities and Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees to provide a free welfare service that promotes independence, maintains dignity and provides continuous support through life. |
| Fighting With Pride www.fightingwithpride.org.uk |
The charity supports the health and wellbeing of LGBT+Veterans, service personnel and their families – in particular those most impacted by the ban on LGBT+ personnel serving in the Armed Forces prior to January 2000. To contact the charity either visit their website where there is a chat section or email: |
| Veterans' Hubs Website |
These are relaxed place for veterans to drop in and share a cup of tea and the company of others who have served. They also provide a way to gain advice, support and services under one roof. This means a minimum of two services or charities available at least once a month. |
| ASDIC Association of Armed Forces Drop In centres www.asdic.org.uk/member-directory/ |
ASDIC represents and links veterans’ Drop-Ins across the country. Sometimes called Hubs or Centres, Drop-Ins offer a variety of welfare and mental health support, together with comradeship and a sense of wellbeing, to the ex-military community and their families. |
| Armed Forces Breakfast Clubs www.afvbc.net/ |
A group of Veterans and Serving Members of Her Majesties Armed Forces. Veteran’s Breakfast Clubs around the country and overseas, ethos is to provide mutual support. |
Peer Support for Families Members
| The Ripple Pond https://theripplepond.org/ Tel: 0333 900 1028 |
Provide peer support to the Armed Forces families who are supporting British service personnel and veterans who are living with a physical injury or mental illness. |
| Action for Carers Website Tel: 0303 040 1234 |
Have a dedicated Armed Forces support service, offering confidential, bespoke, individual information, advice and guidance for the armed forces community, whether you are still serving, a family member, a young carer, ex-services, a veteran or a reservist. |
Serving Families Support
| Naval Families Federation www.nff.org.uk/ Tel: 0239265 4374 |
Sometimes it can be difficult to find the help, support or advice you need. We’re here to help by providing support, driving change and championing RN and RM serving families as they navigate both serving and civilian life challenges. |
| Army Families Federation www.aff.org.uk/ Tel: 01264 554004 |
The Army Families Federation (AFF) is the independent voice of Army personnel and their families. We work to improve the quality of life for the Army family, wherever you are in the world. |
| Royal Air Force Families Federation www.raf-ff.org.uk/ Tel: 01780 781650 |
We work to improve quality of life for the RAF family around the world – at work or at home. This could include resolving problems with access to education or healthcare, for children and young people; sorting out problems with accommodation, benefits, and visas; helping military spouses find meaningful employment. Additionally we support you in addressing issues that can arise when you live in one place, such as access to bases, repeated separations as a family, and finding the right help and advice. |
Services for Children
| Reading Force www.readingforce.org.uk |
At Reading Force, we are passionate about using books to bring Forces children and families closer together. Our shared reading initiative encourages families to read, talk, and scrapbook about a book, improving communication and enriching relationships with books and each other – one page at a time. |
| Little Troopers www.littletroopers.net |
Little Troopers is a registered charity supporting all military children who have parent(s) serving in our British Armed Forces, regular or reserve. These children often face unique challenges including frequent house and school moves, as well as regular periods of separation from their serving parent(s) for varying lengths of time due to exercises, training, operations and other service commitments. As a charity, Little Troopers ensures our British Armed Forces children and their families have access to child-focused support, providing fundamental resources and initiatives. |
| Scotty's Little Soldiers www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk |
When a parent dies, the impact on their child is significant. When that parent served in the British Forces, the impact is even greater with children often feeling they’ve lost their connection to the military community. Scotty’s Little Soldiers prevents that. Together, we can ensure the very best bereavement support remains available. |
| Forces Childrens Trust forceschildrenstrust.org.uk |
As a charity we are devoted to working together to assist any dependent children who are in need, whose father or mother has died or has sustained life-changing injuries whilst serving as a member of the Armed Forces and such other occupations as determined from time to time by the Trustees. The FCT, by reason of its aims and size, has the flexibility and ability to make decisions and offer help as needed, with minimum fuss and consequent time-loss. |
Employment
| The Poppy Factory www.poppyfactory.org Tel: 0208 939 1837 / 1877 or |
The Poppy factor support hundreds of veterans with health conditions back into meaningful work across England, Wales and Northern Ireland every year. |
| Recruitment for Spouses www.recruitforspouses.co.uk/ |
Our focus is our community and we are dedicated to building a legacy that will help the community now and for years to come. Whether that is a helping hand back in to the workplace via our Recruitment team, a confidence booster and upskilling via our Career Academy or in the support provided to each other by the community themselves within the safe spaces we have built. |
| Forces Family Jobs www.forcesfamiliesjobs.co.uk |
Forces Families Jobs is the go-to place for training, employment and volunteer roles for family members of currently serving UK military personnel. Apply for jobs and access employment and training opportunities with companies and organisations who are Forces family friendly. You can use this website with confidence, knowing that employers have signed the Armed Forces Covenant or are able to demonstrate their commitment to the Armed Forces. This is your gateway to accessing information about acquiring new skills, upgrading your existing skills or applying directly to employers who are understanding of the unique challenges that come with being a family member of a serving person. |
| Step into Health www.militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk |
Through Step into Health, members of the Armed Forces community can connect to NHS organisations to set up training opportunities, clinical and general work placements, insight days and receive application support. The programme provides a dedicated pathway into a career in the NHS. |
| RFEA The Forces Employment Charity https://www.forcesemployment.org.uk/ |
The Forces Employment Charity provides life-long, life-changing support, job opportunities, and training to Service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families, regardless of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving. |
Physical Health
| Chavasse Clinic | Our Chavasse Clinic is a specialist musculoskeletal clinic for service personnel (regular or reserve) and veterans held monthly at the Royal Sussex County hospital in Brighton. Referrals are welcomed from an appropriate medical practitioner (e.g. GP/physio) for patients with musculoskeletal problems who have served in HM Armed Forces – regular, reserve or veteran. Please complete a Chavasse Clinic Referral form and contact our appointments team at the Booking Hub, RSCH with the referral to the Chavasse Clinic. Email referrals to: |
| Op RESTORE |
GP referral only. The Veterans Trauma Network (VTN) is now called Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service. This brings the service in line with the following NHS services in England, providing a recognisable suite of services for the Armed Forces community. Op RESTORE is a service for anyone who has served at least one day in the UK Armed Forces and, as a result of their service, acquired a significant, lasting physical illness or injury. Op RESTORE will continue to accept only GP referrals; GPs can obtain a referral form by email. |
Housing
| Veterans Aid Contact our Ops Team on freephone 0800 012 6867 or landline 0207 828 2468. We are open 9am - 3pm, Monday to Friday. https://veterans-aid.net/ |
Veterans Aid provides immediate practical support to all former UK servicemen and women who are homeless, facing homelessness or in crisis. |
| Stoll To call our head office please dial 020 7385 2110. https://www.stoll.org.uk/ |
We are the leading provider of supported housing to vulnerable veterans. |
| Op FORTITUDE 0800 952 0774 |
The housing hotline, delivered by Riverside group, will give homeless veterans a single point of contact to get them the help they need. Op FORTITUDE staff will refer callers to a network of support, including housing providers, charities and local authorities. The programme aims to support 1,300 veterans over two years across almost 60 housing complexes, ranging from apartment blocks to shared houses. |
| SPACES Telephone: 01748 833797 or 01748 872940 or 01748 830191 Fax: 01748 835774 Email: Website: www.spaces.org.uk |
SPACES helps single ex service personnel find housing throughout the United Kingdom which can be temporary or permanent. If you contact them within six months of leaving the Armed Forces they may be able to help you find accommodation. If you have been out of the Armed Forces for more than six months they can provide you with information and advice on housing. |
| Haig Housing General Enquiries: Housing: Main switchboard – 020 8685 5777 Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm https://www.haighousing.org.uk/ |
Haig Housing is proud to have served the British Veteran community for over 100 years. As the leading housing provider for ex-Service personnel in the UK, the charity now owns over 1,500 properties across 50 locations. |
Other Resources
| Surrey Information Point https://www.surreyinformationpoint.org.uk/ |
Surrey information Point is your essential local directory of care and support options in Surrey with a range of information and services from community groups, things to do , help at home to regulated care provider services. Information pages and category headings can help you find information and personalise it using the shortlist function. |
| War Widows Association of GB Contact www.warwidows.org.uk Tel: 0845 2412 189 |
Charity for those widows of the Armed Forces Community. |
| The Veterans Charity https://www.veteranscharity.org.uk/ |
We can provide support to Veterans who find themselves battling hardship and the distress it causes. Despite being a small charity, we operate nationally throughout the UK including Northern Ireland. We are able to assist with essentials such as food shopping (including pet and baby products where required), utilities support, clothing and footwear, household items and single appliances, smartphones/tablets and calling credit/data. |
