The Veterans Gateway
The Veterans Gateway launched in 2017 can put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.
We have been working with organisations across the Solent to add local service information to the Gateway.
Drop-in Services
Meeting up with like-minded people is a good way to get peer support and access other services. There are several places you can do this locally:
This monthly drop-In is a welcoming and relaxed place for UK veterans and their direct family members to come for confidential welfare or psychological support or simply to meet for a sociable chat. You do not need to make a prior appointment – just drop-in.
Age UK Portsmouth Veterans Breakfast Club
Takes place on the second Friday and the last Friday of every month from 10am to 12pm at the Bradbury Centre. All ex-service personnel are welcome to come along, together with their partners, to socialise with other veterans, take part in the banter and enjoy a great breakfast.
Family hubs are where our early help and prevention team provide some of their support to families, as well as where our behaviour management surgeries and groups are delivered. These used to be called children’s centres but have been expanded to include help for children and young people up to 19 years. All families, including service families are welcome in our family hubs.
Home-Start for Forces Families
Home-Start helps armed forces families with children up to 12 years old, particularly at times of heightened anxieties. These might include key transition points of rebasing, deployment and transition. In Portsmouth their RNRMC project includes a weekly stay and play session. This gives a space for parents to meet others while children enjoy weekly activities and play.