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 armed forces charities, including contact details.
Cobseo 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.
Provides self-help mental health advice on their website. They offer mental health helplines 24 hours a day for 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 07537 173683 and email helpline@combatstress.org.uk
Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS)
For serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families.
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.
Provides physical, psychological, financial and welfare support. 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.
Provides advice and support on wellbeing on their website and through their community branches. The online chat and helpline are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
The Royal British Legion Website
Helpline: 0808 802 8080
Service Families Federations
For serving personnel and their families.
Offer independent and confidential advice on a range of issues.
Website for Royal Air Force Families
SSAFA
For serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families.
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 6780
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.
A mental health support service that provides anonymous, round-the-clock online support, with trained counsellors available at all times and a supportive community.
Veterans Gateway
For veterans and their families.
Provides wellbeing support and advice 24 hours a day on their website and with their online chat, text messaging and helpline.
Helpline: 0808 802 1212
Text chat: 81212
The Veterans Gateway live chat
Walking with the Wounded
For veterans and their families.
Offers support services for a range of issues, such as mental health, employment, criminal justice and addiction. Their website has 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.
Offers advice and support through their local support officers. Also provides financial assistance to help with the additional costs of disability.
Telephone: 020 8590 1124
Blind Veterans
For veterans who have experienced sight loss and their families.
Offers community groups, rehabilitation and support with care as well as advice on their website.
Telephone: 0800 389 7979
Women's armed forces charities
Salute Her UK
For women veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma and their families.
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.
Advice on how to get help and information for LGBT+ members of the armed forces community.
Addiction charities
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
A free self-help network. Its 12-step programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups.
Telephone: 0800 917 7650
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.