Partnerships
Age UK aims to help older veterans stay independent and have greater confidence by providing friendly social contact, support and companionship.
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.
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.
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.
Company of Makers supports veterans who are struggling on civvy street, no matter how long ago they left the Armed Forces.
They design and make products inspired by the British military’s influence on pop culture, which helps fund their making workshops for ex-Service personnel and their families.
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.
Formed in 1943 from the Joint War Committee of the Order of St John and the British Red Cross, Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) is a charity that offers medical welfare support to veterans, members of the armed forces and the Merchant Navy, NHS staff and emergency services and their immediate family members when they are going through treatment in hospital. They provide practical and emotional support to help these people feel less alone when dealing with illness or injury. Their mission is to deliver a high-quality medical welfare service to the people who serve our nation during times of physical or mental ill health.
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.
Hire a Hero is a charity that supports service leavers through the transition into civilian life. They work in partnership with public, private and third sector organisations to provide a network of support and to signpost service leavers to the most appropriate resources as required.
Supporting those affected by drugs and alcohol in Hampshire.
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.
Models for Heroes provides model making provisions to the UK’s Military, Veteran and Emergency Services treatment organisations around the UK. They also raise awareness of the mental health benefits of model making while promoting the hobby.
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.
www.positivemindsportsmouth.org.uk
PositiveMinds – towards a more hopeful future
Feeling overwhelmed? Losing hope? Finding it hard to see a positive future? If so, there is a new service in Portsmouth designed to help you.
PositiveMinds offers hope and support for city residents struggling to cope with difficulties and distress.
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.
https://www.forcesemployment.org.uk
RFEA – 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.
Richmond Fellowship is a national mental health charity that has been working with individuals, families and communities to make recovery a reality for over 60 years.
Their services work hand-in-hand with the people they support to give them the confidence and self-belief that they have an important contribution to make in society.
They offer a range of services across England including supported housing, community, crisis houses, residential homes, employment support and social enterprises.
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People works to make life inclusive for the 12 million people in the UK who are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus. They focus on 4 key areas in order to transform life for these people: inclusion, health, employment and research.
The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) exists to support sailors, marines and their families. Through working with others, they raise funds to provide support to serving and former members of the Naval Service and their families. They fund projects and facilities that boost morale for those who are currently serving, and they distribute millions of pounds annually to military charities which care for the children, families and veterans of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
The aim of the Veterans Living Well Project is to provide bespoke services, working with the hospice team and other health and social care providers, to ensure veterans requiring palliative and end-of-life care have access to appropriate treatments and therapies to meet their psychological, physical, social and spiritual needs. This may involve services within the new Living Well Centre or services within the community; support for both the person who has served in the forces and their family.
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.
Seafarers’ Advice and Information Line is the Citizens Advice service just for seafarers. Contact us for free advice on benefits, debt, housing and much more.
Service Dogs UK provides veterans from the Armed Forces and Emergency Services suffering with PTSD the benefit of specially trained assistance dogs. Each veteran goes through a training programme with the dog they are partnered with, with no cost to them.
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 Good Mental Health Cooperative supports community groups and social enterprises which contribute to good mental health, wellbeing and recovery. They promote awareness of how to value our mental and emotional health, and aim to challenge stigma and exclusion. They offer courses and workshops, creative activities in the community and volunteering opportunities. The Good Mental Health Cooperative also run ongoing projects such as the Hampshire Human Library and Mental Health Trialogues.
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 Ripple Pond offer peer-led support for the adult family members caring for physically or emotionally injured British Armed Forces personnel and veterans.
They are an accessible, judgment-free network helping to develop individual coping mechanisms through their avenues of support, relieving many families of the isolation and anxieties that come with being a carer.
Read our blog post sharing an introduction to The Ripple Pond.
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 RBL can offer advice and support regarding welfare needs and refer to other TRBL support services, including debt, benefits and money advice (BDMA). The RBL offers War Pension and Compensation advice (WP&C) takes you through the RBL Care Homes referral process and offers employment and housing support advice. They can link you with Military Recovery Centres (Battle Back Centre), home adaptations (Handy Van Service) and the RBL Admiral Nurses (helping those affected by dementia), Poppy Breaks and Adventure Holiday. You will be offered assistance by experienced caseworkers who attend alongside The Independent Living Advisor (ILA) and Advice and Information Officer (AIO).
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.
The Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison (TIL) Service (formerly known as London Veterans’ Service (LVS)) is a free NHS mental health service for all ex-serving members of the UK Armed Forces and service personnel who are making the transition to civilian life including reservists. They work with any veterans and those transitioning from military to civilian life who live in London, Greater London, East / West Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Medway or are registered with a GP in these areas. Their core opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm. See the Referrals tab on their website to download a referral form for London, Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
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.
Are you a veteran concerned about alcohol or drug use? For many veterans, substance misuse can hide the symptoms of other disorders and make it difficult to ask for or find effective help and treatment.
Combat Stress has a pilot project Substance Misuse Case Management Service operating in Portsmouth in partnership with the Queen Alexandra Hospital. We want veterans to find the right treatment, so this service will help you access relevant specialists and mental health support.
Combat Stress has a specialist nurse and a community-based substance misuse support worker working in Portsmouth who both attend Drop-In.
