Find information about charities and support groups who help the armed forces community.
Find an armed forces charity
You can use the Confederation of Service Charities (Cobseo) directory to find information about specific armed forces charities, including contact details.
Cobseo is an organisation that works with charities, the government and other armed forces groups to provide information and representation to everyone in the armed forces community.
National organisations
Combat Stress
For serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families.
The charity Combat Stress provides self help advice on their website. They offer mental health helplines for 24/7 confidential advice and support
Veterans and their families helpline: 0800 138 1619
Serving personnel and their families helpline: 0800 323 4444
You can also text on 07537173683 and email helpline@combatstress.org.uk
Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS)
For serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families.
Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) provides practical and emotional support to military personnel, veterans, their families and other entitled civilians when they're in hospital, rehabilitation or recovery centres.
The Defence Medical Welfare Service website
Help for Heroes
For wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans, and their families.
The Help for Heroes charity provides physical, psychological, financial and welfare support to wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, and their families. Contact Help for Heroes through their website to see how they can support you.
Royal British Legion
For serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families.
The Royal British Legion gives advice and support on wellbeing on their website and through their community branches. For additional advice and support, the Royal British Legion also have an online chat and helpline that is open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
The Royal British Legion Website
Helpline: 08088028080
Service Families Federations
For serving personnel and their families.
The 3 Service Families Federation offer independent and confidential advice on a range of issues for all service families.
Website for Royal Air Force Families
SSAFA
For serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families.
SSAFA provides lifelong emotional and practical support. To get support, call their helpline or use their online chat Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.30pm.
Helpline: 0800 260 6767
STOLL
For veterans who struggle to live independently.
Provides housing and support services to help veterans live independently.
Togetherall
For serving personnel, reservists, veterans and armed forces families.
Togetherall is a mental health support service that provides anonymous, round-the-clock online support, with trained counsellors available at all times. There's a supportive community and lots of free resources that all armed forces personnel, reservists, veterans and their families can use at any time.
Veterans Gateway
For veterans and their families.
Veterans Gateway provides wellbeing support and advice on their website and with their 24/7 Live Chat, text messaging and helpline.
Helpline: 08088021212
Text chat: 81212
The Veterans Gateway live chat
Walking with the Wounded
For veterans and their families.
Walking with the Wounded offers support services for a range of issues, such as mental health, employment, criminal justice and addiction. Their website offers information on how to be referred to their services
Armed forces charities for people with specific healthcare conditions
Blesma
For veterans who have experienced life-changing limb loss, lost the use of a limb, or lost sight during service, as well as their families.
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, offers advice and support through their local support officers. Blesma also provides financial assistance to help with the additional costs of disability.
Blesma phone number: 020 8590 1124
Blind Veterans
For veterans who have experienced sight loss and their families.
Blind Veterans offers community groups, rehabilitation and support with care as well as advice on their website.
Phone number: 0800 389 7979
Women's armed forces charities
Salute Her UK
For women veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma and their families.
Salute Her UK provides a support service which offers mental health therapy and interventions for women survivors of military sexual trauma in a single sex environment.
LGBT+ armed forces charities
Fighting with pride
For LGBT+ serving personnel, veterans and their families.
Fighting with Pride advise on how to get help and provide information for LGBT+ members of the armed forces community.
Addiction charities
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
AA is a free self-help network. Its "12-step" programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups. AA believes people with drink problems need to give up alcohol permanently.
SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery runs a network of self-help and mutual aid meetings where participants help themselves and fellow members with recovery from any kind of addictive behaviour.