Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust is committed to supporting the UK’s Armed Forces community both individuals who have served in the Armed Forces and individuals affiliated with the Armed Forces, including military family members and dependants.
The values held by members of the Armed Forces community also align closely to the NHS ways of working and values, with particular emphasis on service, commitment and respect.
We are proud to hold Veteran Aware accreditation.
We have received Gold Level Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award.
We were a pilot organisation for the Step Into Health initiative that connects skilled candidates from across the Armed Forces Community with employers and new opportunities in the NHS and continue to support and encourage ex service personnel into our workforce.
How we support our staff
- We have a dedicated reserve forces training and mobilisation policy
- We guarantee interviews for service leavers, veterans and reservists who meet the essential criteria for roles
- We ensure additional paid annual leave for reservists and cadet adult volunteers to attend their annual camps
- We support reservists and their managers with mobilisation and demobilisation
- We have an active Armed Forces staff network
Below are some useful links to external bodies and organisations that can help and support members of the armed forces community:
National organisations
Combat Stress - for serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families
The charity Combat Stress provides self-help advice on their website. They offer mental health helplines for 24/7 confidential advice and support
Veterans and their families helpline:
Serving personnel and their families helpline:
You can also text on 07537173683 and email helpline
Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) - for serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families
Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) 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
Help for Heroes - for wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans, and their families
The Help for Heroes charity provides physical, psychological, financial and welfare support to wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, and their families. 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
The Royal British Legion gives advice and support on wellbeing on their website and through their community branches. For additional advice and support, the Royal British Legion also have an online chat and helpline that is open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
Helpline: 08088028080
Service Families Federations - for serving personnel and their families
The 3 Service Families Federation offer independent and confidential advice on a range of issues for all service families.
SSAFA - for serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families
SSAFA 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:
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
Togetherall is a mental health support service that provides anonymous, round-the-clock online support, with trained counsellors available at all times. There's a supportive community and lots of free resources that all armed forces personnel, reservists, veterans and their families can use at any time.
Veterans Gateway - for veterans and their families
Veterans Gateway provides wellbeing support and advice on their website and with their 24/7 Live Chat, text messaging and helpline.
Helpline: 08088021212
Text chat: 81212
The Veterans Gateway live chat
Walking with the Wounded - for veterans and their families
Walking with the Wounded offers support services for a range of issues, such as mental health, employment, criminal justice and addiction. Their website offers information on how to be referred to their services
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
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, offers advice and support through their local support officers. Blesma also provides financial assistance to help with the additional costs of disability.
Blesma phone number:
Blind Veterans - for veterans who have experienced sight loss and their families
Blind Veterans offers community groups, rehabilitation and support with care as well as advice on their website.
Phone number:
Salute Her UK - for women veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma and their families.
Salute Her UK provides a support service which offers mental health therapy and interventions for women survivors of military sexual trauma in a single sex environment.
Fighting with pride - for LGBT+ serving personnel, veterans and their families.
Fighting with Pride advise on how to get help and provide information for LGBT+ members of the armed forces community.
Addiction charities
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
AA is a free self-help network. Its "12-step" programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups. AA believes people with drink problems need to give up alcohol permanently.
SMART Recovery
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.