Here’s What You Can Do to Get Financial Help for Veterans
Veterans are our family members, friends, colleagues and neighbours. With an estimated 2.4 million veterans in the UK, you may well know someone who has served in the armed forces – or you may have even served yourself.
It’s never simple making the transition back to civilian life, especially when it comes to finances. Many veterans find themselves facing financial emergencies or financial pressure – and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Outlined below are several options that offer financial help for ex-service men and women.
Why veterans need your support
- Elderly veterans and combat veterans who are disabled are especially vulnerable when it comes to financial stress.
- Thousands of veterans have additional medical needs
- Thousands of UK veterans are also homeless. Homelessness among armed forces veterans in England has risen lately by 14%
Resources for veterans
There are quite a few resources dedicated to helping veterans. We’ve found the following sources of financial help for veterans:
The Veterans Welfare Service
The Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) provides a professional help and advice service to veterans or anyone supporting a veteran, their families and dependants.
It provides one-to-one support and works with Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, local authorities, voluntary organisations and service charities.
Combat Stress
Combat Stress also offers help to veterans. It offers clinical treatment and support for veterans from the British Armed Forces, with a focus on those with complex mental health issues.
Its services are provided across the UK, in-person and online. Last year, 11,000
calls were handled by its Helpline as it works to help veterans and their families.
Veterans’ Gateway
Veterans’ gateway helps ex-servicemen and women get in touch with services to support them.
It offers help across housing, mental wellbeing, finances and more.
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes is designed to help veterans and their families. It is the leading Armed Forces and veterans’ charity in the UK.
As well as offering mental health support, it also works to help veterans with employment and housing.
Togetherall
Togetherall offers online support to veterans looking to discuss mental wellbeing.
It offers people a space to share experiences in a safe, anonymous space and can be a great portal for people wanting to connect with other ex-servicepeople.
Shelter
The housing charity Shelter has specific advice for veterans facing homelessness.
As well as offering support for people experiencing homelessness across the country, it also has tailored advice for veterans who have unsecure housing.
Defence Discount Service
The Defence Discount Service is the official MoD discount service for the Armed Forces, Veterans and Armed Forces Community.
Defence Discount Service is home of the Defence Privilege Card, the vetted discount card that can be used in stores, restaurants and venues to obtain armed forces discounts. This discount card allows Veterans and the Armed Forces Community to have a card that can allow them to receive military discounts.
Crowdfunding for veterans
One way to show gratitude is by crowdfunding for veterans’ causes. You can raise funds to give directly to veterans or give the funds you raise to an existing organisation.
Even though there are government programmes and charities which provide aid for veterans, you personally can make a positive impact too. If you know a veteran who is in need of financial assistance – whether they’re reaching out after a setback or because they’re reaching for a dream – you can start a crowdfunding fundraiser on their behalf. Or you can simply raise money for your favourite charity for veterans.
Here we break down some of the recent ways people have been able to crowdfund to raise money for veterans.
Marduk Atlantic Challenge
A group of friends took on an enormous challenge to raise money. The group took on The World’s Toughest Row – a 3,000 mile unassisted row across the Atlantic Ocean, from La Gomera, Canary Islands, to Antigua, in the Caribbean.
In fundraising, the team rowed 2 hours on and 2 hours off in rotation, in support of Head Up and Bowel Cancer UK.
Military Veterans in Need
A couple who both served in the military launched a fundraiser after they and their family were evicted.
The fundraiser went on to raise more than £8,000 as hundreds of donations poured in.
27.2 miles Marathon in my Rugby Wheelchair
British Army veteran Craig Styles pushed the equivalent of the London Marathon in his rugby wheelchair – 27.2 miles.
He managed to raise thousands for charities that go directly to helping veterans.
Be of service to a veteran
Whether you decide to crowdfund for one of these organisations or raise funds directly for a veteran friend or family member, we’re here to help you provide emergency financial assistance for veterans. People use our crowdfunding platform to raise money for veterans every day