Support for our Armed Forces Community
Who makes up the Armed Forces Community?
- Regular, Reserve and Retired (veterans) that are serving or have served in the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, RAF)
- Polish free forces who served in WW2
- Merchant Navy who have served in support of British military operations.
What support am I entitled to?
We are committed to supporting Doncaster’s military service personnel and veterans as an MOD Employer Recognition Gold Award employer, through Executive Mayor Ros Jones’ pledge and through our Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Paul Wray.
As a member of Doncaster’s Armed Forces Community, you and your immediate family are entitled to the following support through the Armed Forces Covenant.
- Not being at a disadvantage when trying to access public services such as healthcare, housing, employment, education and welfare.
- Special consideration where appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given the most such as the injured and the bereaved.
For more information visit the Armed Forces Covenant website.
Contact Us
Email us at armedforcescovenant@doncaster.gov.uk
Health
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NHS Transition Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS)
The Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) is a service to support veterans and their families. The team offers mental health assessment by a specialist veterans mental health practitioner who is sensitive to military culture and has good local knowledge.
The service has an open referral system and people can refer themselves by contacting the service directly on: Northern Area Contact 0303 123 1145
Email: vwals@nhs.net
Offers information regarding substance misuse and provides details of free and confidential services
Sheffield Mind - Keeping Families in Mind
Keeping Families in Mind service offers therapeutic support to families of the Armed Forces. Our service supports families with their mental health and isolation. We provide free counselling and peer support groups to Armed Forces Families living in South Yorkshire.
The service is for
- Anyone who has a family member currently serving in the Armed Forces.
- Anyone who has a family member who is a veteran.
For more information please visit www.sheffieldmind.co.uk/services/keeping-families-in-mind
For support please contact 0114 258 4489 or therapy@sheffieldmind.co.uk
The wellbeing team was created on the principle of ensuring that all residents of Doncaster have access to support, guidance and advice about issues and problems they may be experiencing.
Provides support to veterans who acquired hearing loss during their Service. It is open to those who have a wellbeing need that cannot be met through statutory services.
Sober Social is a brand new social space, in the heart of Doncaster’s town centre – an open space for people who are struggling to make the meaningful connections they need and might therefore be engaging in harmful behaviours.
Doncaster Alcohol Services, 18 Priory Place, Doncaster, DN1 1BZ
Call – 077385 17147
The Doncaster IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) offer NICE recommended treatments for people experiencing common mental health problems. The service provides short-term interventions, which include guided self-help, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and counselling. The service accepts self-referrals and referrals from other agencies for people ages 18 years and above who are registered with a Doncaster GP.
An initial assessment appointment with a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner will be performed and the practitioner will negotiate the most beneficial intervention.
For further information or to book an assessment contact The Talking Shop on:
01302 565 556 or 01302 565 650
The Flying Scotsman Centre (Ground Floor), St Sepulchre Gate West, Doncaster, DN1 3AP
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Safe and anonymous peer support community that is accessible anytime anywhere. It is FREE for UK serving personnel, veterans and their families.
UK’s leading charity for Veterans’ mental health.
Operate a 24/7 helpline: 0800 138 1619
The Officers’ Association is committed to ensuring that former-officers and their dependents live with dignity and independence.
Offers a Hidden Wounds service which provides free and confidential support to Ex-Service Personnel, their families and the families of those still serving, who are living with anxiety, depression, stress, anger or who wish to change their drinking habits.
Is a 12-month structured support programme with an initial three/five-day residential motivation and training programme for veterans and veteran’s families.
Telephone: 0808 801 0898
Email: enquiries@warriorprogramme.org.uk
Dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and woman who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or loss of sight.
Helps blind ex-Service men and women lead independent and fulfilling lives by supporting them with our in-depth expertise, experience and full range of services
A national disability charity that supports people with complex communication needs to be understood, connected and valued.
Telephone – 0300 330 9250
Text phone – 0300 330 9256
Mesothelioma UK has launched a specialist, UK-wide service for armed forces personnel and veterans, providing support for people with asbestos cancer.
Veterans Hearing Support assist ex-service personnel who have hearing loss or associated difficulties to access the Royal British Legions Veterans Hearing Fund (VHF). The service is free of charge and there is a network of highly trained audiologists across the UK who will complete a full hearing assessment on eligible veterans.
Call – 0333 455 9116
Housing
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St Leger homes provide housing services across Doncaster. They offer platinum priority banding to Armed Forces and former armed forces personnel in urgent housing need within 5 years of discharge.
Telephone – 01302 862862
Offers support for former members of HM Forces facing homelessness
Email – help4homelessveterans@gmail.com
Housing Officer
You can wait and see a Housing Options Officer in person at the one-stop shop at The Civic Building in Doncaster during opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8.30am - 5pm.
Homeless Service
If you are homeless or think that you are going to become homeless then please contact us:
Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 5pm
Telephone – 01302 736000
Emergency Homeless Services
Emergency helpline outside of working hours
Telephone - 01302 323444
The Legion's handy van service helps ex-Service people and their families with small household repairs and minor adaptations.
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Offers advice on all aspects of housing
Civilian housing options, information for service personnel and their dependents.
Telephone – 01252 787574
Email – Rc-aws-jshao-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk
Offers information on independent living housing
The Legion can support you to get funding and grants to adapt your home and receive new equipment.
If you need help getting around then the Legion may be able to provide an electrically powered mobility vehicle, scooter, or buggy visit the British Legion's Webpage.
Provides useful links about civilian housing options
Offers practical housing advice and support to veterans and their dependents
Offers information on service families’ accommodation and single living accommodation
A home buying service for British Forces, forces mortgages supporting Forces Help to Buy, property finding & managing the purchase through to completion
Provides information for all buyers, with a free first time buyers guide, a mortgage finder and a stamp duty calculator
Education
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School Admissions for Service Families information
In 2014, The Schools Admissions Code in England was changed to support Service families, who can apply and be allocated a place before they move into an area. Children can be accepted mid-term and class sizes can be increased beyond the normal maximum to accommodate them.
You can find out more on page 25 of the Schools Admissions Code
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The Moving Schools Pack is to help service parents’ support their children when moving schools
Information about the Service Pupil Premium, including details of the eligibility criteria
Uses books to bring Service children and families closer together. The shared reading initiative encourages families to read, talk, and scrapbook about a book, improving communication and enriching relationships with books and each other - one page at a time.
Children’s Education Advisory Service
Provides expert and impartial advice about the education of service children
Telephone (civilian) – 01980 618244 (Open Monday – Friday 8:30am – 3:30pm)
Telephone (military) – 94 344 8244
Important: When the helpline is closed or busy, messages can be left on the answering machine or sent via email.
Email – enquiries@ceas.uk.com
Employment
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Department for Work and Pensions
- Apply for Universal Credit
- Apply for Job Seekers Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- The Department for Work and Pensions official job search website: www.findajob.dwp.gov.uk/
- You can always use a benefits calculator to see how much better off you will be in work and other benefits you may be able to claim: www.gov.uk/benefits-calculator
TOTAL Training Provision
Fully Funded – Distance Learning Level 2 Short Courses available to the Armed Forces community https://www.total-tp.com/short-courses/
AEB funded qualifications are available to anyone who is looking to upskill in their current profession or to support individuals to gain new skills to enhance their career development.
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Royal British Legion Industries
The Legion supports Service leavers to find employment and can also provide advice and guidance to partners and dependants of serving personnel.
Regular Forces Employment Association
Provides life-long, life-changing support, jobs and training opportunities to service leavers and veterans.
Network Training and Resource Solutions
Successfully deliver resettlement training and work experience for forces leavers with little or no experience in industry or network engineering.
Offers help with job hunting, training and self-employment
The UK’s leading disability specialist, transforming lives, through sustainable employment.
Offers a consultative and informed recruitment service dedicated to those who have served in the Armed Forces.
Offers resettlement support, career transition advice and training opportunities
Exists to help military spouses find a job or start a business that works for them.
Delivers a total wellbeing experience that improves employees' mental, financial and physical wellness via one unified, innovative solution
Provides resources for transition to civilian life
Offers support and advice to current and former personnel that are interested in starting their own businesses.
Quest is a resettlement guide that will give you advice and help you into your new career and training.
A resettlement guide offering advice on hundreds of resettlement opportunities
A national employment charity for veterans with health conditions or impairments
Discounts
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Doncaster Culture & Leisure Trust (DCLT) Armed Forces Community Discounts
Offers discounted fitness training and leisure access to all 14 of DCLT’s venues.
Heroes Welcome Discount Scheme
A number of local businesses across Doncaster show support for our Armed Forces Community, offering special acknowledgements, discounts and upgrades for serving armed forces personnel.
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The official Ministry of Defence discount service for the Armed Forces, Veterans and the Armed Forces Community. It provides discounts both online and on the high street.
A free discount card providing discounts with over 1300 companies
Gives 1/3 off most rail fares throughout the UK for a year
Tickets for Troops provides free tickets to members of the Armed Forces for a variety of sporting, musical and cultural events.
Forces Compare offers unique discounts on financial and legal services for both serving and veterans.
Forces Discount works directly with a range of businesses to bring you exclusive Military discounts for anything from your next holiday or day trip out, to a new car and insurance cover. Please follow the link for more details http://www.forcesdiscount.com/
Wellbeing
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Totol training provision offer free training courses to anyone in or out of work. This is open to the Armed Forces and carer community: https://total-tp.com
Doncaster Armed Forces Breakfast Clubs
Breakfast Clubs are free to attend and provide the opportunity for veterans to meet and make connections with other veterans in the area.
Every Saturday 10 am
The Highwayman Great North Road Woodlands
DN6 7HU
Tel: 07845089799
Second and Last Saturday of the month 10 am
The Classic & Contemporary Coffee Shop, Yorkshire Caravans, Bawtry Road, DN10 6DG
SSAFA Doncaster and Thorne Division Drop-in and Information Centre
Open every Tuesday, 10am - 1:30pm.
Priory Walk, Doncaster, DN1 1TS
Email: doncaster.division@ssafa.org.uk
Tel: 01302 855518
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The Legion provides a range of services to support you through transitions, change, new information or just needing a break.
Offers help to those currently serving and veterans.
Offers a wide range of information about wellbeing, ranging from advice on staying healthy and active, to locating your nearest dentist
The Welfare Team provide accessible support services that strengthen and enhance the resilience and resourcefulness of Naval Service personnel, their families and communities.
Are committed to enhancing the quality of life for veterans and beneficiaries of Veterans UK pensions and compensation schemes and all their dependents.
Offers a range of information on a variety of health aspects
Offers information about different healthcare support and service that are available
Offers a range of support and advice and links to key support organisations
The first point of contact for veterans seeking support
Offer a 24/7 helpline
Telephone – 0808 802 1212
Provides financial, medical and development aid to Gurkha veterans, their families and communities
Project Nova supports Veterans who are experiencing challenging times. They provide a tailored service that identifies and addresses need.
Nova Central Support Telephone – 0800 917 7299
Nova Central Support Email - info.nst@projectnova.org.uk
Nova Central Support Secure Email – info.nst@rfea.cjsm.net