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.
The Trust provides funding assistance to challenging expeditions and adventurous activities involving members of the Volunteer Reserve Forces and Cadet Forces of the UK, in order to develop character and values such as teamwork, leadership, courage and resilience, supporting individual’s physical/mental health and wellbeing, as well as supporting retention and recruitment to cadet and reserve forces, plus wider benefits to our communities and society at large (eg increased academic attainment, reduced crime etc..).
Founded in 1992, the charity has raised over £3.5M to support over 40,000 individuals to participate in over 3,000 expeditions in the UK and abroad – from cadet Adventure Training and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, to sailing, canoeing and hiking expeditions – to climbing Everest and crossing the Antarctic.
Applications that meet our charitable objectives are assessed by experienced Adventure Training and Expeditions experts, who understand the nature of challenge and adventure (which may vary depending on the participants). We support applications from all cadet and reserve forces, but grants are more generous to expeditions where there are a high number of people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, where the need is greatest, and the impact and social value is maximised.
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.
Private members club for all ranks, serving and retired, members of the Armed Forces.
An affordable “home away from home” in London.
Respite and welfare breaks for the wounded.
Tickets For Troops was set up in 2009 to provide all serving members of the Armed Forces and those medically discharged since 2001 with free tickets for major sporting events, theatre performances, music concerts and cultural attractions. Over the last five years, the charity has been been donated over 500,000 tickets which have been made available to their 140,000 registered members.
Troops can register at: www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk
Offering troops free tickets for sport, theatre and cultural events.
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.
Veterans’ Growth provides horticultural therapy to veterans facing mental health issues.
Set amidst beautiful Sussex farmland, our site offers a relaxing green space where veterans can come to immerse themselves in nature and learn horticultural skills.
During their time on site, participants socialise with other veterans, gain confidence, knowledge and experience and some go on to find employment within the industry.
The charity also conducts woodland management and green woodwork, alongside Mechanics and Carpentry skills.
The aim of the charity is to provide support and a place on the programme to every veteran in the UK who wants to attend and/or is unable to access help through other channels.
If one life is saved as a result of contact with the charity, we will call it a success.
Veterans’ Growth is run by a veteran with a lived experience, the staff understand that all veterans are different and need different levels of assistance and are all fully trained to provide the best level of service to the veterans community.
Veterans Growth receives referrals from the NHS Op Courage team up and down the country and has contacts to enable us to advise veterans where help that cannot be provided by our small team can be given by other organisations.
Our team consists of Social and Therapeutic trained Horticulturists, Woodland skills manager and many many more skills that can be used to assist a veteran in their personal journey.
VIA help veterans who have suffered the effects of war or who have found the transition to civilian life difficult.
VIA take a non-therapy approach and instead use centre based projects, adventurous activities and expeditions to help rebuild veterans’ confidence, self-esteem and self-belief.
Veterans Outreach Support provides welcoming and relaxed places where UK veterans and family members can come for confidential social or psychological support, or simply to meet for a chat and a cuppa. Former members of British Armed Forces and Reserves, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Merchant Navy are all welcome. Drop In centres are normally open once a month, follow the link to their website for more details.
Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here