Veterans Information

Firstly, we would like to thank you for your service. This page has been produced to provide you with information should you ever need it as a Military Veteran. 

It does not matter how long ago you served, this information can be accessed by anyone who has served in one of the Armed Forces. 

Armed Forces Veteran Friendly Accredited GP Practice

You can contact the Coastal PCN Care Coordinator, Natasha, working with Chacewater and Devoran Surgeries to support their patients for further information or support if you should need it. 

To contact Natasha please call the surgery on 01872 560 346 and she will return your call as soon as she is able to.

Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion is the country's largest Armed Forces charity. Founded in 1921 they work to support the Armed Forces Community to ensure that their contribution is never forgotten. They give lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel, starting on day one of service through life long after service is over. Personnel, Veterans and their families are supported with expert advice and guidance on finances and employment support, local community connections, care and living independently and physical and mental wellbeing. 

The Veterans Medical Funds Programme through the British Legion provides support for Veterans with hearing loss and physical injuries. For Further information on this programme you can contact medicalfunds@britishlegion.org.uk or call 0808 802 8080. They will be able to advise what is available to you. 

You can contact the Royal British Legion on 0808 802 8080, lines are open 8am - 8pm every day.

SSAFA

SSAFA founded in 1885 provides lifelong support to those who are serving or have served in the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Royal Air Force. Although SSAFA is a nationwide charity, there is a branch in Cornwall were the experienced and friendly staff can provide advice and practical services on emotional, practical and financial issues. They can provide help whenever it is needed and for as long as it is needed. 

To contact SSAFA in Cornwall you can call Monday - Friday, 9am - 5.30pm on 0204 566 9131 or email southwest.region@ssafa.org.uk 

There is a Forcesline available for urgent help, open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, you can call on 0800 260 6767 or have a live chat online on the SSAFA website.

DMWS

The St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) founded in 1943 to care for those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces. The DMWS works to ensure that the medical needs are being met by making sure that pathways are clear to ensure a full recovery. This could mean that if you are unwell but have a problem with housing which will distract you from your recovery, then DMWS can step in and help with their person centred and tailored to your approach. They operate in hospital and support centres throughout the UK.

The professional and medical welfare telephone service provides:

  • Emotional and practical support to the Armed Forces community and the Merchant Navy when they are on a health centre pathway, receiving treatment in hospital, community based health care or at home.
  • An individual, their family, carers, and health and social care partners, help to find solutions and provide onward supported referrals to other organisations for services
  • Enables independent living, reduces social isolation, improves wellbeing, and provides a coordinated, holistic approach to accessing the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

If you need support contact our national response service on 0800 999 3697 or referrals@dmws.org.uk (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm)

NHS support for Veterans with your mental health:

Op COURAGE: The Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

This is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces, veterans and their families. 

Op COURAGE can help you and your family with a range of support and treatment including:

  • Supporting you with intensive emergency care and treatment if you're in a crisis
  • Helping you transition from military to civilian life by providing mental health care with Defence Medical Services (DMS)
  • Supporting armed forces families affected by mental health problems, including helping you access local services
  • Helping you recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems as well as more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma
  • Helping you to access other NHS mental health services if you need them, such as finding an NHS talking therapies service and eating disorder services
  • Helping you get in touch with charities and local organisations who can support your wider health and wellbeing needs, such as housing, relationships, finances, employments, drug and alcohol misuse and social support

Everyone at Op COURAGE has either been in the Armed Forces or has experience working with personnel, reservists, veterans and their families. They will work with you to make sure that you get the right specialist care, support and treatment.

It does not matter how long ago you left the services you contact Op COURAGE so long as you are registered with a GP in England, served in the UK Armed Forces for one day and have a record of your military service number.

You can contact OP COURAGE for the South West Area by telephone on 0300 365 2000 or email gateway@berkshire.nhs.uk. They will then arrange an assessment to make sure that you get the right care and support.

Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme

The Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme is a Ministry of Defence (MoD) specialist service that provides mental health assessments and treatment advice for veterans and reservists. It works closely with the NHS and DMS to provide appropriate treatment. 

You can usually only access this service if a GP refers you to it. Ask your GP about a referral if you feel your time serving in the Armed Forces has affected your mental health.

Combat Stress

IF you need to talk to someone Combat Stress has a dedicated mental health support helpline for veterans and their families. The helpline provides free confidential advice and support.

This helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, please call 0800 138 1619.

Togetherall

This is a mental health support service. Which can provide the following:

  • Anonymous, round-the-clock online support with trained counsellors
  • A supportive community, including forums for safe conversation
  • Free resources to help you improve your mental health

All armed forces serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families can access these services at any time.

Please do contact the surgery if you would like any further help or support and the Care Coordinator will be in touch as soon as she can.

Remembering our Roots

military veterans remembering our roots

NINE S.H.I.P.S All Call Signs Military Veteran's Project

Using continued funding provided by Greenwich Hospital and The Armed Forces Convenant, Fund Trust the following is available for Military Veterans in the Chacewater & Devoran area.

NINE S.H.I.P.S 'All Call Signs':

Provides a Tri-service informal get together with like-minded people around the campfire. Pasty and a cuppa included at no charge to you. 1 on 1 support also available. Meeting fortnightly on Wednesday's between 16:00-20:00 in woodland near Tebidy golf club. Further details about dates and being voluntarily added to group messaging reminders can be supplied on request.

NINE S.H.I.P.S Master of Two Worlds':

This is a 3-month project with a weekly online group Zoom call and celebratory day in the woods. This project offers a more in-depth experience working with core emotions, connection and trauma healing. Allowing you to develop safely the capacity to acknowledge, feel and express ourselves, where we are stuck, have resistance and judgments and lacking true contentment.

NINE S.H.I.P.S Bushcraft courses (Qualifications):

Level 2 Foundation in Bushcraft Skills and Wilderness Living
Level 3 Foraging.


An opportunity to formalise your skills and knowledge in a practical, applied way. These courses are accredited by the NCFE (Northern Council for Further Education) and IOL (Institute for Outdoor Learning) in association with Wildway Bushcraft.


With your permission a referral can be made by the Care Coordinator at the surgery and Stacey Allsopp will then contact you to provide further details. You can also contact Stacey on 07892 864533. You can use this link for the website NINE S.H.I.P.S Veterans Project - Remembering Our Roots (ror services) or The Veterans Project can be found via the Remembering Our Roots CIC website, the NINE S.H.I.P.S Veteran Project can be found under the Projects tab.