Member Directory

Addiction Family Support (Forces Family Support)

Charity Number: 1123316

Forces Family Support provides specialist support to members of the Armed Forces Community, including serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families, carers, colleagues and friends, who are affected or bereaved by a loved one’s harmful use of alcohol, drugs, other substances or gambling.

Having a loved one harmfully using (or addicted to) substances or gambling causes anxiety, stress, fear, shame, helplessness, and isolation. The stigma of addiction often results in being marginalised, especially within Armed Forces communities. When added to the challenges of active military deployment or transitioning to civilian life, the situation can become unmanageable.

The services provided by Forces Family Support are designed to help affected others, in their
own right. Outside the Chain of Command, service users are given a safe, confidential and non judgemental space to speak openly, receive information, receive encouragement and explore coping strategies. This support enables service users to reduce their stress and anxiety, strengthen relationships and gain the confidence to focus on their own health and wellbeing.

Wider benefits for the Armed Forces might include improved retention of serving personnel or a reduced burden on military health and welfare services.

Forces Family Support operates under the auspices of Addiction Family Support, the leading UK registered charity supporting people affected or bereaved by a loved one’s addiction, bringing specialist military understanding and tailored support to those connected to the Armed Forces.

For more information visit https://forcesfamilysupport.org.uk or email us at info@forcesfamilysupport.org.uk

Contact Information

https://addictionfamilysupport.org.uk/support-for-armed-forces-communities/
office@addictionfamilysupport.org.uk
86-90 Paul Street
EC2A 4NE
0843 122 5434

Support Offered

Our dedicated Helpline (0300 222 5747) is available 365 days a year and is staffed by trained volunteers and Family Support Workers.

Individuals can access support by calling the Helpline, after which they are referred to our specialist Forces Family Support service for one-to-one counselling, couples or group support. All therapeutic support is delivered and overseen by a
qualified and registered psychotherapist with extensive experience working with serving personnel, Army Welfare Officers, DCMH, and across military bases.

Service users can self-refer into Forces Family Support or be signposted by family, friends, colleagues, Welfare Units, Defence Medical Welfare, the NHS, or their GP. One to one and group support is provided remotely, using telephone, email, and video, allowing access for those based overseas as well as in the UK.

Agamemnon Housing Association

Company Number: 21084R

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.

Contact Information

http://www.agamemnon.org.uk
enquiries@agamemnon.org.uk
Agamemnon House
Lindisfarne Close
Cosham,Portsmouth
PO6 2SB
02932387086

Support Offered

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 UK Waltham Forest

Charity Number: 1048212
Company Number: 02334459

Age UK Waltham Forest, established in 1982, stands as an independent, self-funded, user-led charity. Our mission is rooted in creating an inclusive, respectful, and supportive society, where each older person enjoys a high-quality, fulfilling life, supported to live independently at home for as long as they desire.

Vision:
Our vision revolves around fostering a society where every older person is empowered to lead a life filled with quality, enjoyment, and fulfilment. We are dedicated to ensuring that individuals can age with dignity, supported by our commitment to facilitating independent living for as long as they wish.

Contact Information

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/walthamforest/
info@ageukwalthamforest.org.uk
Waltham Forest Resource Hub (North)
58 Hall Lane
Chingford
E4 8EU

Support Offered

Age UK Waltham Forest, with its experienced staff and volunteers, annually supports over 6,000 older people in the local area through a diverse range of services including Information and Advice Service, Befriending, Independent Living Services, Veterans Group and 30 weekly activities that include Digital support, coffee Mornings, Zumba, Table Tennis, Walking football. Our work is shaped by the priorities identified by older people themselves, with a focus on money, wellbeing, and inclusion.

Aims:
Reduced Social Isolation: We actively work to diminish social isolation by assisting older individuals in reconnecting with the community. This involves helping them find places to go, engaging in activities, and facilitating connections with new people.

Improved Mental and Physical Health: Our services contribute to improved mental and physical health by enhancing understanding and
self-management of health conditions. We provide information and assist in accessing local health and support services, prioritising the overall wellbeing of our beneficiaries.

Improved Finances and Reduction in Poverty: With expert assistance, we aim to advise and support older people in maximising their incomes, thereby contributing to improved financial stability and a reduction in poverty.

Support for Independent Living: We offer comprehensive support for independent living, including assistance at home, handyperson services, and gardening services, recognising the importance of a safe and comfortable living environment.

Our Veteran support services cover a broad spectrum, including accommodation, health support, addressing social isolation, and organising various events.

Our Joint Coordinators work directly with veterans, providing information and advice services for rehoming, referrals to specialists, and assistance with mental health issues.

They also play a crucial role in facilitating social events, monthly lunches, breakfast clubs, coffee club meetings, and annual Christmas lunches, contributing to building a strong sense of community among veterans. Actively engaging with other veteran organisations, our coordinators have forged partnerships with SSAFA, The Royal British Legion, Veterans Aid, and more. This collaboration ensures veterans are directed to specialised services when needed. Our involvement with Leyton Orient Football Foundation, resulting in monthly lunches and match tickets, exemplifies the positive impact of these collaborations.

Armed Forces Education Trust

Charity Number: 1167682

The Armed Forces Education Trust is a charity working for children and young adults whose education has been compromised or put at risk as a result of parents’ past or current service in our Armed Forces. The grants we give make a difference to young lives, helping improve their educational opportunities or supporting special skills or talents.

Contact Information

http://armedforceseducation.org/
admin@armedforceseducation.org
PO Box 684
Farnham
GU9 1LP

Support Offered

The Armed Forces Education Trust target young people under the age of 25 who are, or were, dependents of serving members of the UK armed forces, who would not achieve their educational potential without extra financial support. We support those who fit these criteria who can demonstrate that they have been impacted or disadvantaged, or have financial difficulties, as a consequence of the service of the relative on whom they depend.

Army Dependants’ Trust

Charity Number: 1064522

The Army Dependants’ Trust is a charity which provides discretionary cash awards to dependants of officers & soldiers who die in service, from whatever cause, on or off duty.

Contact Information

office@armydependantstrust.org
Building 183
Trenchard Lines
Upavon,Pewsey
SN9 6BE

Support Offered

For a small annual donation the Trust relieves financial hardship for the member’s family in the immediate period following their loss. The Trust also supports ABF – The Soldier’s Charity, in its work with dependants. All members of the Army – Regular, Reserve and MPGS – are eligible to be members. This includes FTRS and NRPS personnel.

Bournemouth War Memorial Homes

Charity Number: 1162066

The charity object are as follows:
Providing assistance to beneficiaries with the provision of affordable accommodation, “beneficiaries” means;
Those who are in need or vulnerable , because of their physical or mental health or social or economic circumstances, to former members of the merchant navy, former service personal of armed forces of the crown and widow’s widowers and surviving dependants of men and woman who have served in the merchant navy, Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force.

Contact Information

http://bwmh.org.uk/
estatemanager@bwmh.org.uk
12a Memorial Homes
Bournemouth
BH8 9TP
01202 302881

Support Offered

Citizens Advice Solent East

Charity Number: 1039776

Citizens Advice Portsmouth has recently merged with Havant and Gosport branches to become Citizens Advice Solent East (CASE). We are a local charity dedicated to providing free, confidential, and impartial advice to residents of Portsmouth, Havant and Gosport. Our mission is to empower individuals by helping them navigate and overcome a wide variety of challenges, including debt, housing, benefits, employment, and consumer rights. We are part of the larger Citizens Advice network, committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination, and influencing social policy for positive change. We collaborate with local governments and other organisations to address the root causes of issues and enhance the overall well-being of our community. For 85 years, we have offered guidance to help people overcome their challenges and advocated on major issues when their voices need to be heard, working to create a fairer and more just society for everyone.

Contact Information

https://casolenteast.org.uk/
contactus@casolenteast.org.uk
Unit 2-3
Ark Royal House
Winston Churchill Avenue
PO1 2GF

Support Offered

Services offered include:

• Access to Justice – a service to help people challenge housing decisions and benefits appeals.
• Armed Forces Covenant – providing broad help and support to veterans, serving members of the armed forces and their families.
• Generalist advice – a limited service provided by volunteers offering a face to face drop in, email or phone based general advice and signposting.
• Help to Claim – a support service focussing on benefits with help and ongoing support to make a claim for Universal Credit.
• Home & Well – a referral only service for clients who have recently been discharged from hospital or at risk of hospitalisation, to ensure vulnerable clients can remain safe and well in their home. Funded by energy and utility companies. Help with financial, employment, benefits, and housing concerns.
• Macmillan – for those affected by cancer, offering help, advice and support with benefits, money matters, debts, pensions, insurance, employment, housing, charitable grants and more.
• Money and Pensions Service – a service providing specialist debt advice and casework for people seeking to resolve their known debt issues and formal / informal debt solutions.
• Work Out Your Money – focusing on money management, to help improve knowledge, skills, and confidence with budgeting, borrowing and debt.
• Older Persons Service – offering additional assistance to over 65s with debt, benefits, consumer, employment, housing and more.
• SAIAS – a social enterprise specialist immigration advice service offering low cost or free immigration advice and support.

Community Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services

Charity Number: 1028663
Company Number: 2634372

The charity aims and purpose is to offer emotional and practical support to vulnerable groups with complex needs, including veterans and their family members. Residents in the Boroughs of: Merton, Wandsworth, Richmond, Kingston and Sutton.
Our aim is to support groups in society, who find difficult to integrate within their local community, to do so. By increasing their self-confidence, develop the needed practical skills and guide them in achieving their full potential.

Contact Information

http://www.cdars.org.uk/
info@cdars.org.uk
296a Kingston Road
Wimbledon Chase
SW20 8LX
0203 8728217

Support Offered

CDARS has provided service within the community for over 30 years, our lines of expertise covers: counselling, support groups, managing and support with mental health, prevention and managing of suicide risks, thoughts and ideation, managing and support with substance and alcohol disorders, building self-esteem and self-confidence, develop and provision of health and well-being programme, including arts, music, choir and sports activities. Support with housing, homelessness and education/employment issues, treatment for perpetrators of domestic violence.

Defence Gardens Scheme CIC

Company Number: SC681754

The Defence Gardens Scheme (DGS) is a national network of gardens which host the delivery and evaluation of nature-based therapy for Armed Forces Service Leavers and Veterans and their Families.

Contact Information

http://defencegardens.org/
info@defencegardens.org
39 Hanover Street
EH2 2PJ

Support Offered

The Defence Gardens Scheme (DGS) works in partnership with veterans’ charities, military units, community mental health service providers and gardening projects to develop, deliver and evaluate nature-based therapy.

The network is based on a ‘Hub and Spoke’ model of community-based mental health care. The Hub gardens deliver and evaluate the 10-week DGS Programme, also delivered within prison to Veterans within the Criminal Justice System. The Spoke gardens are part of a local community to ensure continuation of support.

To increase access and outreach DGS has developed one-day Cultivate and Connect Workshops and Wellbeing Walks, offering all members of the Armed Forces Community the opportunity to learn about and immerse themselves in nature.

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By @Cobseo 56 years ago

Afghanistan support

In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here