Veterans and Armed Forces Community

We provide a range of healthcare services, including community healthcare and specialist mental health services to people living in Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich.

Our work is guided by four key values: We’re kind, we’re fair, we listen, we care.

In line with our values, we believe that members of our community who serve, or have served in the British Armed Forces and their families are owed a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they have made for our country. They should experience no disadvantage in accessing our services and in certain circumstances, they should receive special consideration.

Where barriers do exist, we are working hard to remove them, and for our work in this area we have been recognised as a Veterans' Aware Trust.

We also strive to work effectively with the Armed Forces as an employer by supporting reservists with their training commitments and promoting involvement and career opportunities with the veteran community. For our work in this area, we have received a gold award in the Employer Defence Recognition Scheme.

Our commitment to you

We’re committed to continually improving the services and support we offer to serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families by:

  • Identifying members of the military community using our services to make sure they receive treatment in line with the Armed Forces covenant 
  • Training our staff on the specific needs and culture of the Armed Forces community
  • Appointing Armed Forces champions to make sure we deliver on our promises
  • Acting as a forces-friendly employer by participating in a range of appropriate schemes
  • Building strong connections with military welfare services and charitable organisations to provide continuity of care
  • Asking for feedback to improve our services through our Armed Forces Community survey 

If you are accessing healthcare through Oxleas, please let us know if you or a close family member has ever served in the Armed Forces, so we can help you get you the support you need.
 

Veterans and Family Support

Listed below are details of organisations that offer support to veterans and their families.

Please visit their websites for details of times covered by helplines and online chat, as not all services are available 24 hours a day.

General resources

Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. It also provides expert advice and guidance, from support on recovery and rehabilitation, through to transitioning to civilian life.

Website: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/ (external link) 

Contact: 0808 802 8080
or online chat on their website

Forces Connect app

The Forces Connect app is available for iOS and Android devices. The app aims to produce an easy-to-use and comprehensive directory of valuable contacts and information, for those seeking help within the Armed Forces Community.

Free download from the Apple store (for iOS devices) : https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/forces-connect/id1447381839  (external link)

Free download from the Google store (for Android devices): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.gov.surreycc.forcesconnect&hl=en_GB&gl=US (external link)

St Pancras - Operation Courage

Based at St Pancras Hospital, Operation Courage provides a front door to support and referrals onwards into Complex Treatment Services and High Intensity Service for all ex-serving army personnel. 

Website: https://www.veteransservicelse.nhs.uk/referrals-1 (external link)/ (referral form)

Contact: 020 3317 6818
cim-tr.veteranstilservice-lse@nhs.net

The Veteran Gateway

The Veteran Gateway provides information, advice and support for veterans and their families. They primarily focus on connecting individuals to the correct services to help with matters such as on healthcare, housing and employability.

Website: https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk (external link) 

Contact: You can contact an advisor 24/7 on 0808 802 1212
or use their live chat function https://support.veteransgateway.org.uk/app/chat/chat_launch  (external link)

Armed Forces Network (Sussex, Kent and Medway)

The Armed Forces Network is a multi-organisational group which includes members from the NHS, MoD, Armed Forces Reservists, Mental and Physical Health Clinicians, the Royal British Legion, SSAFA and other interested charities and organisations. The pathways were rolled out into Kent and Medway covering topics such as employment, social care, rough sleeping, physical health, mental health and housing.

Website: https://sussexarmedforcesnetwork.nhs.uk/service-champions/kent-and-medway/kent-and-medway-pathways/  (external link) 

Contact: 01273 403693
or via an online form https://sussexarmedforcesnetwork.nhs.uk/about/contact-us/  (external link)

The Veteran Railcard

The Veteran Railcard provides 1/3 off rail travel for veterans. The railcard costs £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years 

Website: https://www.veterans-railcard.co.uk  (external link)

Defence Discount Card

The Defence Discount Card is the official Ministry of Defence discount service for the Armed Forces, veterans and Defence Community. Discounts can be used online and in stores 

Register at https://www.defencediscountservice.co.uk/newuser.php  (external link)

The War Widows’ Association

The War Widows’ Association is an organisation for widows and widowers of Armed Forces Personnel where death has been caused by or hastened by service. 

Website: https://www.warwidows.org.uk (external link)

Contact:  0845 2412 189
info@warwidows.org.uk 

SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Air Force and Families Association)

SSAFA’s aim is to ensure the needs of Armed Forces, veterans and their families are met, whether they be mental, physical, financial, or difficulties with relationship, debt and homelessness.

Website: https://www.ssafa.org.uk (external link)

Contact: 020 7463 9200 
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/contact-us (external link) (includes live chat)

BLESMA

BLESMA assists serving and ex-service members who have suffered a life-changing limb loss, use of limb and eye or sight loss.

Website: https://blesma.org (external link)

Contact: 020 8590 1124
info@blesma.org

Blind Veterans UK

Blind Veterans UK provides rehabilitation training, practical advice and emotional support to ex-service personnel with sight loss

Website: https://www.blindveterans.org.uk (external link)

Contact: 0300 111 22 33
support.services@blindveterans.org.uk

Employment

The Poppy Factory

The Poppy Factory provides employment support for wounded, injured and sick veterans, whether with physical or mental health conditions.

Website: https://www.poppyfactory.org (external link)

Contact: 020 8939 1837
support@poppyfactory.org 

Walking With The Wounded

This charity focuses on helping ex-military veterans re-integrate back into society by focusing on employment and how to transfer skills to a civilian workplace.

Website: https://walkingwiththewounded.org.uk (external link)

Contact: 01263 863 900
info@wwtw.org.uk 

Children

Give us Time

Give us Time provides service families with respite breaks to reconnect and reaffirm family bonds after deployments.

Website: https://giveustime.org.uk (external link)

Contact: 0208 017 2090
enquiries@giveustime.org.uk 

Scotty’s Little Soldiers

Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting bereaved British Forces children and young people.

Website: https://www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk (external link)

Contact: 0800 092 8571
hello@scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk

The Ripple Pond

A peer support community made up of a network of forces families to help reduce the sense of isolation and increase support for serving personnel, veterans and their families.

Website: https://theripplepond.org (external link)

Contact: 0333 900 1028
help@theripplepond.org

Housing

HAIG Housing Support

Provides housing assistance to ex-service personnel and their dependents. This can be housing advice, letting general needs homes at affordable rents and providing tailored housing solutions to disabled or severely injured veterans. 

Website: https://www.haighousing.org.uk (external link)

Contact: 020 8685 5777
enquiries@haighousing.org.uk

STOLL

A provider of supported housing for Veterans and additional support services to enable vulnerable and disabled veterans to lead independent lives.

Website: https://www.stoll.org.uk (external link)

Contact: 020 7385 2110
info@stoll.org.uk

Get in touch

If you want to let us know about organisations that support veterans that are not listed here, please email us at oxl-tr.communications@nhs.net.

 

**Upload leaflets to page**

  • IAPT Veterans Group Leaflet
  • Veterans Easy Read
  • Veterans Nepalise
we are kind we are fair we listen we care

we’re kind we’re fair we listen we care