TTSE Partners

Meet our Thrive Together South East Partnership in Mind Partners. 

Alliance for Better Care

Alliance for Better Care were appointed as one of VOS’ key delivery partners in the Thrive Together South East Partnership in Mind programme across the counties of East and West Sussex in July 2025.

This initiative, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, aims to create sustainable and connected pathways of care and support for veterans and their families.

 With in-depth expertise in local health and wellbeing networks, ABC’s respected connections with GP practices and community organisations will help deliver inclusive and coordinated services for our veteran communities
 
Mark Hannigan, Armed Forces Health Coordinator, Alliance for Better Care, said:
“We regularly meet veterans who are unsure where to turn – whether for housing, health support, or simply someone to listen. While help is available, it can be hard to navigate. That’s why collaboration like this is so important: it helps us join the dots, reduce confusion, and ensure no one feels they’re facing things alone.
 By mapping what services and support are available, this partnership will also help healthcare professionals, local authorities, and other public services feel more confident in what they can offer – and in turn, veterans and their families will receive clearer, more tailored support.” 
Veterans Outreach Support will work closely with Alliance for Better Care, and other key partners, to ensure that every veteran and family member can access the support they need, wherever they are, and whenever they need it.
 
For more information about the Partnership in Mind programme, visit VOS Thrive Together South East
 
More about Alliance for Better Care

Find out more about Alliance for Better Care on their website and more about their OpCOMMAND initiative here.

Contact Details:

For information please contact Mark Hannigan, by email at: mark.hannigan@nhs.net

 

 Kent Arts & Wellbeing

Kent Arts & Wellbeing is a CIC, formed initially in 2017as a not for profit company limited by guarantee. They promote, design and develop creative activities that deliver improved wellbeing for individuals and communities. 

Ken Scott, Co-Director, Kent Arts & Wellbeing said:

“Our vision is of  communities that are resilient and vibrant, strengthened through shared creative activities. Our mission is to inspire and support people through creative activities to improve individual and community wellbeing.”

‘Partnership in Mind’ Thrive Together SE is a major part of our activity, it presents opportunities and challenges – opportunities to work to improve the integration and collaborative working  of support services for veterans and their families across Kent. “

Contact Details:

For information please contact Ken Scott, by email at: ken@kentartsandwellbeing.org.uk or M: 07884 497478.

More about Kent Arts & Wellbeing

Find out more about Kent Arts & Wellbeing on their website

 

Veterans Community Network (VCN) 

Veterans Community Network (VCN) supports veterans and their adult family members in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

Through the ‘Partnership in Mind’ Thrive Together SE Programme, VCN will be raising awareness of veterans’ services to both veterans and their families & carers as well as professionals who support them. 

Dr Gill Le Page, Service Director for VCN said:

“VCN is delighted to be part of the ‘Partnership in Mind’ Thrive Together SE Programme. This is a real opportunity to increase the knowledge of the veteran specific support with veterans, their families and carers and professionals, helping to make sure there is ‘No Wrong Door’ in accessing support”

More about VCN

Find out more about VCN on their website

 

Defence Medical Welfare Service

Defence Medical Welfare Service (DWMS) are an independent charity who provide medical welfare services supporting physical health, mental health and wellbeing to the Armed Forces Community (serving, reservists and veterans) and their families/carers across the United Kingdom.

Gemma Derbyshire, Female Veteran Welfare Officer

“DMWS are excited to be part of the ‘Partnership in Mind’ Thrive Together South East project supporting veterans with two projects. We are offering a Pathfinder service to help get those we support to the right place for the help they need and my project is a tailored online Female Veteran Support Service which I am very proud to be delivering.

“Through my experience I know women can have certain issues and challenges that need compassionate and informed support. The online group will be a safe space to share concerns, get immediate practical help and support as well as my suggestions and support for additional avenues of support.”

More about DMWS

Find out more about DMWS on their website.

 

Pathfinder Service

Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) provide a pathfinder service in the Southeast to promote a ‘no wrong door’ service for any veterans within this region. The Wellbeing Officer will be community based and receive calls/emails directly from professionals or the service users themselves and provide suitable advice and referrals.

This will include building knowledge of multiple organisations within the region (statutory and non-statutory) and understanding their referrals processes and criteria to advise the referring organisation and or the beneficiaries to effective support that suits the individual.

In some instances, the persons situation will be complex with a range of issues and in these cases DMWS can take on management and overall ownership to ensure the beneficiary can access the help they require and doesn’t become overwhelmed or drop out of the system.

Accessing this service:

To access this service, please contact DMWS’ National Response Service, available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm at: 0800 999 3697 or email: referrals@dmws.org.uk

 

Female Veterans

As part of this programme, Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) will deliver a Female Veteran Support Service.

This will cover various stages of a pilot project to test ways of reaching and supporting female veterans in a manner which increases engagement, improves their wellbeing, empowers them and develops their networks.

The project will have three phases:

  • Phase 1- Research
    This will include a review of previous and ongoing work and research into the situation for female veterans.

  • Phase 2 – Pilot programme
    This will involve the testing of different ways to reach and support females who have served, together with the identification of key issues.

  • Phase 3 – The dissemination of learning and recommendations from the programme regarding:  

    • Issues faced by female veterans

    • Barriers to accessing support experienced by female veterans

    • Results of different methods of communication and engagement  

    • Illustrative case studies

    • Recommendations

       

Accessing this service:

To access this service, please contact Gemma Derbyshire by email: gderbyshire@dmws.org.uk or telephone 07795538860