Charities and MOD support

Veterans Gateway

Veterans’ Gateway went live on 3 April 2017 and is the first point of contact for veterans seeking support (MOD, 2017)

We put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the advice and support they need.

There is a huge network of organisations supporting the Armed Forces
community, so finding the right one for your needs can be tricky.

We make it quick and easy by being your first point of contact for whatever
support you need, whether you are based in the UK or abroad.

Many of our team are veterans themselves so they understand the issues that
people face after leaving the Armed Forces.

They work with people on a one-to-one basis, connecting them with the right
support as soon as possible.

Veterans’ Gateway also has an extensive Self-Help service, allowing veterans to
search for help and advice independently on a range of issues such as housing,
employment and finance.
Tel: 0808 802 1212
Text: 81212
Website: https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/

SSAFA – The Armed Forces Charity

SSAFA provides lifelong support to men and women in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force, and their families. We also work with veterans of all ages to help them settle into life and work outside the Forces.

Who we help

Our support covers both regulars and reserves in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force and their families, including anyone who has completed National Service. They are all entitled to lifelong support from SSAFA, no matter how long they have served.

Forcesline

Forcesline is a free and confidential telephone helpline and email service that provides support for serving (regulars and reserves), ex-Forces and for their families.
Tel: 0800 731 4880 0900 – 1730 Monday to Friday
Website: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/

The Royal British Legion

The Legion is here to help members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families. And we’re not going anywhere.
We support serving and ex-serving personnel all year round, every day of the week.
Our support starts after seven days of service and continues through life, long after service is over.

We are here to help

We provide lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. We’ve been here since 1921 and we’ll be here as long as they need us.

We remember

We remember those who lost their lives on active service in all conflicts; from the beginning of the First World War right up to the present day. We also remember all those who have served and their families.

Tel: 0808 802 8080 – 8am to 8pm 7 days a week
Online chat – 8am to 8pm 7 days a week
Website: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk

COMBAT STRESS (Source Combat Stress,2020)

We are Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. For over a century, we’ve helped former servicemen and women with mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.

Today we provide specialist treatment and support for veterans from every service and conflict, focusing on those with complex mental health issues.

The work we do is life-changing and often lifesaving. No one else does what we do.

If you’re currently serving or have served in the UK Armed Forces, you can call Combat Stress’ 24-hour mental health helpline.

THE HELPLINE IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR

Veterans and their families can call 0800 138 1619
Serving personnel and their families can call 0800 323 4444

Online Self-help Resources:

Physical Well Being
Managing Anger
Managing Low Mood
Managing Anxiety
Alcohol Misuse
Substance Misuse
Veterans Families
Support for Organizations
Support with PTSD
Sleep during COVID-19
Grief and Loss

https://www.combatstress.org.uk/mental-health-support-during-covid-19

PEER TO PEER SUPPORT

Website Map Locations Link: https://www.combatstress.org.uk/get-help/how-we-help/peer-support

TRAUMA-FOCUSED THERAPY

Six-week residential Intensive Treatment Programme.

Support in Your Community:

COMMUNITY TEAMS
PSYCHO-EDUCATION GROUPS
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY WORKSHOPS

Tel: Please See Above
Email: contactus@combatstress.org.uk
Website: https://www.combatstress.org.uk

MOD VETERANS WELFARE SERVICE

The Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) is committed to enhancing the quality of life for veterans and beneficiaries of Veterans UK pensions and compensation schemes, and all their dependants. VWS caseworkers offer one to one professional help and guidance by telephone, or if needed, during a home visit.

Contacts

The VWS has 4 Veterans Welfare Centres, providing advice and support across the UK.

If you are supporting a veteran and need further advice, the VWS may be able to help.
To locate your nearest centre, call our Veterans UK helpline on 0808 1914 2 18
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/veterans-welfare-service

MOD DEFENCE TRANSITION SERVICES (DTS)

Mission: On behalf of Defence, to help Service leavers and their families navigate their transition from Service to civilian life, whomever they are, whenever they discharge, for whatever reason they leave.

Aim: To educate, empower and encourage Service Personnel and their families to plan early and leave well.

Approach: To work with local and national partners to coordinate access to services for clients; and support in-Service providers working with the most vulnerable.

Support with:

Health
Accommodation
Relocation
Drugs and Alcohol misuse
Finance and Debt
Benefits
Children, family & relationships
Training & employment
Supporting agencies

Support clients via case work:

Educate – realistic expectations, useful information, recognise long-term nature of transition.
Empower – case studies, catalyse positive behaviours.
Encourage – coordinate and connect to support.

DTS will provide assistance 2 years prior & post discharge.

There are two ways to make contact with DTS if you, or someone you know, might benefit from DTS’s support:
Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-for-service-leavers-and-their-families

Complete an in-service referral (DTRP Form 1)
A self or third-party referral. (DTRP Form 2)

Email: DBSVets-DTS-Central@mod.gov.uk

BLESMA (The Limbless Veterans)

Our Mission

To assist limbless veterans to lead independent and fulfilling lives
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is an Armed Forces charity dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limbloss or the use of a limb, an eye or sight. We support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK

Support:

Support Officers – North, North West, North East, Midlands, West, South West, Eastern, South, London &South East
Prosthetics
Activities
Grants
Advice
Benefits
Employment
Community programme

Tel: 020 8590 1124
Email: ChadwellHeath@blesma.org
Website: www.blesma.org

BLIND VETERANS UK

Blind Veterans UK helps ex-Service men and women of every generation rebuild their lives after sight loss. Since 1915 we’ve provided rehabilitation, training, practical advice and emotional support to tens of thousands of blind veterans.

We are here to help anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, or who has done National Service, and who is now living with significant sight loss.

We know that sight loss affects the whole family, so as well as helping veterans to get back on their feet, we offer dedicated support to carers and families.

Tel: 0800 389 7979
Website: www.blindveterans.org.uk

THE POPPY FACTORY

The Poppy Factory is the country’s leading employment charity for veterans with physical and mental health conditions.

Our Getting You Back To Work service helps hundreds of unemployed veterans every year find the right jobs, enabling them to thrive in the civilian workplace. When veterans start in their new roles, we offer in-work support to help them and their employers make any necessary changes. We find this method of working means that over 70 per cent of our veterans are still employed in their roles 12 months down the line.

Employment support:
Call: 020 8939 1837
Email: gybtw@poppyfactory.org
Website: https://www.poppyfactory.org/

DEFENCE MEDICAL WELFARE SERVICE (DMWS)

We are an independent charity providing help and support to the Armed Forces
community and other frontline staff whenever they are receiving medical treatment. For 75 years our practical and emotional support has ensured that no family goes through the worry of illness or injury alone.

Our experienced Welfare Officers provide a confidential, impartial and early assessment of your wellbeing needs, separate from your medical care.

Our staff can support you throughout your treatment. This may include A&E, on hospital wards, maternity units, paediatric clinics, hospices, mental health centres, as well as outpatients and community-based health clinics. DMWS operates across the UK, and overseas, supporting those who put themselves in harm’s way to serve our country. This includes Armed Forces personnel, Reservists, Veterans and their families, the Police, and increasingly other front-line services.

The easiest way to access DMWS support is to ask the medical team caring for you to contact us.

You can also refer yourself for support in the following ways:
Tel: 0800 999 3697
Email: referrals@dmws.org.uk
Website: https://dmws.org.uk