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Resources for Armed Forces and veterans

On this page

Helplines, charity support, self help and mobile apps.

Helplines

Concerns and complaints

Contact the NHS Highland Armed Forces Champion:

email nhsh.armedforceschampion@nhs.scot 

Support from the Ministry of Defence

Veterans UK provide free support for veterans and their families, including a helpline, Veterans Welfare Service, Defence Transition Services and injury/bereavement compensation scheme payments.

Normal service 8.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.

When the helpline is closed, callers will be given the option to be re-routed to the Samaritans 24 hour helpline.

Veterans Welfare Service

Veterans Welfare Service provides a life-long professional help and advice service to veterans or anyone supporting a veteran, their families and dependants. They can help by providing advice and support:

  • through either telephone contact or, if needed, during a home visit
  • with the transition from service to civilian life
  • to bereaved families
  • if there are changes in disablement
  • with any life event that needs welfare assistance
  • with any forms and help completing them if needed

email veterans-uk-vws-scot-ni@mod.uk

Visit the Veterans Welfare Service pages at Gov.uk

Defence Transition Services

Defence Transition Services provide information and support for a period of up to two years after discharge, to those service leavers and their families who are the most likely to face challenges as they leave the Armed Forces and adjust to civilian life. They can give guidance and facilitate access to support for:

  • mental health
  • physical health
  • drugs and alcohol misuse
  • training, education and employment
  • housing, accommodation and relocation
  • finance, debt and benefits
  • children, family and relationships

email DBSVets-DTS-Central@mod.gov.uk

Visit the self-referral process and third-party referrals pages at Gov.uk

See help for service leavers from Defence Transition Services at Gov.uk

Help and support when a service person or veteran dies

Resettlement support

Careers Transition Partnership (CTP) provide resettlement services for those leaving the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines. 

Support from local authorities

Highland Council

The Military Liaison Group (Education) supports service and veteran families as well as schools across Highland when accessing education. 

The Housing and Homelessness teams support service leavers and veterans access housing across Highland:

Argyll and Bute Council

See an overview of support available to service personnel and their families, and veterans and their families, across Argyll and Bute.

Support from charities

General support

Veterans Assist Scotland provides an overview of all the support and contact details for all the organisations that work alongside the Armed Forces and Veterans community.                     

The Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP) is part of Citizens Advice Scotland and can provide support to the Armed Forces and Veterans community across Scotland.

Military-specific support

Merchant Navy-specific support

Mental and physical health

Mental health

Physical health

Social health

Support to service families

Support animals

Employment and educational support 

Forces Children's Education provides service families with an introduction to the Scottish education system and an understanding of the education resources available.

Forces Employment Charity (formerly RFEA) is a charity that provides life-long support, job opportunities, and training to Service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families.

Forces Families Jobs provides a central portal for employment and training opportunities for military spouses and family members.

Op NOVA - Forces Employment Charity provides support for veterans who are in contact with the justice system - this support is also available in Scotland.

Self help

There are a lot of self-help resources out there. Please consider checking them out as one or some of them may be helpful for you. If you know of any other self-help resources that have helped you and you think they might help others, please send the details to:

email nhsh.armedforceschampion@nhs.scot

We’ll see if we can include them on this page.

Mobile apps

There are a lot of helpful apps out there.  Please consider checking them out as one or some of them may be helpful for you.  If you know of any other mobile apps that have helped you and you think they might help others, please send the details to:

email nhsh.armedforceschampion@nhs.scot

We’ll see if we can include them on this page.

Mental health and wellbeing

Look after your wellbeing

With advice on transition, finding connections and moving forward.

Physical health

Feel better and save money by drinking less alcohol.

General

Get connected and find contact details for local services across the Highland and Argyll & Bute area.

Last updated: 1 October 2024

Next review date: 17 December 2024