We are Help for Heroes, one of the UK’s leading Armed Forces and veterans charities. Thanks to you, we are able to give veterans and their families one less battle to fight.

When you join the Armed Forces, you’re trained to push your mind and body to the limit. You’re placed in the most dangerous and difficult of situations; possibly risking your life to keep others safe. But what can be even harder, is life after the military. For that there’s no training. 

Imagine losing your job, home, identity, way of life, and a support network that’s like your family. Almost overnight. Now imagine all of that, while trying to cope with serious physical pain and mental trauma. That’s what life looks like for many veterans. Some have lost their limbs, their eyesight, suffered severe brain injury, or are now paralysed. For many, this is when the real battle begins.

At that moment, the civilian world is scary and confusing. Just when you need them more than ever, you’ve no longer got your mates around you. People you trusted your life with.

The response – to shut yourself off from the world. Not knowing where to turn for support. At Help for Heroes, we make sure veterans are not alone.

Thanks to your kindness, our counsellors are on hand to help unpick the mental trauma of sights they’ve seen and dangers they’ve faced, maybe years or even decades earlier.

We have specialist teams who help people improve their physical health and fitness. Community activities like our Choir bring veterans and families together, helping to combat loneliness and isolation.

The conflicts may be over. And the wars veterans are now facing don’t make the headlines. But we haven’t forgotten them. And we’re heartened to know that supporters like you haven’t forgotten about our veterans either.

With your support, we’re still changing and saving heroes’ lives.

We support all veterans no matter when, where or how long they served.

Whether or not their injuries or illnesses are a direct result of their military service.

Wherever they live in the UK.

Whether they were a regular or a reservist.

Serving personnel who are in the medical discharge process to ensure continuity of care.

Anyone who worked alongside the military, such as interpreters who served on the frontline in Afghanistan or war correspondents.

The families of all the above.

‘HELP FOR HEROES MADE ME FEEL THAT LIFE IS WORTH LIVING AGAIN.’

Chloe experienced depression and sensory overload. Her father then passed away and she split from her partner. 

“I struggled to get out of bed. I didn’t want to shower or leave the house.

“I felt worthless and lost all my self-confidence. I was alone in the world with no family. My closest friends lived on the other side of the world or were still serving.

“I was suicidal and didn’t know where to turn. I needed help. So, I called Help for Heroes, and I’m so glad I did.

“I was assigned a case manager and referred to the Hidden Wounds team for mental health support. My psychologist was amazing. As was the support from my case manager Jock, and my clinical lead, Fletch, who helps with my physical healthcare. They made regular calls to check in on me.

“Their weekly virtual get togethers have given me a social life. I’ve enjoyed walks, kayaking, archery and segway sessions, which were hilarious. We went to rugby games in Edinburgh. That all built up my confidence and social skills again.

“I did all the Recovery College courses, such as Nutrition and Mind, Mood and Body. They helped me understand me and where I was at.

“This Charity has given me my life back and helped me believe in myself again. It’s given me the support and strength to move forward and carry on living.”

Last year we supported 175 Afghan civilians who worked alongside the British military.

They worked in roles such as interpreters and cultural advisors, often on the front line with UK troops, providing crucial information that saved lives.

As the Taliban were seizing power, their lives were in grave danger because of their service to the British military. The Ministry of Defence got some of them to the UK through a resettlement scheme.

Often they arrived with only the clothes on their backs. Thousands of miles from home, penniless, jobless, and in a state of shock, their lives were turned upside down.

Many have sustained injuries from bomb blasts, lived underground in fear of the Taliban, and now suffer extreme PTSD and nightmares.

We provided Army veteran John with an automatic front door, so he can leave his house on his own.

John has multiple sclerosis and is dependent on a wheelchair to get around. He needs the support of others to do some of the most basic of daily tasks, including eating.

“Having spent so much time indoors unable to go out, unless someone let me out, felt like being in prison. I now have freedom again. That’s euphoric.

“My support dog Casper and I sometimes get the bus into town. Or we’ll go to the park. I throw the ball and Casper chases after it. He’ll bring it back all slobbery, but I don’t care one bit. It’s wonderful being out in the fresh air. I visit friends and family and go to appointments on my own.

“I love having my independence again.”

That’s all thanks to your support

Your generosity has also made it possible for John and his partner Claire to go on our free sporting and recreational activities.

Claire said: “John’s disease is getting worse. We need to find every moment possible to make the most of life now.

“The Help for Heroes team has changed our lives by offering us the opportunity to get out of the house and make memories; giving John a sense of purpose and a reason to fight his deteriorating health.

“Some might be misled into thinking these are ‘just activities’ but to us and others, they’re a lifeline.

“The quality of activities we’ve been involved with, cooking workshops, outdoor sports, fishing trips, visits to places of interest and craft workshops have been second to none and make us feel that some luck comes from our difficult situation.

“Despite our challenges we feel valued and live a quality, fulfilled life because of these Help for Heroes activities.”

Thanks to our generous supporters – our donors, fundraisers, partners, grant funders and volunteers – our veterans and families continue to receive world-class support.

It covers many areas of an individual’s life, and it’s carefully tailored to anyone and everyone who needs it. This level of personalised support isn’t available in one place anywhere else.

AND IT’S MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE

With your kindness and our understanding of the veteran community, together we’re able to create innovative solutions to very real and serious problems, such as isolation, veteran suicide, pain, mental trauma, unemployment and poverty.

These solutions are drastically improving the lives of veterans and their families. People who risked so much to keep us safe.

But please don’t let up. The mission is far from over. Thousands of veterans and their families are today in desperate need of support.

Together we can be here for our heroes, for as long as they need us.

OUR AMBITIONS

To continue to help members of the Armed Forces community live well after service, our focus in 2022/23 is to:

• Ensure our support services are responding to unmet need, and that they help veterans and families manage their physical and mental health, and welfare issues.
• Improve knowledge and understanding within the community we support, so that people can manage their situation and live independently.
• Work collaboratively with partner organisations so people we serve have the best possible support services, and to avoid duplication of effort and resources within the sector.
• Make it easier for people to get the help they need, by improving access to our services.
• Improve awareness of the support we offer.
• Reduce stigma within the Armed Forces community around asking for help.
• Continue to tackle loneliness and isolation among veterans and their families, by helping people make positive connections in their local communities.