Contributed by our Chief Executive at VOS, Ian Millen.
This week Veterans Outreach Support is celebrating its Eighteenth birthday!
That is a milestone worth celebrating in any life, and for a charity, it carries a particular sense of meaning. It is a moment to reflect on how far we have come, to thank everyone who has helped us along the way, and to look ahead with confidence to the next stage of our journey.
VOS began with a clear and compassionate purpose – a vision formed by our four founders, Morgan O’Connell, Ann Townsend, John (Joe) Erskine, and David Watts – to create a welcoming and informal environment where veterans could access support, find understanding and connect with others who truly understood their experiences. This vision was formed by our founders following a pilgrimage to the Falkland Islands to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1982 conflict. A conflict in which three had served and where Ann tragically lost her son who was killed in action.
In those early days, like any young organisation, VOS relied on the confidence, goodwill and generosity of others to take its first steps. The Royal Maritime Hotel, that served as its HQ, and still does today, the mental health clinicians that answered the call of Morgan O’Connell, the first volunteers, and those that provided funding to allow VOS to take its first steps. We remain deeply grateful to everyone who believed in that vision and helped make those early years possible.
Over time, VOS grew from those beginnings into a confident and capable charity in its own right, delivering welfare, wellbeing and mental health support, through a Drop-in model that brought people together to support those in need. A significant milestone in that journey came in 2017, when VOS was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), recognising the exceptional contribution of our volunteers and the value of the support being delivered. It was a proud moment for the charity, reflecting not only what had been achieved, but the trust and respect VOS had earned.
Today, VOS is shaped by interdependence. We continue to provide direct support where we can, but we also work closely with a wide network of partners to help people access the right help at the right time. That collaborative approach is reflected in our flagship monthly drop-in, where around 40 delivery partners join our staff and volunteers under one roof. For anyone seeking help with welfare, well-being or mental health, it offers a single, welcoming point of access to a much wider community of support.
This model matters because the needs of veterans and their families are often complex, and no single organisation can meet every need alone. VOS plays its part by listening, guiding and connecting people to the right support, whether that is direct help from our own team or specialist assistance from one of our trusted partners.
Beyond our local delivery, we have reached much further; the creation and development of ASDIC prior to it becoming a charity in its own right, regional programme leadership in the South East of England with the AFCFT’s Veterans Places, Pathways and People (VPPP), and Thrive Together programmes and, most recently, our success in becoming one of the first charities to become a VALOUR-Recognised Centre, a new government initiative designed to help reduce the postcode lottery for those seeking support. It is an exciting step forward and one that reflects the direction we want to keep moving in: fairer access, stronger partnerships and better outcomes for the people we serve.
John (Joe) Erskine, VOS Co-founder said:
“When we started VOS, we wanted to create a place where veterans could feel understood, supported and welcome. To see that idea grow into what it is today is something we could never have imagined, and something we are deeply proud of.”
John Scivier, VOS Chairman, added:
“VOS has reached 18 with a strong sense of purpose, and a real spirit of partnership. Our focus now is on building on that foundation, strengthening access to support, and helping to shape a fairer future for veterans and their families.”
As we celebrate this 18th birthday, we want to say thank you. Thank you to our founders, trustees, staff, volunteers, funders, donors and supporters. Thank you to the partners who work alongside us. And thank you above all to the veterans, spouses, partners and carers who trust us to be part of their journey.
At 18, a person is expected to know who they are, while still growing into who they may become. That feels right for VOS too. We know our purpose. We know our values. And we know that the best way to honour the past is to keep building the future – together.
VOS is 18, but our work is only just entering its next chapter. With the strength of our partnerships, the dedication of our people and the trust of the veteran community, we are ready to keep growing, keep learning and keep improving the support that matters most. The next chapter starts here – and we look forward to writing it together.
P.S. There’s no need to send us a birthday card, but if you or anyone you know wishes to make a contribution to the work we do, then please feel free to visit our donations support page on our website here
Grant Providers and Donors
In the past 18 years, VOS has been supported by numerous organisations both within the Armed Forces circle and outside of it.
Grant providers include:
- Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund, 14 different projects have been supported.
- Greenwich Hospital
- Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity
- Royal Naval Benevolent Fund
- The Seafarers UK
- Veterans Foundation, supported with different types of grants
- Trinity House Maritime Community
- Army Benevolent Fund
- RAF Benevolent Fund
- Agility Eco
- BGF Foundation
- Falklands Veterans Foundation
- Gerald Palmer Eling Trust Company
- Garfield Weston
- Gosling Foundation
- Groundwork UK – Tesco Community Grant
- Help for Heroes
- HIWCF
- HM Prison and Probation Service
- Lloyds Bank Foundation
- Masonic Charitable Foundation
- Ministry of Defence
- NHS No Wrong Door
- Portsmouth City Council
- Portsmouth Diocesan Board
- Queen Mary’s Roehampton Trust
- TRBL
- Victoria Rifles
- Zurich Community Trust
- Postcode Community Trust
- Office for Veterans Affairs – VALOUR
- Blyth Charitable Trust
VOS also receives donations from a variety of sources, VOS is fortunate to have individuals who donate regularly, as well many other sources from local supermarkets who allow us to undertake community outreach in their stores to organisations have made VOS their charity of the year, Airbus UK, Defence School of Policing & Guarding at Southwick Park and others who donate to us regularly St Ann’s Church, Lee on the Solent & Stubbington RNA, Masonic Charitable Foundation and Boathouse 4 to name a few.
VOS staff and volunteers attend events and VOS receives donations from these as well as regular donations from the Portsmouth Lottery, and many other charity donation hubs.
It is impossible to name everyone who has and still supports VOS but listed below are some of the other organisations that have donated to VOS over the last 18 years.
- The Royal Maritime Hotel
- Amazon Smile
- Anglo Dutch & OV ADO Lodge
- Arnold Clark
- ATCOs
- Co-op Local Community Fund
- BAE Systems Surface Ships
- Barley Aid
- Clarence Lodge No.8167
- Country & Coast
- Devises CCWC
- DRD Ltd
- The Eisner Foundation
- Eliza Mackenzie Court
- Exton Church
- Gosling Foundation
- Groundwork UK
- Haslar Heritage Group
- Havant Rotary Club who give VOS a giant Easter Egg to raffle
- Kings Theatre Portsmouth
- PWRR Tigers
- Naval ship Associations and Establishment Associations
- Persimmon Homes
- URNU Solent, QARNNS Association & WRENs Association
- Various Freemason Lodges
- Portsmouth University Sports Club
- Waitrose
The money received from donations will enable us to continue to provide the much-needed services our veterans’ community so desperately needed across well-being, welfare and mental health.
Without the generosity and kindness of our supporters, we would not be able to continue to provide such support, so we are incredibly grateful.
If you’re a veteran from the UK Armed Forces or the Merchant Navy (from any time of service) or a partner to one, VOS would love for you to join our community. We are here to offer our support: call us on 02392 731 767, visit an upcoming drop-in, or email wellbeing@vosuk.org0Donations | Veteran
