In crisis? Find out how you can get urgent support

If you need support urgently or outside of our working hours, please don’t hesitate to contact

SAMARITANS

Freephone their Veterans Support Hub for the military community on 0808 175 3075 (24/7) or email jo@samaritans.org – to access confidential emotional support for feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.

SHOUT

A crisis text support service for people in the military community who are struggling and need immediate support to get through a crisis. Text CONTACT to 85258. #TextCONTACT85258

NHS 111

To access medical help fast but when it’s not a 999 emergency, telephone 111 (available 24 hours). To access information from the NHS on conditions, treatments, local services and healthy living, visit the NHS website.

COMBAT STRESS

For urgent psychological support, please call 0800 1381619.

SHELTER

For urgent housing support, please call 0808 800 4444.

Do you want to learn skills to help you to move forward in your ongoing recovery?

Do you want to gain clarity about your direction in life as a civilian after service?


What is Veterans Moving Forwards?

Veterans Moving Forwards: Building a Brighter Future is a face-to-face group course delivered by experts and peers trained by Help for Heroes. Sessions are run in other Recovery Colleges across the UK - find out where your local one is further down the page.

By the end of the course, you will be equipped with skills to move forward in your own journey, focusing on ways to empower you to navigate life’s challenges and build a brighter future. This course is suitable for all military Veterans regardless of when or where you served.

    What will I learn?

      • Understand how the human mind works and the impact of how your mind is shaped by your experiences.
      • Review your health and wellbeing and the positive changes you can make to your lifestyle.
      • Learn and apply different tools to help you review your priorities and set actions.
      • Recognise barriers to change and learn how to face them.
      • Discover the benefit of thinking/planning ahead and review your reflection skills.
      • Refresh and recap on your learning, review your support networks and develop an action plan for your future.


      Course structure and duration

      • Some Recovery Colleges may plan for a meet and greet session prior to starting the course (but this is the decision of the community-based Recovery College)
      • 6 x 3 -3.5 -hour modules over six consecutive weeks.

      This is an in-person course, and you will be required to travel to your local Recovery College. If you have any issues with this, please discuss this with your local community-based Recovery College.

      HOW DO I ACCESS THE COURSE?

      Do you have a local Recovery College in your community?

      We are gradually increasing the network of organisations offering Veterans Moving Forwards. Currently the following NHS Recovery Colleges are delivering the course:



      For organisations to deliver this course, they must attend our four-day in person training opportunity. 

      The planning (such as course scheduling) preparation and delivery of this course is then the responsibility of the Recovery College in your local community. If you are interested in attending a Veterans Moving Forwards course, we advise you contact your local Recovery College to establish when they are due to run the next course.

      Everything about this course was above anything I could have wished for.”

      Veteran

      Student on Veterans Moving Forwards Course

      How can my Recovery College get involved?

      We are always looking to increase the number of partnerships across the UK and are eager to work with new Recovery Colleges to deliver this course. 

      If you are an existing Recovery College and you would like to learn more about this opportunity to improve the support available to Veterans in your community, please get in touch by emailing recovery.college@helpforheroes.org.uk.

      There are veterans everywhere in our country, having this course on your list of offered courses would be an asset to any area of the country.”

      Veteran

      Veterans Moving Forwards Approved Facilitator employed by the NHS