Armed Forces Support
Armed Forces Covenant
PartnershipOne Ltd has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, showing our commitment to providing easy access to the services and support that the Armed Forces community is entitled to. View PartnershipOne Ltd’s signed Armed Forces Covenant (PDF).
The National Armed Forces Covenant exists to make sure Service people, veterans and their families are on an equal footing with ordinary citizens when it comes to accessing public and commercial services. It is not about extra-special treatment for all the Forces, although it is about special consideration in some cases (for example, for those injured and the bereaved).
This page provides information about the Armed Forces Covenant and signposts to organisations, services and resources that can offer advice, guidance and support.
What is the Armed Forces Covenant?
The Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge that together we can acknowledge and understand that those who serve, or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives.
You can show your support for the Armed Forces community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant online.
Covenant Fund
Find out about applying for funding to support the Armed Forces community through the GOV.UK website.
Support for the Armed Forces Community
There is a wide range of services specifically designed for the Armed Forces Community available from the Ministry of Defence, public sector and voluntary-sector and community-sector organisations. It can often be confusing when trying to find the best organisations to help.
To make this easier for you, we have provided as much detail as we can on various aspects of support that can be provided. However, please note this information is not exhaustive and there will be additional support services available not listed here. Please let us know if there is anything that you think should be included.
PartnershipOne is committed to working with local and national partners to ensure that no serving member of the Armed Forces, veteran or family member is disadvantaged as a result of their service to the country.
Benefits and Council Tax support: If you need advice on benefits, housing or help with Council Tax, support is available through your local council. For information on the support you may be entitled to and how to apply, please visit your local council’s website.
Armed Forces Charities
Charities offer a range of support and advice for service personnel, veterans and their families.
- Royal British Legion: Shoulder to Shoulder with all who Serve.
- SSAFA: Lifelong support for our Forces and their families.
- Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity: Giving a better quality of life for serving and former naval personnel.
- Veterans UK: Bringing together services for veterans.
- Confederation of Service Charities: Provides a single point of contact for interaction with Government, including local government and the devolved administrations; with the Royal Household; with the private sector; and with other members of the Armed Forces Community.
- Charity Choice: More ways to give. This website provides information on over 160,000 registered charities, including all charities registered in England and Wales. Browse the website for a list of Armed and Ex-Services Charities.
- Civvy Street: Information and resources to help you make the transition from the armed forces to civilian life.
- Army Benevolent Fund – ABF The Soldiers’ Charity: Lifetime support to serving and retired soldiers and their families.
- BLESMA: A national charity that directly supports service men and women who have lost limbs and the use of limbs or the loss of eyesight.
- Blind Veterans UK: Life beyond sight loss.
Health and wellbeing
Information on healthcare services, mental health support and wellbeing resources.
- NHS Choices: The online ‘front door’ to the NHS. It is the country’s biggest health website and gives all the information you need to make choices about your health.
- Samaritans: A confidential emotional support service.
- Big White Wall: A safe online community for people who are anxious, feeling low or struggling to cope, where members support one another by sharing what’s troubling them, guided by trained professionals.
- Live It Well: This website, funded by Kent County Council, has been designed to help you maintain your wellbeing and link you to what is available to support you locally. The Live It Well website is currently running the Six Ways to Wellbeing.
- Blind Veterans UK: National charity dedicated to supporting blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, no matter when they served or how they lost their sight.
- Adfam: Drug & alcohol use can threaten and ultimately destroy family relationships and wellbeing. We empower family members and carers, support frontline workers and influence decision-makers to stop this happening.
- GamCare: The leading provider of support for anyone affected by problem gambling in Great Britain. GamCare offers a range of options for people struggling with the impact of gambling on their lives – both gamblers and their loved ones.
- Mental health services for veterans | Combat Stress: We provide clinical treatment and support for veterans from the British Armed Forces, with a focus on those with complex mental health issues. When some military personnel leave service, their experiences can’t easily be left behind. Without treatment, psychological trauma can eventually tear lives apart.
- PTSD Resolution: Charity providing mental health support for UKArmed Forces veterans, reservists and their families. Free, prompt and local support is available through more than 200 therapists across the UK.
- Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists – NHS (www.nhs.uk): Mental health problems are common and can affect anyone, including veterans, serving personnel, reservists and their families. It’s important to get help and support if you or someone you know has mental health problems.
Financial
Advice and assistance with budgeting, benefits, grants and financial difficulties.
- Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB): The charity for your community.
- Benefits and concessions for the Armed Forces, veterans and their families (CAB): There are many different kinds of financial help available for people in the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
- Pension and compensation schemes for the armed forces, veterans and their families (CAB): Information on pension schemes available to current and former members of the armed forces, depending on when they served. Covers types of scheme, help for war widows and widowers, help for people who sustained injuries during their service and sources of further help.
- MoneyHelper: Money advice service. Free, impartial and independent money advice.
- Defence Discount Service: The only official Ministry of Defence (MOD) discount service and also home of the Defence Privilege Card.
- Joining Forces CU: Armed Forces Credit Union Support. The Ministry of Defence has launched payroll deduction to help you save and borrow with three of the United Kingdom’s largest credit unions.
Housing
Information and guidance on housing options, homelessness prevention and accommodation support.
- Joint Service Housing Advice Office (GOV.UK): A guide to civilian housing schemes, temporary and transit accommodation and homelessness.
- Housing and local services (GOV.UK): Information on applying for council and housing association housing and benefits.
- Forces Help to Buy (GOV.UK): A scheme to help armed forces personnel get on the property ladder.
- Shelter: Advice on housing, where to live and homelessness.
- Royal British Legion: Provides short-term and long-term care for serving and ex-Service people and their dependants in Royal British Legion Care Homes around the country.
- Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA): Offers advice and assistance to anyone eligible for their help, whether they are serving or ex-Service, or a family member of someone with a service connection. SSAFA also provides housing and residential care facilities.
- Housing options for people leaving the Armed Forces, veterans and their families (CAB): Information for people who are about to leave the armed forces, veterans and dependents, on finding accommodation. Covers sources of help and care homes for veterans and disabled ex-Service personnel.
- Buying a home (MoneyHelper – Money Advice Service): Work out your overall buying and moving costs, first-time buyer advice, and tips and tools to help you work out what you can afford.
- Renting and Letting (MoneyHelper – Money Advice Service): Advice to help you work out how much rent you can afford, and how to budget and share costs when renting.
- Porchlight: A Kent-based homelessness charity that provides practical help to ex-Service rough sleepers.
Children and families
Support services for Armed Forces children, families and carers.
- Army Families Federation (AFF): Improves life for Army families.
- Defence Gateway: Information and support for Army personnel and their families.
- Naval Families Federation (NFF): The association for Royal Navy and Royal Marines families.
- Support for RAF personnel and families: The association for RAF personnel and their families.
- Relate: The relationship people.
- Children’s Education Advisory Service: Provides expert and impartial advice about the education of Service children.
- National Careers Service: Provides careers advice and information on a wide range of jobs, training courses, resources and funding.
Can you help?
The Royal British Legion is looking for volunteers to support its work with the local Armed Forces community. There are many ways you can volunteer with them, and you don’t need to be a member of the Armed Forces community to volunteer.
The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) is also looking for volunteers to help support serving personnel, veterans and their families.
Respect, support and fair treatment
The National Armed Forces Covenant exists to make sure Service people, veterans and their families are on an equal footing with ordinary citizens when it comes to accessing public and commercial services. It is not about extra-special treatment for all the Forces, although it is about special consideration in some cases (for example, for those injured and the bereaved).
The Community Covenant encourages the integration of Service life into civilian life and encourages members of the Armed Forces community to help their local community.