Veterans

Information and support for veterans living in Oxfordshire.

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Support for veterans

A veteran is someone who has served in the armed forces for a day or more but is no longer serving.

We understand the importance of supporting those who have sacrificed so much in the line of duty for our country. We will always try to ensure that veterans are supported in their adjustment to civilian life and, in some cases, to recover physically or mentally from their experiences serving their country.

Information to provide support and advice to armed forces veterans on several different issues they may face:

  • Veterans Gateway is the first point of contact and put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.
  • Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) provides practical, emotional and financial support to anyone serving or has ever served and their families. In particular, they offer advice on housing, debt, mobility issues, buying household goods, military mental illness, transition support, bereavement, homelessness, support for offenders and ex-offenders and residential housing.
  • Forces Connect South East – Information on help and support services for Oxfordshire’s armed forces community is available through a free app called ‘Forces Connect’. The app signposts serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families, and frontline public services staff to services that can help and support according to the issues. Search “Forces Connect” in Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store to download the app.
  • A summary guide for veterans provides information on housing, employment and financial support.

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Benefits and finance

  • The Royal British Legion (RBL) provides financial, social and emotional care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces - past and present and their families. 
  • Veterans UK administers the armed forces pension schemes and compensation payments for those injured or bereaved through service.
  • Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee (VAPC) was appointed to give a regional focus providing advice, assistance and support to service members and the ex-service community. VAPC is an advisory body sponsored by the Ministry of Defence.
  • Forces Compare, founded and run by veterans, is an independent search engine that specialises in comparing quotes for insurance to meet the unique requirements of those who serve or have served in the armed forces. 
  • Rewards for Forces is the UK's largest discount website featuring thousands of national and local discounts.

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 Employment

  • Jobcentre Plus has an armed forces champion supporting veterans to access services.
  • Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is a partnering agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Right Management Ltd, global career development and outplacement specialist, and ManpowerGroup.
  • Remploy helps disabled veterans to prepare for and find employment after the Armed Forces.
  • Mission Motorsport is run by veterans, serving officers and motorsport professionals. We are appointed as the Combined Services’ official providers of adaptive motorsport, seeking wherever possible to merge the activities of the disabled and those in need with non-disabled servicemen and women.
  • Forces Families Jobs for training and employment for family members of currently serving UK military personnel.  
  • Regular Forces Employment Agency (RFEA) provide employability and employment support to working-age veterans in the UK.  Current estimates are that one million working-age veterans live in the UK. We know that unemployment rates for working-age veterans are higher than for civilians.
  • Forces Farming represents the link between the armed forces and agriculture. It focuses on supporting service leavers and bringing new people into agriculture. They deliver real-life and job-based training and employment support while facilitating the transition process for the whole family.

Working for us as a veteran

We know that the skills and experiences of veterans can add significant value to our workforce. We are keen to ensure veterans are encouraged to apply for roles within the council and are supported to maximise their potential.

Over 14,000 skilled and experienced individuals leave the Armed Forces each year. Ex-service personnel have strong:

  • communication skills
  • organisation and commitment
  • problem solving and adaptability
  • leadership and management skills
  • health and safety, security awareness
  • team working skills.

In addition to the usual benefits of working for us, we also offer to veterans:

  • guaranteed interview for those meeting the essential criteria for the role within three years of leaving the service
  • a buddy system with an option to buddy with a member of staff with armed forces experience
  • informal staff network of armed forces
  • armed forces service champions to represent the views of armed forces employees.

Find out more

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Health and wellbeing

  • NHS mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists including Op COURAGE
  • Veterans Gateway If you need to access health advice in England, Veterans Gateway have information on finding a GP in England.
  • Blue Badge Pass If you are disabled, a Blue Badge helps you park closer to your destination when travelling as either a driver or a passenger.
  • Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is a national charity that directly supports all of our servicemen and women who have lost limbs and the use of limbs or the loss of eyesight in their service.
  • Care for Veterans is a Sussex-based military charity supporting veterans from all over the UK.
  • Oxford City Veterans Group

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Housing and homelessness

Contact your district council to find out:

  • how to apply for housing
  • what to do if you are homeless
  • how to apply for grants to improve your home
  • details of local housing associations
  • how to apply for housing benefit
  • information about affordable housing schemes in your area.

District councils

Other sources of information

  • Aspire - is a multi-award-winning employment charity and social enterprise. 
  • Homes for Veterans Alabare is a charity that works with vulnerable and marginalised people in our communities to support them towards gaining the independence they need to move on with their lives.
  • Amicus Trust is an organisation based in Bedfordshire, which provides accommodation for homeless veterans or is at risk of homelessness. Applications for accommodation are welcome from veterans all across the UK, not just Bedfordshire.

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Mental health

  • Combat Stress is a veterans’ mental health charity that supports veterans in a community outreach service in Oxfordshire (last Monday in the month), which provides help to veterans with benefit entitlements, money problems and other day-to-day problems. It also includes more intensive treatment for service-related mental health problems.
  • TalkingSpace Plus is a partnership between; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxfordshire Mind, and Principal Medical Limited (PML).  You can refer yourself to this service by completing the TalkingSpace Plus online self-referral form. 
  • The Warrior Programme is a three-day motivation and training programme with 12-month structured support and signposting service.

Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists

  • NHS 
  • For services in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire, call 0300 365 2000 or email gateway@berkshire.nhs.uk

Op COURAGE: the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

  • Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families. For the Op COURAGE urgent care and support service, call 02394 387 924 or email snhs.veteranshis.se@nhs.net

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Contact us