Problems

Armed Services and Ex Services

Agencies providing advice, support and information

ABF The Soldiers Charity:
020 7901 8900
www.soldierscharity.org
The army's central charity which is committed to the welfare of army and ex army personnel and their families. Financial support is eligible to cases in real need.

Aggie Weston's:
www.aggies.org.uk
Aggie Weston's helps serving sailors, marines and their families. They have people at bases around the country who can offer one to one support. Also provide social opportunities and activities where friendships can be formed.

Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP)
https://www.cas.org.uk/partnerships-services/cab-service-partners/armed-services-advice-project 
(area served Scotland)
The Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP) service is run by Citizen Advice Bureaux Network Scotland and provides dedicated advice, information and support across Scotland to people who are serving, those who have served, and their dependants. This includes people in both the Regular and Reserve Forces.  ASAP is provided by the Scottish Citizens Advice Bureau Service, a highly trusted network with decades of experience delivering a free independent, confidential and impartial advice and information service providing advice and support on a wide range of issues, including benefits, debt and money advice housing, work related problems and consumer issues. 

Army Widows' Association
https://www.armywidows.org.uk/
A volunteer run organisation and charity which offers comfort, support and friendship to the widows and widowers of service men and women.

Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Woman:
020 8202 2323,
www.ajex.org.uk
Organising educational and social functions, assisting in social welfare work, arranging outings for disabled people, providing financial assistance to people in need and offering advice where necessary.

Association of Royal Navy Officers
020 7402 5231
www.arno.org.uk
To afford financial assistance when in need to officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and their respective Reserves, both active service and retired, and to their widows, ex wives and dependants.

British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association:
020 8590 1124,
www.blesma.org
Advice on pensions and related legislation, assistance in making representations to government departments concerning disability pensions and allowances. Homes at Blackpool and Crieff in Scotland for permanent residents, convalescence and holidays. Over 30 branches throughout UK provides visits and advice to those eligible for membership and their widows. Financial assistance also provided.

Combat Stress:
0800 138 1619 - 24hr helpline
www.combatstress.org.uk
To provide assistance to men and women of all ranks suffering from psychiatric disability who have served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy. Run three treatment centres, regional welfare officers visit clients in their homes. Assistance with claims for war disablement pensions and evaluation of how best to help cope.

FirstLight Trust
0207 730 7545
https://www.firstlighttrust.co.uk/
Help for Veterans of the Armed Forces and Emergency Services and their families across the UK.
Ending Isolation and Loneliness, Preventing Homelessness, Supporting Mental Wellbeing.

Forces Law
0808 271 0444
http://www.forceslaw.com/
Whether you're serving in the Army, Royal Navy or RAF, as a Regular or Reservist, you and your family have access to a wide range of independent legal services and advice through Forces Law.

League of Remembrance:
07936 505664
www.leagueofremembrance.org.uk
To provide companionship, financial assistance and support to dependants and retired members of the armed forces and retired nurses.

Lord Kitchener Memorial Holiday Centre, Suffolk
01502 573564
www.kitchenerslowestoft.co.uk
Unique Suffolk charity overlooking the sea in south Lowestoft, offering hotel style holiday accommodation to ex-service men and woman and their spouses or partners, widows and widowers. Offer Bed & Breakfast, Short Breaks as well as our traditional 7 night, half board stays in seafront location in Suffolk. Bed and Breakfast for a minimum of 2 nights. Starting from only £42 per night for a couple sharing.

Naval Families Federation
023 9265 4374
www.nff.org.uk 
The Naval Families Federation was set up at the request of the Government in order to allow the families of the Naval Service to have their voices heard. They are funded through a grant-in-aid, which allows them to operate independently of the Government and the Chain of Command

The Not Forgotten
020 7730 2400
https://thenotforgotten.org/
To act generally for the benefit of disabled and wounded service and ex-service personnel. Provide TV sets for those whose mobility is restricted, licences provided where financial need arises, group holidays which include outings, subsidised holidays, day outings, in-house entertainments and concerts in ex-service care homes.

Op COURAGE
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists/
Op COURAGE is an NHS specialist mental health service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families. Range of support and treatment including: helping you to transition from military to civilian life by providing mental health care by Defence Medical Services; helping you recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems, as well as more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma; providing support and treatment for substance abuse and addictions; helping you to access other mental health services if you need them, such as finding an NHS Talking Therapies Service and eating disorder services; liaising with charities and local organisations to support your wider health and wellbeing needs, such as help with housing, relationships, finances and employment; supporting armed forces families affected by mental health problems, including helping them to access local services.

Op Fortitude
0800 952 0774
https://www.riverside.org.uk/care-and-support/veterans/opfortitude/
Government Helpline to help Homeless Veterans or Veterans at risk of Homelessness

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund:
0300 102 1919 
www.rafbf.org 
To assist those of the Extended RAF family in distress resulting from sickness, disability, infirmity or poverty. Welfare assistance includes residential, convalescence and respite care help with housing and education, subsistence grants and help through other specialist charities.

Royal Air Forces Association
0800 0182 361
www.rafa.org.uk
To provide friendship and welfare support to all serving and retired personnel and their dependants. Run residential nursing home, short break care homes, sheltered and supportive housing facilities and family unit. Support through home and hospital visits and giving advice on war pensions and war widows pensions.

Royal British Legion:
0808 802 8080
www.britishlegion.org.uk
Uniting men and women who have served or are serving in HM Forces, raising funds to assist ex servicemen and women and their dependants who find themselves in difficulties. Welfare and benevolence, providing grants, assisting pension claimants, giving careers advice, providing residential and convalescent care, small advocacy service and loan scheme for ex-servicemen and women.

The Royal Marines Charity
0800 468 1664 - Health and Wellbeing
023 9298 1920 - General enquiries
https://rma-trmc.org/get-support/
The mission of the charity is to provide support, advice and lifelong camaderie for serving and retired marines and their families.
This includes mental health support, respite breaks, grants to help with financial difficulty and getting about inside and outside the home. Can also provide specialist help on benefits. See website for all the support and help they provide.

Royal Naval Benevolent Trust:
023 9269 0112,
www.rnbt.org.uk
To give help, in cases of need, to serving and ex-serving ratings of the Royal Navy and other ranks of the Royal Marines and their dependants. Operating an annuity scheme, financial support, nursing and residential home for elderly Sailors and Royal Marines and their wives and widows. Advice on welfare matters.

Scotty's Little Soldiers
0800 092 8571
https://www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk/
A charity dedicated to supporting bereaved military children and young people.

SSAFA:
0800 260 6780
www.ssafa.org.uk
Free confidential helpline completely independent of the military chain of command. Civilian staff provide a supportive, listening and signposting service for serving personnel and their families as well as former members of the armed Forces. The telephone support line is available 365 days a year and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

Veterans Agency Helpline:
0808 1914 218
www.veterans-uk.info
Advice and information on veterans issues including war pensions or war widow pensions.

Veterans At Ease
0191 249 9944
https://veteransatease.org/
A leading military, mental health charity, committed to helping all members of HM Armed Forces Community, be it Veterans, Reservists, Serving Military Personnel, or their families, so they can deal with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, flashbacks, or thoughts of suicide, as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other combat stress-related issues. 
They provide free therapy and support through a technique called NLPt by trained therapists, (all of whom have suffered themselves, been through treatment with Veterans At Ease and then gone on to qualify).

Veterans' Gateway
0808 802 1212
https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/
First point of contact for all Tri-service veterans and their families. Covers welfare areas, housing, employment, finances, living independently, mental wellbeing, families and communities and physical health.

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Useful websites


Forces Online
https://www.forcesonline.org.uk/
Information and Support

Veterans' Directory
https://www.veteransdirectory.org.uk/

Veterans Virtual Hub
https://virtualhub.uk/
Helping Veterans and their families