AAVS provides respite, treatment, training, welfare assistance and more to those who serve or have served and their families throughout Northern Ireland.

AWARE is the Depression Charity for Northern Ireland. Belfast Office   A Derry-born charity, we now have two offices; one in Londonderry and a second office in Belfast. AWARE has an established network of 23 support groups in rural and urban areas across the country, which are run by our trained volunteers. Support groups welcome people with depression and bipolar disorder as well as carers for people with the illness. We also deliver Information Outreach sessions and attend community events to give more information about AWARE and our services. AWARE deliver mental health and well being programmes into communities, schools, colleges, universities and workplaces. These programmes include our suite of Mood Matters programmes, Living Life to the Full, Mental Health First Aid and Mindfulness. More information available on our web site

AWARE is the Depression Charity for Northern Ireland.   Derry /  Londonderry  Office   A Derry-born charity, we now have two offices; one in Londonderry and a second office in Belfast. AWARE has an established network of 23 support groups in rural and urban areas across the country, which are run by our trained volunteers. Support groups welcome people with depression and bipolar disorder as well as carers for people with the illness. We also deliver Information Outreach sessions and attend community events to give more information about AWARE and our services.   AWARE deliver mental health and well being programmes into communities, schools, colleges, universities and workplaces. These programmes include our suite of Mood Matters programmes, Living Life to the Full, Mental Health First Aid and Mindfulness. More information available on our web site

Blesma provides support to limbless Service and ex-Servicemen and women and their families. It has no permanent office in Northern Ireland but support is delivered by the Support Officer based in NW England who visits Members frequently.   Support offered includes:   Financial: Grants for mobility, rehabilitation and adaptations. Advice on compensation allowance claims. Activities: A programme of sporting, social and interest activities in the UK and beyond Accommodation: Nursing, residential and respite care. Personal: Welfare support and visits; assistance in dealings with Limb Service; assistance in finding employment; representation. For more information visit our web site or facebook page  

NATURE-BASED THERAPY COURSES Our flagship 8-week course, designed and developed by Liz in partnership with the Public Health Agency. 100% evidenced-based Facilitated by both a Horticultural Therapist, and experienced Horticulturist Designed and developed specifically to increase wellbeing and decrease depression & anxiety levels Emphasises the fascinating growing evidence base for using Horticultural + nature-based therapy as a therapeutic service Teaches a wide range of practical ways to reconnect with nature in a peaceful therapeutic setting Shows a wide range of ways to organically grown your own food, herbs and wildflowers – combined with practical ways to use these skills to increase and enhance your wellbeing Each of the 8 weeks is varied, hands on, accessible and practical Please note at the moment this is a referral based programme. We do not accept self-referrals. But please get in touch if you would like to refer a group, if you have any questions or would like more information.

Brooke House is the visionary concept of The Ely Centre funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds. Developed to address the impact of The Troubles, through multi-disciplinary services aimed at supporting military veterans from the three services who reside in Northern Ireland and also to improve the physical and mental health of injured RUC Officers and their families within 1000 idyllic acres in Colebrooke Estate, Co. Fermanagh one of the region’s most important and historic stately homes.

Combat Stress is the UK’s leading military charity specialising in the care of veterans’ mental health. We look after men and women who are suffering from a psychological condition related to the Service career as a small but significant number of veterans leave the Armed Forces with psychological wounds. This can lead to depression, anxiety, a phobia or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Combat Stress works with veterans of the British Armed Forces and members of the Reserve Forces, through effective treatment and support for mental health problems. Everything that we do is free of charge to the veteran. Our work is made possible through statutory, non-statutory and voluntary fundraising. We simply couldn’t do what we do without the generosity of the Great British public. What we provide At Combat stress we know that serving your country can take its toll. So we’ve used our expertise of supporting veterans suffering from mental ill-health to provide a range of services to deliver support, advice and treatment wherever you are. 24-hour Helpline The Combat Stress 24-hour Helpline is on 0800 138 1619, text 07537 404719 (standard charges may apply for texts), or email combatstress@rethink.org The Helpline is for the whole military community (serving personnel and ex-service men and women) and their families, looking for confidential and safe help and advice about service-related mental health issues. Community Outreach Support The Combat stress Community Outreach Support brings our expertise to you. Many veterans also need help with the day to day stuff – benefits, entitlements, money problems and the like, so we take a “whole person approach” to the care of veterans with mental health problems. So, as well as clinical treatments for mental health problems, our Community Outreach Teams offer welfare support to veterans too. Each team is made up of a Regional Welfare Officer, a Community Psychiatric Nurse, a Mental Health Practitioner and a Desk Officer. Together they offer both practical and clinical support to veterans and their immediate families, in their own homes and in local communities. A lot of the staff in our Community Outreach Teams are ex-services themselves, so they’ll understand you and your needs because they have served too. More intensive treatment We’re experts in the treatment of service-related mental health problems and provide specialist clinical treatment at our three short-stay residential Treatment Centres, in Shropshire, Surrey and Ayrshire. We also run a Well-being and Rehabilitation Programme – available to all veterans receiving treatment in our short-stay centres – as part of a structured occupational therapy model. It includes employment mentoring, life skills workshops, social activities in the community and so on.

The death of someone we love is likely to be one of the most distressing experiences we will ever face. When someone dies, a relationship is lost, a process of change begins, and we move towards a new and largely unknown situation. Our mission is to offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies and to enhance society’s care of bereaved people. There are seven areas located throughout Northern Ireland: Armagh and Dungannon Area Belfast Area Foyle Area Newry and Mourne Branch Northern Area North Down and Ards Area Omagh and Fermanagh Area   Cruse offers face-to-face, telephone, email and website support. We have a Freephone national helpline and local services. Our services are provided by our network of 5,000 trained volunteers and are confidential and free. Cruse also provides training and consultancy for external organisations and for those who may encounter bereaved people in the course of their work.

an organisation that supports and empowers those security forces who served during the Troubles in Northern Ireland during the period of Op BANNER from 1969 – 2007 and their families by giving them a voice to ensure that a constituency of need which is otherwise silent can be heard. Although the Offices of Decorum NI are at 26 Balloo Avenue, BANGOR, there are no boundaries and members come from as far away as the North Coast and Fermanagh as well as more local areas covering 52 Post Codes in all. There are also members in Great Britain and Isle of Man. Activities are co-ordinated from the Bangor Office where a Drop-In Centre is open Mon-Fri for social interaction and tea/coffee and for use by members under the guidance of the full time Senior Staff Officer Mitch Bresland.

Horses are quick to react to perceived danger but where no threat exists, go ‘back to grazing’. We use the same principle focus on helping people to develop a less reactive approach to situations and how to connect with others to create and maintain better relationship. It’s about life skills, coping mechanisms, decision making and creating a brighter future. Participants tell us that they feel much more hopeful and positive following their time with the horses. We also offer a free 6-week online follow up on-line course for veterans to help with establishing new, constructive practices. BENEFITS (FOR VETERANS) increased confidence coping mechanisms techniques for adjusting to new situations ability to dial up assertiveness rather than aggression breaking unhelpful behaviour patterns focusing on strengths focusing on where you are going rather than where you’ve been