Veteran Services
Northern Ireland
Andy Allen's Veterans Support
AA Veterans Support is a Northern Ireland based charity set up to provide help and support for Veterans and their families across Northern Ireland. Its aim is to provide the necessary support services for those Veterans or their family members that may need our help. We believe that our Forces and their families deserve our lifelong support. We aim to provide Practical, Training, Emotional and Financial support to anyone who is serving or has ever served and their families. Whenever they may need us, we'll do whatever we can to help.
Andy Allen Veterans Support Website can be accessed here
https://www.aavsni.com
Veterans UK
Our partners the VWS work alongside in-service welfare providers and closely with local authorities, voluntary organisations, service charities and DWP. This ensures that those leaving the services and existing veterans and their families receive all the information and assistance they need to access the appropiate services and benefits.
How to contact us? Initial contact should be by telephone and if appropiate, we can arrange a home visit. NI (and the Republic of Ireland) is covered by a Veterans Welfare Centre in Glasgow.
National Helpline: 0800 169 2277
National email:
veterans.help@spva.gsi.gov.uk
Website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/
organisations/veterans-uk
Local Telephone: 0141 224 2709
Local email: spva-vwsglasgowmailbox@md.uk
Royal British Legion Belfast
The Royal British Legion is the UK's leading Service charity providing care and support to serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans of all ages and their families. We help serving members of the Armed Forces, ex-Service men and women (veterans), their families and dependants. We provide practical care, advice and support to the Armed Forces family all year round. Welfare is at the heart of everything we do. We are also one of the UK's largest membership organisations, with over 300,000 members. We safeguard the memory of those who have given their lives for our freedom through Remembrance education and events. We work with all political parties, campaigning to improve the lives of all Service people - past, present and future. We organise the annual Poppy Appeal; remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and raising money to help those in need today.
Contact Centre (UK Freephone): 0808 802 8080 (from Republic of Ireland 0044 (0)20 3376 8080)
Web: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/
Where to find RBL Belfast Pop In centre
The Royal British Legion Area Office
21 Talbot St
Belfast BT1 2LD
Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee
The Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee exist to serve and support ex-servicemen and women, their widows and their immediate family members.
So whenever or wherever you have served, whether in the second World War or Afghanistan, we are here to help. We are an Independant voice and can act as a bridge to:
Advise and guide you if you are unsure of your rights or where to turn in the complex world of government pensions and other allowances.
Listen to complaints when things go wrong and, where we can, help to sort them out.
Assist you in obtaining help from the appropiate ex-service charity or government department.
If you would like to get in touch with your local VAPC, please contact
From Northern Ireland: 0800 169 2277
From Republic of Ireland: +44 1253 866043
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-advisory-and-pensions-committees-x13
Email: veterans.help@spva.gsi.gov.uk
ABF - The Soldiers Charity
ABF The Soldiers' Charity, giving lifetime support to serving and former soldiers and their families. Includes making grants to individuals and specialist charities that help ex-seoliers and their families.
Support offered includes:
Financial: Financial assistance to relieve hardship, grants for living costs, emergency needs, debt relief. Provision of annuities and Educational Bursaries.
Accommodation: care home fees. Home adaptions. Furnishing and equipment.
Personal: Mobility assistance. Funding holiday breaks.
ABF The Soldiers Charity
Mountbarrow House
6 - 20 Elizabeth Street
London
SW1W 9RB
Tel: +44 (0) 845 241 4820
https://soldierscharity.org/
SSAFA
SSAFA is a National charity operated on a regional basis. Al branch members are highly trained volunteers, giving their time freely.
SSAFA helps serving and ex-service men or women and their wives, husbands, partners and deendant family members, who need friendship, advice or assistance, from the day their service starts and for the rest of their lives. This help continues for widows and widowers, after divorce, and for people seperated from established partnerships and for dependant children. They do not sit in judgement, they simpy help people to sort out problems - with their agreement and as fast as possible.
They are available, at the end of the telephone, by email or by letter, to do anything possible to relieve distress or to solve a problem. They will discuss the matter with you and agree the action to be taken. You can come to them with any problem or request - they don't limit the type of problem or the type of help that might be possible. And they will see it though with you to the end - they won't abandon you during the process.
Telephone: 02890 327740
E:mail: n.ireland@ssafa.org.uk
Mail: 21 Talbot Street, Belfast. BT1 2LD
Web: www.ssafa.org.uk
Combat Stress
Combat Stress is the UK's leading military charity speciallising in the care of veterans' mental health. They look after men and women who are suffering from a psychological condition related to the service career as a small but significant number of veterans leave the Armed Forces with psychological wounds. This can lead to depression, anxiety, a phobia or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Combat stress works with veterans of the British Armed Forces and members of the Reserve Forces, through effective treatment and support for mental health problems.
24-hr Helpline The Combat Stress 24-hr Helpline is on 0800 138 1619
Text: 07537 173683
Email: helpline@combatstress.org.uk
Website: https://combatstress.org.uk/
The Ulster Defence Regiment and The Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) Aftercare Service
Bespoke support to veterans resident in Northern Ireland who formerly served in The Ulster Defence Regiment and in The Home Service element of The Royal Irish Regiment during Operation Banner.
Based at four centres throughout the Province, it consists of caseworkers and support staff who provide outreach to the veterans' community, advising and sign posting to other trusted agencies which assist those in need. Ot offers holistic resolution to each case via:
Welfare - via domcilliary visits, ranging from simple befriending to full-blown intervention in issues of bereavement, debt, housing, benefits and pensions and including assistance in application for recompense.
Medical - building trusted pathways to the wider National Health Service via a client's General Practitioner and also to offer immediate referral to psychological therapies and psychsiotherapy for conditions caused or made worse by military service.
Vocational - sign posting to Regular Forces Employment Agency (RFEA) provides career and employment advice.
Benevolence - assisting in supporting cases of proven financial need. Successful liaison is routinely undertaken with many service charities.
Expansion of the service to assist other veterans resident in Northern Ireland is still being considered.
The Aftercare Service can be contacted initially on 028 90 420 145 or through its Website:
www.aftercareservice.org
BLESMA - The Limbless Veterans
BLESMA provides support to limbless and ex-servicemen and women and their families. It has no permanent office in Northern Ireland but is covered by a team from England which visits its members here frequently.
Support offered includes:
Financial Grants for motobility, rehabilitation and adaptions. Advice on compensation allowance claims.
Accommodation: Nursing, residential and respite care.
Personal: Welfare support visits. Assistance in finding employment. Rehabilitation. Representation.
BLESMA
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans,
115 New London Road,
Chelmsford,
CM2 0QT
T: 020 8590 1124
Email: info@blesma.org
https://blesma.org/
BLIND VETERANS UK
Formerly known as St Dunstan's since 1915, this charity provides support for blind and visually impaired ex-servicemen and women. It has no permanent office in Northern Ireland but is covered by a team from England which visits its members her frequently.
Support offered includes:
Financial: Assistance in accessing benefits and the provision of financial aid.
Accommodation: Nursing and residential care, short and long term.
Personal: Nationwide welfare service, together with lifelong rehabilitation, training and support.
Blind veterans UK
12-14 Harcourt Street
LONDON
W1H 4HD
Tel: 0300 111 22 33
Hotline 0800 389 7979
Email: info@blindveterans.org.uk
Web: https://www.blindveterans.org.uk/
Help 4 Heroes
Their mission is to deliver an enduring national network of support for our wounded and their families. They aspire and enable those who made sacrifices in our behalf to achieve their full potential.
They can provide immediate financial support via their Quick Reaction Force Fund which helps by giving swift financial support to those with life changing injuries, life changng illnesses and their families.
The Help for Heroes Band of Brothers offers life-long support and opportunities to those suffering from life-changing injury or illness. The Help for Heroes Band of Sisters provides supports, recognition and fellowship to those who care for our heroes.
Help for Heroes strives to achieve the best for the men and women of Great Britains Armed Forces, both serving and veteran. We are proud to work with other Service charities to make sure that the wounded, injured and sick get the support they deserve.
You can contact us them;
https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/
Post: write to them at Help for Heroes 14 Parkers Close Downton Business Centre Downton Salisbury Wiltshire SP5 3RB
Tel: 01980 846 459 (opening hours 9am to 5pm)
Do you need their support?
For financial support please email them on grants@helpforheroes.org.uk
To join their Band of Brothers or Band of Sisters please email
bandofbrothers@helpforheroes.org.uk
bandofsisters@helpforheroes.org.uk
COBSEO
COBSEO is an organisation that exists for the interests of the Armed Forces community in order to:
* Represent and support the needs and opinions of member organisations to all levels of Government and other organisations.
* Identify, communicate and action issues of common interest of member organisations.
* Exchange and coordinate information between member organisations.
* Act as a single point of contact for external inquies.
How they work
COBSEO's membership consists of over 180 Service and ex-service organisations, including regimental associations. It does not have individual members.
Cobseo Office
Mountbarrow House
12 Elizabeth Street
London
SW1W 9RB
Positive Pathways Programme Enquiries
r.price@cobseo.org.uk
Tel: 07900 615 346
https://www.cobseo.org.uk/
The Northern Ireland Veterans' Support Office (NIVSO)
is the lead support and signposting service linking individual Veterans, Veterans' groups, statutory and non-statutory bodies, and charities supporting Veterans in Northern Ireland.
We build the capacity to deliver the Armed Forces Covenant - the Nation's commitment to Veterans. It is a pledge that ensures Veterans and their families have access to a wide variety of support and are treated fairly.
We work collaboratively with the Office of the Veterans' Commissioner for Northern Ireland, and support individual Veterans, their families and carers, as well as groups and organisations that provide a range of support services and activities for Veterans.
We educate key players within local communities regarding the needs of Veterans, offering solutions to problems, suggestions and ideas, advocacy, signposting and practical help.
We advocate a holistic approach to providing options to Veterans and help them to make informed decisions. We sit at the heart of the network, where we interact top down and bottom up, and endeavour to find a solution to all Veterans' diverse needs.
Key facts and data about Veterans in the UK are available here.
https://nivso.org.uk/
The Defence Garden Scheme
The Defence Gardens Scheme (DGS) works in partnership with veterans' charities, military units, community mental health service providers and gardening projects to develop, deliver and evaluate nature-based therapy. The network is developing regionally on a 'Hub and Spoke' model of community-based mental health care.
In partnership with the Northern Ireland (NI) Veterans' Support Office, 3 Hub and 2 Spoke Gardens have been established. The DGS regional coordinator is now encouraging smaller community gardens to join the network.
DGS at DB Nurseries in Greater Manchester is now established and new gardens are being developed with partners in the Southwest, Northwest and Scotland.
https://www.defencegardens.org/
Brooke House
is located in the private and peaceful setting of Colebrooke Park in Co Fermanagh. Brooke House was initally estblished by the Ely Centre in 2018, and became an independent entity in December 2020. Brooke House is a registered charity NIC108008.
The Brooke House Health and Wellbeing Centre seeks to support and improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of uniformed services, retired Royal Ulster Constabulary Officers, Military veterans, and their families, who have been physically injured, psychologically impacted and/or bereaved as a result of their service.
Brooke House aims to provide multi-disciplinary, evidenced-based and outcomes-focused, high-impact support for the care and recovery of the uniformed services and their families, complementing other therapeutic services and providing an environment where they may develop together. Check our detailed eligibility criteria here.
https://brookehouse.co.uk/about/
Veteran Services N.I. Charity Information site, aim is to signpost both Serving and retired members of the Armed Forces with practical help and advice with regards to Post Trauma Stress Disorder, (PTSD), War Pensions, benefits, housing, Medals, Funerals, and much more. It is Northern Ireland based, but is open to all Servicemen and women North and South. Please FOLLOW THIS LINK
