Care after Combat is a UK charity supporting military veterans who become involved in the justice system. Many of the veterans we work with face complex challenges after leaving service, including trauma, addiction, homelessness and mental health difficulties. When those issues intersect with the justice system, rebuilding stability can become significantly harder.
Our work focuses on helping veterans address the factors behind their offending and supporting them to move forward positively. Through mentoring, partnership working and practical support, we help veterans rebuild confidence, reconnect with services and prepare for sustainable futures.
Alongside frontline support, we also contribute to research and policy discussions to improve understanding of veterans’ experiences within the justice system and to strengthen the support available to them.
We support veterans who encounter the justice system, helping them address the issues that contributed to their situation and supporting their journey towards rehabilitation and reintegration.
Our volunteer mentoring programme sits at the heart of this work. Many of our mentors are veterans themselves, offering understanding, encouragement and practical guidance at a time when trust and stability are critical. Mentoring relationships help veterans engage with services, plan for the future and rebuild confidence and purpose.
Alongside individual support, we work with justice partners, statutory services and other Armed Forces charities across the UK to ensure veterans are recognised as part of the Armed Forces community and can access the wider network of support available to them.
The Armed Forces charity sector is defined by collaboration and a shared commitment to those who have served. What makes us most proud is the way organisations across the sector work together to support veterans with complex and overlapping needs.
Veterans’ challenges rarely sit within a single area; issues such as mental health, housing, employment and justice involvement often intersect. The sector’s willingness to work collaboratively ensures veterans can access the right support at the right time.
We are also encouraged by the growing recognition of veterans’ experiences within wider systems such as healthcare, housing and justice. Through partnership, research and shared learning, the sector continues to strengthen the support available and improve outcomes for veterans across the UK.
Being a member of Cobseo connects us to the wider Armed Forces charity community and strengthens our ability to support veterans effectively.
The network enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and partnership with organisations delivering complementary support across the sector. This is particularly important when working with veterans who may require assistance across multiple areas, from wellbeing and housing to employment and family support.
Cobseo also provides a collective voice for the sector, helping highlight emerging issues affecting veterans and encouraging informed policy discussion. For Care after Combat, this helps ensure the experiences of veterans who have been in, or are involved with, the justice system are better understood and that those individuals remain connected to the wider Armed Forces community and the support available within it.
Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here