AA Veterans Support is a Northern Ireland based charity set up to provide help and support for Veterans and their families throughout Northern Ireland.
It is our aim to provide the necessary support services for those Veterans or their family members that may need our help.
We believe that our Forces and their families deserve our lifelong support, we aim to provide Practical, Training, Emotional and Financial support to anyone who is serving or has ever served and their families. Whenever they may need us, we’ll do whatever we can to help.
Our vow is that no matter the size of the problem we will provide help, advice and assistance in overcoming it.
Practical, Training, Emotional and Financial support
Change Step is a veteran to veteran peer mentoring and advice service. This service is for military veterans and others with post-traumatic stress disorder and a range of psychosocial problems who want to make positive changes to their lives.
Change Step offers effective support for veterans, their families and carers in Wales – enabling them to access vital support services and tackle serious stress and related issues.
Our team of peer mentors use their own experiences to help fellow veterans and their loved ones confront challenges in their lives and manage their journeys of recovery.
The programme offers peer support, training and case management through engagement with relevant health and welfare services. Change Step works collaboratively with statutory bodies and other relevant organisations to ensure an accessible and comprehensive framework by which to guide individuals towards the most appropriate service.
Launchpad is a registered charity that provides veterans (and their partners) of all Services with affordable, self-contained flats arranged in managed houses in Newcastle (34 flats) and Liverpool (52 flats).
The houses, Avondale House in Newcastle and Speke House in Liverpool, provide veterans with accommodation as well as recreation, training and IT facilities.
The staff provides support and guidance to the veterans, as well as harnessing support of other organisations, to help residents successfully make the transition from military to civilian life.
An important part of the process is integration with the local community and mutual support.
All this is provided to enable the veterans to avoid homelessness, unemployment and social exclusion.
Excellent recently refurbished, self-contained flats at an affordable price in Newcastle and Liverpool.
Communal facilities for recreation and training, an IT suite, WiFi, laundry room and garden.
Assistance to arrange and manage benefits and finances.
Training for employment through other providers.
Assistance with job searches and job applications, with other providers.
Assistance with search for permanent accommodation, with other providers.
Access to recreational, sporting and adventure pursuits, with other providers.
Engagement with the local community.
To provide affordable and sensitively managed sheltered housing for people over 60 years of age, giving priority to those who have served in the Armed Forces and their surviving partners or relatives.
We offer sheltered housing that is supported by an on-site warden. Accommodation consists of single and double flats within a communal court set in beautiful grounds.
Age Cymru Dyfed promotes the health and well-being, primarily of older people, in and around west wales (ie the counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire).
The charity provides a range of services including Information & Advice relating to financial and physical and emotional wellbeing; Byw Adref (home help); Befriending Life Links; Hospital Discharge; Digital Inclusion; nail cuttings; Covid-19 support; and information and support to older veterans of the British Armed Forces
On-going information, advice and support to older military veterans including supporting access to welfare benefits and military pension/compensation claims, befriending, advocacy, housing adaptations, Covid-19 emergency support; help to establish digital connections etc
Coordinating the establishment of the West Wales Veterans Archive in the National Library of Wales:
https://www.peoplescollection.wales/users/44171
Age UK Portsmouth (AUKP) helps adults across SE Hampshire to enjoy a better quality of life, with a specific focus on all aspects of ageing with dignity whilst achieving person-centred goals.
Our 80-year old Charity purpose is to relieve and assist with poverty and sickness, to advance education, promote equality and diversity, and to eliminate, where possible, disadvantage in all forms.
With Age UK Portsmouth’s increased learning and understanding of what it is to be a Veteran, the partner or family member of a Veteran, AUKP believes that Associate Membership of Cobseo would offer an ideal learning curve for our existing understandings and enable us to develop improved policies for dealing with issues of common concern and welfare.
As Age UK Portsmouth traverses its fourth year of working with Veterans and their families, our experience of bringing together holistic support offerings, incorporating all forms of information and advice, signposting, social activities participation as well as integration within the civilian community, grows exponentially and to be able to share and learn from peer organisations would be ideal.
Our aim is to help older veterans stay independent and have greater confidence by providing friendly social contact, support and companionship.
Benefits checks are one of our most common requests, and last year we were able to help claim over £1.3 million in benefits for people living in the Portsmouth area. It is estimated that every year over £3.5 billion of benefits go unclaimed across the country, with three million older people living below the poverty line.
Many people are put off claiming either by the complexity of the benefits system, or they assume they cannot claim anything because they have some savings or own their home.
Issues we can help you with:
– Benefits and entitlements including War and Armed Forces Pensions
– Leisure and social activities including access to regimental associations
– Applying for a service medal or Veterans Badge
– Mental health support including PTSD
– Housing options
– Money matters
– Energy efficiency for your home
– Staying independent at home
– Family and personal matters
– Coping with bereavement
– Wills and funeral planning
– Legal issues
– Signposting to other agencies for additional services and support
We run a Breakfast Club for veterans which takes place twice a month on the second Friday and the last Friday of every month from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the Bradbury Centre. All ex-service personnel are welcome to come along, together with their partners, to socialise with other veterans, take part in the banter and enjoy a great breakfast.
Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here