A Special group of Volunteers, recently formed to try and offer a much needed service of friendship, support and comfort.
Friendship, support and comfort
We hold two sessions per month (with ad hoc trips, meals out, education etc) and we are committed to supporting veterans and their families within the Kirklees rural community. We aim to provide social, services and sanctuary for military veterans. We provide indoor and outdoor projects, education with speakers on all manner of subjects from medical healthcare, (our local GPs were involved in setting these hubs up), history of the area, learning to do things, for example, cookery, wood whittling, wreath making, Jesmonite models. Our aim is to integrate some of our more vulnerable veterans back into society, with trips out, with doing some woodwork for a local school, art work. We have found that some of our veterans suffering with combat related PTSD are enjoying being with like-minded veterans and the more vulnerable are being looked after and are speaking freely with others about their trauma which is helping them tremendously. We have done questionnaires which shows we have got this right, with one veteran saying “we had saved his life”.
We are fully supported by our local GPs and if we have a veteran we are worried about we can call that persons GP. (The GPs will then contact that veteran for a medicines review so that they can speak to the veteran and ascertain whether or not they need help). All our Trustees have had first aid training, MH training and some counselling (although we do not counsel our veterans).
We have regular talks from GPs, OTs, Physiotherapists, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and the aim is to ensure that our veterans do not miss out on their medical checks as the hubs were set up to address health inequalities in the rural areas of Huddersfield and veterans were seen to be the ones missing out.
We believe that whilst doing crafts etc our veterans are bonding with their colleagues and this is the time when they all get to speak about their ‘war experiences’. There is lots of banter and laughs.
We have veterans who are physically disabled as well as those with mental health problems, CPTSD, anxiety, depression, loneliness and some who are just there for the banter, talks and crafting sessions. Veterans are making new friends and with that comes the “If you need someone to go with you, Ill go with you” attitude, offering lifts and offering help with things that the more disabled veterans cannot do.
We liaise with the RBL, SSAFA if any of our veterans need help and support. We also liaise with the local council re: housing and in the past have used H4H for various activities.
The local social prescribers at our GP practices refer into us as do Walking with the Wounded and H4H.
Children’s charity supporting Royal or Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleet families in severe financial hardship.
The family support scheme provides child welfare grants, clothing and emergency grants.
Caravans available for a week’s holiday.
Emotional support and links to other support organisations.
Provide supported independent living accommodation for ex-Service people and ex-Merchant mariners who are homeless or in need.
Help with benefits and pensions.
Financial support for residents on very low incomes.
128 high quality, single, en-suite rooms with full catering service in Edinburgh and Dundee. 25 affordable rental flats.
Practical, emotional and welfare support including housing support. 24 hour support warden cover.
Seafarers’ Advice & Information Line (SAIL) is a free advice service supporting active and former seafarers across the UK. This includes the Naval Service.
All advice is free and confidential. SAIL’s advice is given over the phone, by email or by post. SAIL also attends the VOS every month in Portsmouth.
SAIL is part of Citizens Advice.
Seafarers’ Advice & Information Line (SAIL) offers free advice and support to anyone who’s ever served in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the Reserves, as well as their partners. SAIL has 8 professional advisers.
Advice is given on a wide range of issues, for example debt, benefits, housing, immigration, the practicalities of relationship breakdown and much more.
Contact SAIL free on 0800 160 1842. For more on SAIL see www.sailine.org.uk
Smart Savings CIC is a charitable and award-winning Community Interest Company that has supported members of the Armed Forces community in Cornwall and Devon since 2012. We are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registered with the ICO, are members of Advice UK and ASDIC and are a Veterans Gateway’ partner.
We enable serving members of the armed forces, veterans and their families to access vital support services to tackle money, health, housing and employment issues.
Our team of veteran support workers use their own experiences to help fellow veterans and their families at our monthly drop-in and hub in Cornwall to confront challenges in their lives and manage their journeys of recovery.
Our team of FCA-accredited money and welfare advisers provide specialist advice and information relating to money, debt, housing, health and employment. Our veteran drop-in and hub offers peer support, training, social activities, refreshments and food parcels.
We work collaboratively with military charities, statutory bodies and other relevant organisations to increase veterans’ access to services and improve their journeys of recovery.
To promote and improve mental health awareness and suicide reduction among veterans and family members of the British armed forces living in England and Wales, for the public benefit by preventing them from becoming socially excluded. relieving the dynamic needs with the provision of support services, events, activities, and courses, which promote a sense of belonging and purpose in civilian life.
STEPWAY deliver three main support services.
· 7-step civilian skills program – A course built round mental health awareness, survival kit for civilian life, health body health mind, leading to employment and educational opportunities.
· Banter and Brew sessions – A drop-in service for veterans and family members to have a free breakfast, join in with activities like, art sessions, walk and talk, and table tennis. guest speakers monthly. Working with a variety of organisations and charities for warm referrals.
· The Community Projects – A safe place for the veteran and wider community to visit and take part in activities including: How to grow your own produce at home, Beekeeping, Mushroom farm, Bushcraft and Archery.
These three services are delivered throughout Worcestershire Gloucestershire and the West Midlands. Replicated services for the Prison in-reach Programme at HMP Oakwood and HMP Hewell and supporting the families on the outside.
Tavistock Area Support Services (TASS) is a local registered charity founded 40 years ago in 1985 to support both older people and those living with disability in Tavistock and outlying rural areas. We provide vital support, services, groups and activities, with the aim to reduce loneliness and isolation and in turn promote friendships and connections, encourage independence, whilst improving health and wellbeing. We offer transport, mobility, outreach and befriending services, clubs and activities, we host lots of other organisations support groups and we have an Armed Forces Veterans Hub.
We have a small team of staff and group leaders and a large group of volunteers all DBS checked and trained to support all our services and activities.
We have many of own support groups and welcome other professional, businesses and organisations to regularly attend to provide additional support and advice were necessary including DWP armed forces champion, The RMA-The Royal Marines Charity Transition Officer, Welfare, Training & Education, Padre. The Royal British Legion, HelpforHeroes, Tamar Energy, Tavistock memory Café & Dementia Alliance, Parkinson’s Support Group, Stroke Group, Macular Disease Society, Physically Challenged Group, Devon Sensory team, Grief Friendship Group, 2 rural drop in centres, and a community café.
TEAM ENDEAVOUR RACING is open to Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) serving personnel and veterans. It provides a foundation as a transition vehicle supporting and empowering team members into future employment, training or education, utilising peer mentoring and providing support and assistance through its network partners.
We are part of the Battle Back programme and sports recovery. We support Help for Heroes Rolling Recovery Programme and offer additional vocational support.
Our objectives are:
a. To introduce and increase participation at the sports recovery event and to allow WIS personnel to take their first step, without committing to a full season.
b. Provide new team members for next season or give someone an exciting ride in a racing powerboat. This will increase our numbers further and promote our inclusion initiative whilst enabling transition.
c. Provide RYA courses – provided for individuals interested in Powerboats. RYA PB2, Intermediate & Advanced, Safety Boat and VHF Radio.
d. Provide opportunities for those not wishing to compete, but wish to participate in shore support, maintenance, National Race Support, scrutineering and photography.
Our aims are to develop, inspire and challenge Team Members during this demanding and difficult time transitioning from the Armed Forces, in a secure environment supported by volunteers with service backgrounds including its own WIS personnel and veterans. The project prides itself on the same values and goals to develop personal and team development post injury in the Armed Forces.
Our overarching objectives are to: Inspire, Develop and Challenge.
The Guild is set up to provide financial help, practical assistance and pastoral care to needy people residing within the Borough of Bolton. We have been doing this for more than one hundred years.
The Borough consists of Bolton, Horwich, Westhoughton, Farnworth, Blackrod and all the outlying villages plus anywhere else with a BL postcode who pays their council tax to Bolton Council.
Our Bolton Veterans Aid project provides support to an ever growing number of ex-serviceman and woman, and their families, resident in the Borough.
The Guild has been providing assistance to needy people in Bolton since 1905.
Assistance offered includes the provision of white & brown goods, school uniforms, and debt management advice via our partnership with Christians Against Poverty (CAP). Also, benefits checks via our partnership with Citizens Advice. But we will consider any reasonable requests for help and each case is judged on its merits.
The Guild also acts as a referral agency to local food banks. And, in partnership with Bolton Lions, we provide needy families with sacks of toys at Christmas
We work in partnership with SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity and, also, the Bolton Armed Forces Centre 4 Veterans in support of the military family within the Borough
Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here