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

Belfast City Council web site does not list who their Veterans Champion is. You should contact Belfast City Council on and ask for more details.   VCPni believe that the veterans Champion for this council is yet to be appointed     If the above information is not correct please contact us and let us know

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  

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.

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

We are a charity & social enterprise. Our aim – wellbeing for all. We deliver mental health, learning disability, autism, addiction services across Ireland. We are also the leading Charity for delivering mental Health interventions to Veterans.

Lifeline is the Northern Ireland crisis response helpline service for people who are experiencing distress or despair. No matter what your age or where you live in Northern Ireland, if you are or someone you know is in distress or despair, Lifeline is here to help.   People living in Northern Ireland can call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. Deaf and hard of hearing Textphone users can call Lifeline on 18001 0808 808 8000. Calls to Lifeline are free to people living in Northern Ireland who are calling from UK landlines and mobiles.   Lifeline counsellors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to listen and help, in confidence. Lifeline counsellors are experienced in working with trauma, suicide, self-harm, abuse, depression and anxiety. You will receive immediate help on the phone. Should you need further support we can provide a face-to-face counselling appointment in your local area within seven days. Lifeline also provides support and guidance to families and carers, concerned friends, professionals, teachers, youth workers, clergy and communities. Remember, Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Just call. The Lifeline helpline is funded by the Department of Health.

Northern Ireland Veterans Support Office Our aim is to promote the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant and to assist veterans in the community

The Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland acts for the benefit of disabled ex-servicemen and women and our armed forces community. We provide outings, entertainment and respite breaks to veterans and their families. Our objective is to act generally for the benefit of service and ex-service personnel with disabilities or who are wounded, including the organisation or provision of items or facilities for leisure and recreational activities.