Veterans Outreach Support (VOS) has been awarded £60,000 thanks to the People’s Postcode Lottery players. This award comes as part of the £1 million Millionaire Street prize in Gosport, alongside several Gosport residents.
It will enable VOS to continue to provide support across Portsmouth and the wider Solent region, including the Isle of Wight.
This includes our popular drop-in model of support, alongside daily delivery of welfare advice, peer-supported wellbeing activities and social groups and access to mental health support (psychology, psychiatry, and therapy services).
Ian Millen, Veterans Outreach Support CEO, explains how this People’s Postcode Lottery funding boost will help enhance these services:
“Veterans Outreach Support is thrilled to receive this £60,000 award, thanks to the generous support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
“This vital funding will directly enhance our work supporting the mental health, welfare and wellbeing of veterans and their families across Portsmouth and the Solent region.
“At a time when rising living costs and social uncertainty are placing extra strain on our veteran community, this support is truly invaluable. It will enable Veterans Outreach Support to sustain and strengthen the compassionate, personalised support and care we offer to those who have served and their loved ones.”
VOS has supported over 3,000 registered users since 2008, working in partnership with several statutory bodies, local authorities and other support organisations to ensure those who need help, get the right support to meet their needs.
Our Drop-ins in Portsmouth and Isle of Wight provide relaxed spaces where visitors can talk to our team and representatives from other local and national support organisations.
VOS is also the Portfolio Lead Organisation for the South East of England in the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund’s (AFCFT) Thrive Together programme aimed at further developing networks of sustainable support for veterans, their families and carers across the South East of England.
Ian added:
“On behalf of our Veterans Outreach Support members, staff and volunteers, we express our sincere gratitude to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for this award, which helps us move closer to our goal of ensuring every veteran can access the support they need.”
One of the Gosport residents are also celebrating this win was delighted to hear that a veteran charity has benefitted from this win. He is former Warrant Officer Chris, who left the Royal Navy aged 40 after a career as a marine engineer and artificer, said:
“Any veterans charity support is very worthwhile, especially with what is going on right now. There are a lot of veterans who are depending on that support.”
Well done to all the winners in this draw and thanks again to them and all the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery!
