Partnerships
Alabaré was founded in 1991 and is a charity that supports homeless, vulnerable and marginalised people. The charity helps these people to transform their lives, providing accommodation and helping them gain the skills, confidence and opportunities to live a fulfilled life.
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
AA is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of men and women who desire to stop drinking. AA is concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individuals who turn to the Fellowship for help. The VOS Drop-In is attended by the Armed Forces Liaison Officer.
Andover Mind provide services across Hampshire, supporting people with mental health, adult carers, and people living with dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. We want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation.
Established in 2016 by Elaine, Andy’s Mum, and Luke, Andy’s Brother-in-Law, the club aims to provide men with a safe space where they feel comfortable to talk and open up about their experiences in a room free of judgment.
Over 2800 men using their sessions every week, and the Club has 900+ volunteers on board. They run 20 free support groups nationwide every Monday from 7PM except bank holidays. Here, men can open up about the storms affecting their lives in a safe, judgement-free and non-clinical environment. There is no obligation for men to speak, they can simply listen if they wish
Providing support to limbless and injured veterans for life.
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the loss of use of a limb, an eye or of sight in the honourable service of our country.
https://www.blindveterans.org.uk
Blind Veterans UK helps vision-impaired ex-Servicemen and women to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
They provide rehabilitation, training, practical advice and emotional support to veterans regardless of how or when they lost their sight.
They are here to help blind veterans regain their independence and live the life they choose.
The Chaplain’s role in VOS is as a listener and non-judgemental friend to those who visit the Drop-In.
Citizens Advice provides free, confidential, impartial and independent advice on various issues such as housing matters, employment, benefits, family relationships as well as specialist advice on debt.
Citizens Advice Portsmouth is also involved in a project called “Joining Forces for Families”. This service offers advice and support for the Armed Forces families.
Combat Stress is the UK’s leading veterans’ mental health charity, treating a range of mental health conditions including PTSD, depression and anxiety.
Provides treatment for ex-Service personnel suffering with mental ill-health including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. Drop-In is attended by the Community Outreach Team, who attend to engage with new veterans seeking assistance. Combat Stress will look at offering signposting to Vets UK with constructive recommendations, conducting reviews and deterioration claims. Combat Stress also provides Registered Client Support Groups, facilitated by two clinicians and a Welfare Officer. The group offers supportive intervention as well as facilitating peer support.
Working in Secondary Mental Health out of Portsmouth Civic Offices, the team provide mental health screening for any individual with any vulnerability, and identify criminal-genic needs across Hampshire. They provide assessment of individuals in the criminal justice system, support throughout the process and recommendations for sentences. They also provide mental health and social circumstances reports for the Court, to assist in an appropriate disposal/diversion from custody when appropriate. Their Engagement Officer can advise on welfare and housing needs and support with attending appointments.
https://www.enableability.org.uk/
Enable Ability are established as an independent charity for care, welfare and advancement of disabled people in Portsmouth and the surrounding area.
They work in partnership with disabled children and adults, their families and carers, to provide a range of inclusive, high quality, professional and confidential services.
Enable Ability supports people with severe disabilities as well as those whose needs are at a more ‘mild to moderate’ level. Altogether we provide for approximately 500 children and adults via a growing number of different services.
https://www.fightingwithpride.org.uk
Fighting With Pride 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.
They proudly support the achievements of LGBT+ personnel, who serve in every part of the Armed Forces and are supported at every level of command.
They strive to connect service charities and organisations to those LGBT+ veterans who have been left behind.
First Light Trust are a veterans’ charity working across the UK. They provide on the ground support for veterans of the Emergency Services and Armed Forces.
They work to support mental wellbeing, prevent homelessness and combat isolation and loneliness. They also help people struggling with substance misuse.
First Light Trust are there for any veteran from the Armed Forces including Reservists and the Merchant Navy; ex-Emergency Services people, and any servicepeople leaving or about to leave.
They can assist with:
– Housing
– Making sure you have the right benefits, allowances and pensions
– Supporting you to access the right medical treatment
– Sorting out problems around debt
– Support with drug and alcohol problems
– Volunteering work
– Writing CVs and getting you back to work
www.helpforheroes.org.uk/get-support/welfare-support
Help for Heroes supports those who have had to leave the Armed Forces due to being physically or psychologically wounded, as well as those still serving.
The charity helps them to recover and get on with their lives. They provide physical, psychological, financial and welfare support for as long as is necessary. They also support the families of wounded veterans, because they too can be affected by their loved one’s wounds.
https://www.houndsforheroes.com/
Hounds For Heroes provide specially-trained assistance dogs to those serving or served in the Armed Forces and Emergency Services who have become disabled through illness or injury.
Supporting those affected by drugs and alcohol in Hampshire.
www.intuitivethinkingskills.co.uk
Intuitive Thinking Skills provide mentoring and courses designed and delivered by people with rich lived experience who have overcome their problems, using acquired skills properly directed.
Knights provides a full range of specialist legal services and has an Armed Forces team with wide experience of helping serving and retired members of the Armed Forces and their families. Free consultation at Drop-In.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/health-just/liaison-and-diversion/
NHS Liaison and Diversion aim to identify vulnerable people early on to help improve health and criminal justice outcomes.
https://www.veteranaware.nhs.uk/op-courage
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or wellbeing, expert help is available from Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.
If you’re due to leave the Armed Forces, just left the Armed Forces or left many years ago, Op COURAGE is here to help. You will be able to speak to people who:
- Understand the Armed Forces and military life
- Are either from the Armed Forces community or highly experienced in
- Working with Serving personnel, Reservists, Veterans and their families
- Will work with you to make sure you get the right type of specialist care, support, and treatment.
The service can be contacted directly by yourself or you can ask your GP, a charity or someone else, such as a family member or friend, to do this on your behalf.
www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/health-and-care/carers/portsmouth-carers-centre/
Many carers find that it is useful to talk about their caring role. It doesn’t matter who you support and why they need that support. It could be a child with additional needs, an older relative or a friend – the Carers Service is here to support all carers. The person you look after doesn’t need a formal diagnosis and you don’t need to be claiming carers allowance to use the service.
The team is based at the Carers Centre. They start with a conversation to understand your situation and help you to work out what type of support might help. Carers often find it useful to get information and advice, support to have a break or just to have a listening ear.
https://www.portsmouthrecovery.org
The Portsmouth Recovery Hub is a one-stop confidential adult drug and alcohol treatment service available to anyone who lives in Portsmouth concerned about their own or a loved one’s drug and/or alcohol use, run by Society of St James and Inclusion.
www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/health-and-care/health/portsmouth-wellbeing-service/
Portsmouth Wellbeing Service supports Portsmouth residents to quit smoking, achieve a healthy weight through eating well and moving more, and to drink less alcohol.
The Wellbeing Service operates from venues across Portsmouth and is a free service, offering telephone support or face to face support via one-to-one appointments, group sessions and clinics. The focus of the Wellbeing Service is on education and achievable goals, which can enable long-term change.
Tackling unhealthy behaviours can have a real impact on someone’s life, helping to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, liver disease, respiratory disease and heart disease, and enabling them to live a healthier, more fulfilled life, for longer.
https://www.forcesemployment.org.uk
The Forces Employment Charity exists to provide life-long, life-changing support, job opportunities, and training to service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families, irrespective of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving.
Founded in 1885 and operating across the UK, they have the specialist knowledge and understanding to bridge the gap between military life and civilian employment. They work in partnership with other organisations and employers who respect and value the unique qualities and abilities of all those who have served.
www.rbli.co.uk/housing-and-care
Since 1919 RBLI has supported people in need of housing and specialist care. From assisted living facilities and specialist dementia nursing homes, to housing for families and accommodation for single veterans, they have something for everyone. They are able to offer a tailored service for each individual, providing each resident with the support they need to lead an independent life.
https://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk
The Royal Naval Association is the biggest collective group of Royal Naval veterans and serving personnel. They provide those with a link to the Royal Navy access to a life-long community of like-minded and supportive individuals.
Their community provides companionship, resilience, comradeship and unity to anyone and everyone with a Naval story, supporting them through life’s highs and lows.
RNBT provides financial assistance to serving and former Royal Naval ratings and Royal Marines other ranks, as well as their partners, children and others connected with them.
Their new initiative is the Beneficiary Support Coordinators posts which look at the Revolving Door of benevolence, taking a holistic approach to helping their beneficiaries attain a better quality of life. The BSC’s intervention has enabled many beneficiaries to engage with other like-minded individuals and agencies to help them better themselves, be it educationally, work, financial or socially related, aided or helped by many of the agencies or charities.
This service enriches their lives while providing continuing support, attempting to negate isolation and the revolving door syndrome while empowering applicants to ensure a better outcome and become more resilient.
Call 116 123 for free.
Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for people to turn to in their darkest hours.
Every ten seconds, Samaritans respond to a call for help. No judgement. No pressure. They’re available for anyone who needs someone, and campaign to change the way people think about suicide.
Shore Leave Haslar offers horticultural therapy in the Haslar walled memorial garden, in Gosport. An opportunity to enjoy the sheer delight of working with nature in the great outdoors, the enjoyment of exercise, the camaraderie of working within a team and developing a sense of purpose, achievement and personal accomplishment, in the relaxed, friendly environment of the memorial garden. There is a focus on the direct support of the individual and the development of wide ranging, practical and creative gardening skills.
Solent Mind Portsmouth Support & Recovery offers Wellbeing at Work & Employment advice. They work with individuals on a one-to-one basis to provide help with a wide range of workplace issues including job retention, CV writing skills, volunteering, training and job search support.
Attended by caseworkers from the Portsmouth Branch, SSAFA can offer advice on financial arrears, assist with the purchase of household goods, assist in the provision of repairs and disabled facilities, as well as offer financial and emotional assistance. Portsmouth SSAFA will manage your case to your local branch if necessary and can also assist in signposting you to other agencies for assistance.
The Poppy Factory’s expert and well established employability team is there to help unemployed veterans with mental or physical health conditions back into sustainable and rewarding employment throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They provide local 1-2-1 expert career advice and guidance; job searches and links to employers within your local area; CV reviews and interview coaching plus ongoing in-work support once you start in your new job.
The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund provide a range of support aimed at serving and former RAF personnel and their dependants. This includes welfare breaks, grants to help with financial difficulty and getting about inside and outside the home, specialist advice on benefits and support with care needs, as well as support for young people through their Airplay programme.
The Warrior Programme 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.
Tuppenny Barn is a UK registered charity. They cultivate and harvest organic produce, using this to create learning experiences for all ages and to promote the benefits of growing, cooking and eating healthy food.
From hosting school trips and after-school clubs, to workshops and holiday activities, they teach children where fruit and vegetables come from, the benefits of eating nutritional food and give them the skills to grow and prepare their own meals.
Their social and therapeutic horticulture group delivers weekly sessions helping support the more vulnerable individuals in our community.
www.gov.uk/government/groups/veterans-welfare-service
Vets UK provides welfare, pensions and compensation advice to veterans and their dependants, following a change in their personal situation, such as bereavement or changes in disablement. Support can include identifying when someone is eligible to claim or apply for a benefit or compensation and help with applying for the Armed Forces Pension Schemes, War Pension Scheme, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or referrals to the Department for Work and Pensions, Local Authorities and charities/agencies.
