The Practice needs to know if you have ever served in the Armed Forces, please let reception know so that the information can be recorded on your medical record.
The Armed Forces Covenant?
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation to those who serve or who have served, and their families, ensuring that they are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged in their day-to-day lives.
The Armed Forces Covenant describes the Armed Forces Community as serving personnel in the Army, Navy, Royal Marines, or Royal Air Force including veterans, reservists, families and dependents. A veteran is defined as anyone who has served in the Armed Forces for at least one day, (Regular or Reserve) or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations.
General Support and Initial Advice
Veterans’ Gateway
The first point of contact for veterans seeking support. Can put veterans and their families in touch with organisations best placed to help with information, advice and support – from housing to employability, finances/benefits, personal relationships and more.
Visit Veterans’ Gateway or Call 0808 802 1212
SSAFA
Supports both regulars and reserves in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force including their families, regardless of how long they have served. Support is offered to those who need physical or emotional care e.g. debt, homelessness, relationship breakdown, addiction, depression, post-traumatic stress, and disability.
Visit SSAFA or Call 0800 731 4880
Armedforcescharities.org.uk
Contains details of over 2000 armed forces charities registered in the UK who can provide support, including charities that cater for the needs of serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. You can refine your search by selecting more and more specific criteria.
Visit Armed Forces Charities
Emotional/Mental Health Support and Injuries
Combat Stress
Provides confidential help and advice on mental health issues to the military community, veterans and their families.
24 Hour Helpline.
Visit Combat Stress or Call 0800 138 1619
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes provides direct, practical support for wounded, injured and sick servicemen, women and veterans and their families.
Visit Help for Heroes or Call 0300 303 9888
Help for Heroes – Hidden Wounds
Provides direct, practical support for wounded, injured and sick servicemen, women, veterans and their families. Help for Heroes Hidden Wounds is the psychological wellbeing service of Help for Heroes providing support to veterans and their families living with anxiety, depression, stress, anger or alcohol issues. Offers support from Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) with knowledge of the Armed Forces. Over the phone, via Skype or face to face, practitioners work with individuals across four to eight sessions to learn practical strategies to understand and manage emotions.
Visit Hidden Wounds or Call 0808 202 0144
Royal British Legion
Provides emotional and social support to all those who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, as well as their families.
There is an online chat service available via their website 7 days a week from 8am until 8pm.
Visit the Royal British Legion or Call 0808 802 8080
Employment Support
RFEA: The Forces Employment Charity
Provides tailored job finding support, helping to source job opportunities for all service leavers and ex-forces personnel across the UK. You can register online for their employment services, call the helpline below or visit their website to find details of their regional offices.
Visit RFEA or Call 0121 236 0058
The Officers’ Association
Provides practical support and advice on transition and employment for officers and their families whether still serving, in transition, or having left the Armed Forces.
There are three core streams of support aimed at: building knowledge; growing connections; and sourcing employment positions.
The Officers’ Association also provide support regarding financial assistance and housing.
Visit the Officers Association or Call 0117 906 3580
Financial Support
Royal British Legion
Provides financial support to all those who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, as well as their families. Grants for emergencies, funding for mobility aids, benefits advice, compensation, and employment grants. Open: 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm
Visit the Royal British Legion or Call 0808 802 8080
Veterans UK helpline
Offer specific advice on war disablement pension and armed forces compensation scheme claims. The helpline also offers advice on issues including benefits, pensions, loans and grants, finding a job, emergency accommodation, retraining, health issues, welfare concerns, service records and medals.
Also provide welfare support for veterans of any age and their families through the welfare service.
Visit Gov.uk/veterans-uk or Call 0808 1914218