To keep in touch with all those who served in the Royal Observer Corps, to help former ROC members to obtain assistance from the ROC Benevolent Fund or other organisations, to preserve and promote the history and heritage of the Royal Observer Corps and to support any re-establishment of the ROC volunteer organisation to serve the Country in an appropriate role.
Aiming to increase community cohesion and tackle social isolation by connecting people. Through the VC Gallery, we work to create meaningful engagement, combat and support poor mental health and social care amongst the Veteran and local communities.
We offer a positive support network, a creative space to help people re-connect through art, workshops, local events and opportunities within the area. We provide a diverse support network to empower and help develop a united, positive and safe environment. We provide weekly art sessions, outreach workshops within schools, memory cafes, retirement homes and for third sector organisations.
We offer a breakfast club once a week and help with housing issues, benefit problems and employment support.
We offer peer mentor help, guidance and expertise with all veteran affairs.
We have excellent referral pathways with national organisations and our local Authority, keeping a close connection with the individual we work with a holistic approach to achieve the best outcome at all times.
Our expertise is offering a vibrant, creative space where people can socialise and expressive themselves through art, that can be at our art workshops, or volunteering at memory cafes, schools and residential homes.
Our Vision:
To be there for those who have served in any of the UK Armed Forces (Veterans) for one day’s service or more, their families and dependents, who experience adverse issues and conditions, discrimination, or disadvantage during transition from military service, through resettlement, and in civilian life.
Our Mission Statement:
To help all serving members and veterans of the UK Armed Forces , their spouses, children, and dependents by working in partnership with others to assist in the provision of schemes, grants, and services for their resettlement, rehabilitation, retraining, employment , and welfare.
Our Values:
The Veterans Contact Point values its effective partnership working, demonstrating a non – judgemental diverse approach, challenging inequality and discrimination, by offering a professional, ethical, and accessible quality service to serving members and veterans of the UK Armed Forces, their families and dependents, empowering and aiding them to improve their lives and well-being within the community
The Veterans Contact Point (VCP) is a local military charity supporting veterans and their families in Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull. The VCP started as a Veteran to Veteran run information, referral and peer support centre in 2011 to improve the access to support and information for serving and former members of the UK Armed Forces.
In February 2014 the VCP became a registered as military charity (Charity no: 1155953). It remains a veteran run organisation staffed totally by volunteers, including those who have served themselves, and who are committed to helping the local Armed Forces Community. The VCP offers an office base for partners and organisations who provide additional support, these include: SSAFA Warwickshire & Coventry; Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust – Ex-Armed Armed Forces Mental Health; Veterans UK; Citizens Advice Bureau; Warrior Programme; Coventry Solihull & Warwickshire AFCC; The Parachute Regimental Associations; Ubique Partnerships Limited and many more.
We ensure that every penny donated or raised is used in direct support of local Veterans and their families in the community. We provide information, advice and referrals to a wide range of specialist organisations and service charities. We also help veterans who have been in contact with the law through our Criminal Justice Partnership’s, providing a referral and information helpline service (telephone: 02476 348227).
We are open Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 16:00 hours. Referrals can be made by telephone, email or by dropping in at the VCP.
Objects:
The relief in need of former members of the Armed Services, their spouses, children and dependents or organisations supporting their needs in particular but not exclusively by:
(i) providing or assisting in the provision of schemes for their resettlement, rehabilitation, retraining and employment; and
(ii) providing or assisting in the provision of grants, items and services for their benefit
To provide a safe environment.
To provide a professional assessment of needs.
To provide a weekly job club & job preparation activities.
To provide training courses where appropriate, leading to a recognised qualification or accreditation.
To promote awareness of needs through presentations, partnership working, marketing and fund raising events.
To provide mentoring/peer support.
To promote and develop the use of the Armed Forces Centre and its resources to the wider community.
To support and promote, with others the Armed Forces Community Covenant.
The Warrior Programme is a personal motivation and training programme. The course teaches individuals how to take control of their life, and how to increase confidence, motivation and focus, enabling participants to create a healthy, independent and balanced life style. The programme is particularly suitable for ex Service and Serving personnel in transition post operations.
3 day educational and motivational training programme and monthly meetings.
Tom Harrison House is a Liverpool-based addiction recovery centre for military veterans, reservists, emergency services personnel, and their families. The abstinence-based, 12-week recovery programme provides support via a bespoke model which aims to treat addiction within the context of those who have a history of military service – with emphasis placed on the role of co-occurring trauma, safety, confidentiality, and camaraderie, as well as reintegration into “civilian” communities.
The project is framed as a community of veterans who possess shared experiences, perspectives, resources and potential blocks to recovery, and who also share the ability to overcome their issues through a highly structured and intensive programme, and with the mutual support of the group. We work to help our veteran clients to make strides toward improving their mental, physical and emotional health, and to regain the sense of community and camaraderie that they had previously experienced during their active service.
The project is framed as a community of veterans who possess shared experiences, perspectives, resources and potential blocks to recovery, and who also share the ability to overcome their issues through a highly structured and intensive programme, and with the mutual support of the group.
Programme elements are diverse and are designed to best reflect the needs of ex-military personnel – the weekly timetable includes physical training sessions, nutrition groups, equine therapy, 5-a-side football, motivational speaker sessions, family sessions, and an art/choir group. Alongside these activities are more traditional elements such as group therapy and personal assignment work. The programme also includes Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) and Seeking Safety groups each week – evidence-based methods that are found to be effective in veteran-specific rehabilitation centres in the USA.
Accommodation is provided for the duration of the programme. Support staff can also assist clients with associated issues, which may include medical issues, move-on housing, benefit entitlements, etc.
‘Our Mission Statement: To provide support and guidance to individuals and families of those serving, or who have served, in any associated branch of the armed forces of the United Kingdom, in the transition from service to civilian life. Using all and any relevant agencies to achieve our aims.’
As well as operating as a drop in centre for serving and former military personnel and their families, we other services, such as:
Organised battlefield tours
Casework via SSAFA – as we have our own SSAFA caseworkers on site
Internet Access
Help with requesting medals, and medal refurbishment
NHS Veterans Mental Health Complex Treatment Service, Walking with the Wounded, Veterans UK, Peace foundation all use the centre to see clients on a one to one basis.
To Relieve Serving Personnel Of The Armed Forces, Injured In Situations Of Armed Conflict, In Particular But Not Exclusively In Afghanistan Who Are In Need By Reason Of Distress, Injury, Sickness, Disability Or Other Disadvantage, Through Such Charitable Means As The Trustees Think Fit
Supplying the basic essentials
In addition to our emergency Grab Bag pack we also supply on demand to the injured service personnel many other items of toiletries, clothing and footwear such as tracksuits, hoodies, fleeces trainers plus mobile phones. We deal directly with the Defence Medical Welfare Service and other military medical establishments in the UK and abroad where there is a need.
We will be sponsoring the Garden at Fisher House ( A Home from Home for Families of injured troops) close to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham
The University of Winchester remains committed to the mission it has served for 175 years, since 1840: ‘to educate, to advance knowledge and to serve the common good.’ The University provides values-driven higher education through excellent programmes of study, sustained by teaching and research of the highest quality.
The University of Winchester leads the Service Children’s Progression Alliance (SCiP Alliance), which seeks to champion the success of children from military families through further and higher education into thriving careers and lives. In keeping with our commitment to serve the common good and our strong relationships with many local and national partners supporting armed forces families, the Alliance incorporates both research and practice hubs designed to help professionals help children and young people succeed at every stage of their education journey.
Universities in Support of Wounded, Injured and Sick Service Personnel (UNSWIS) programme, which provides work experience, taster sessions, and advisory visits for veterans.
Heritage for Heroes – undergraduate archaeology programme, which supports skills and career development for wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans.
University experience days, advice and aspiration- and awareness-raising support for children and young people, and their teachers, in Hampshire and the surrounding area.
The Service Children’s Progression Alliance – the university leads the SCiP Alliance, which develops pioneering research and practice designed to enhance the practice of professionals in schools, colleges and universities through an online hub and a range of supporting projects.
The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
Vector24 provides holistic transport support and intelligent signposting to all members of the Armed Forces Community, Merchant Navy and Seafarers, including family members and dependent adults and children across the whole of Scotland, where possible. They offer tailored, compassionate support to ensure no veteran, serving personnel, or their family faces the barriers that life can throw in their way.
Caring for homeless veterans.
Grants/benefits, ongoing financial support.
Hostel accommodation.
Advice and contacts.
Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here