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Other support for armed forces communities

Support from charities, government and other supporting organisations are set out below in relation to a number of military and other charities.

The Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO) have a directory of service charities. You can also visit the West Berkshire Directory to view other local services.

 

General advice and support

 

Drop-ins and breakfast Clubs

 

Working and resettling

  • Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) - provides practical, emotional and financial support to anyone serving or has ever served and their families; they offer advice on housing, debt, mobility issues, buying household goods, military mental illness, transition support, bereavement, homelessness, support for offenders and ex-offenders
  • Career Transition Partnership (CTP) - a partnering agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Right Management Ltd (global career development and outplacement specialist) and Manpower Group
  • Veterans Gateway - puts veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need, from healthcare and housing to employability, finances and personal relationships
  • Smart Works - open to anyone who identifies as a woman in the Thames Valley area who has a confirmed job interview for a paid position, apprenticeship, internship or voluntary work; they provide coaching and dressing advice for job interviews
  • Mission Motorsport - run by veterans, serving officers and motorsport professionals - they are appointed as the Combined Services' official providers of adaptive motorsport, seeking wherever possible to merge the activities of the disabled and those in need with non-disabled servicemen and women
  • The Forces Employment Charity provide employability and employment support to working-age veterans in the UK - current estimates are that one million working-age veterans live in the UK; unemployment rates for working-age veterans are higher than for civilians
  • Forces Farming - focuses on supporting service leavers and bringing new people into agriculture; they deliver real-life and job-based training and employment support while facilitating the transition process for the whole family
  • Job Centre Plus
  • Turn to Starboard - uses sail training to support armed forces personnel and their families with the focus on resettlement, reintegration and reinforcing a sense of value and belonging
  • Forces Families Jobs - a website which showcases a range of training and career development opportunities for forces family members; all employers who advertise on this site have signed the Armed Forces Covenant
  • Life Works - veteran employment support
  • Veterans Welfare Service - a professional help and advice service to veterans or anyone supporting a veteran, their families and dependants

 

Money matters

Financial wellbeing

Benevolent funds

Families federations

 

Children and families

  • Army Families Federation - support, information and guidance to individuals and Army communities
  • Naval Families Federation - have your views heard, feel valued and be treated with fairness and respect
  • Royal Air Force Families Federation - support, assistance and an independent voice regarding issues or concerns
  • Reading Force - a reading scheme for forces family and friends
  • Children's Education Advisory Service (CEAS) - tri-Service organisation funded by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) - it provides information and support to service families and eligible MOD civilians on all aspects of the education of their children in the UK and overseas
  • Little Troopers - registered charity supporting all children with one or both parents serving in the British Armed Forces, regular or reserve which provides fundamental resources, initiatives, and events to ease and aid repeated separation periods aiming to keep parent and child connected and bonded even when miles apart
  • Armed Forces Education Trust - 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

 

Housing

  • Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) - provides advice and support with housing and care for people leaving the Armed Forces, veterans and their families
  • SSAFA housing advice - free housing advice from The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA)
  • Veterans aid - direct and immediate help to vulnerable veterans with finding hostel accommodation if they are homeless or at risk of homelessness
  • Haig housing - a military-only housing association
  • The Veterans Charity - assisting veterans who are experiencing monetary hardship - they provide items including food shopping, clothing, household items and phones to aid vital communication
  • Homes for Veterans Alabare - a charity that works with vulnerable and marginalised people in our communities to support them towards gaining the independence they need to move on with their lives
  • GOV.UK guidance on housing options and services
  • Op Fortitude - housing support for single veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and who have support needs - veterans are referred to Mike Jackson House via Riverside
  • Shelter - armed service leavers and former members may be entitled to extra help if they become homeless
  • Agamemnon Housing Association - 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
  • Stoll Housing - accommodation for ex serving Personnel - providing a safe environment for vulnerable and disabled veterans in need of support and living accommodation

 

Health and welfare, including Mental Health

  • NHS services for the armed forces - healthcare information and support for the UK's 10 million-strong armed forces community, including serving personnel, reservists, families and veterans
  • Domestic abuse: guidance and support for the armed forces community - information and guidance for those affected by or dealing with cases of domestic abuse in the armed forces community
  • Army Welfare Services - information about health and wellbeing, financial and legal support, and welfare
  • Royal Navy: families and veterans support
  • Gurkha Welfare Trust - Gurkha Welfare Advice Centres (GWAC) provide help and advice to those choosing to settle in the UK
  • Blesma - a national charity formed in the years following the First World War which supports all limbless ex-service men and women, their widows and dependents
  • Togetherall - a digital mental health service which delivers personalised support and recovery pathways to improve mental health and related conditions - it is free to all UK serving personnel (including reservists), veterans/ex-serving, and their families
  • Combat Stress - a veterans' mental health charity that supports veterans in a community outreach service in Oxfordshire (last Monday in the month), which provides help to veterans with benefit entitlements, money problems and other day-to-day problems - it also includes more intensive treatment for service-related mental health problems
  • Talking Therapies - an NHS provided service across Berkshire
  • The Warrior Programme - a three-day motivation and training programme with 12-month structured support and signposting service
  • Berkshire West Managing Emotions Programme
  • Op COURAGE - an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families
  • Veterans Gateway - information on finding a GP in England
  • Care for Veterans - a Sussex-based military charity supporting veterans from all over the UK

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