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Urgent help

Where to get support or advice in an emergency or crisis

Female blind veteran's hands resting on her lap

Blind Veterans UK provides lifelong support to vision-impaired ex-Servicemen and women and their families.

If you need help or want to discuss applying for support, you can call our helpline on 0800 389 7979 from Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, excluding bank holidays.

If you need urgent support outside of these hours or are experiencing a crisis, please contact one of the organisations below.

Emergency services

999 If you have a medical emergency, where someone is seriously ill, injured or their life is at risk, call 999.
111 If you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do, call NHS 111, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Visit 111 website

Mental health support

Samaritans

Samaritans provides emotional and practical support to people in crisis to prevent suicide and self-harm. They listen without judgement and are available 24/7.

Phone: 116 123

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Visit Samaritans
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Mind

Mind is a mental health charity that offers information and advice about emotional wellbeing. Their phoneline provides a non-urgent information and signposting service.

Phone: 0300 123 3393

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm, excluding bank holidays

Visit Mind
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Rethink Mental Illness

Rethink Mental Illness provides an advice and information service on a wide range of mental health topics such as The Mental Health Act, community care, welfare benefits and carers’ rights.

Phone: 0808 801 0525

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 1-4pm, excluding bank holidays

Visit Rethink Mental Illness
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Togetherall

Togetherall is a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing. All Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families have free access.

Visit Togetherall
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Shout 85258

Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. To start a conversation, text SHOUT to 85258.

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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NHS Op COURAGE

Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, Armed Forces veterans and their families.

Visit the NHS
Op courage logo

Bereavement support

Bereavement Advice Centre

The Bereavement Advice Centre provides practical advice and support to those dealing with the death of a family member or friend.

Phone: 0800 634 9494

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, excluding bank holidays

Visit Bereavement Advice Centre
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Cruse Bereavement Support

Cruse Bereavement Support is a bereavement charity that supports people after the death of a loved one.

Phone: 0808 808 1677

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday. Times vary, see website for details

Visit Cruse Bereavement Support
Cruise Bereavement Support logo

Veterans’ support

Veterans’ Gateway

Veterans’ Gateway puts veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the advice and support they need.

Phone: 0808 802 1212

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 8am - 8pm

Visit Veterans' Gateway
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Combat Stress

Combat Stress helps ex-Servicemen and women deal with issues like PTSD, anxiety and depression. They provide specialist treatment and support for veterans from every service and conflict, focusing on those with complex mental health issues.

Phone: 0800 138 1619

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Visit Combat Stress
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Sapper Support

Sapper Support is the only 24/7 PTSD helpline staffed by veterans and 999 personnel. They give emotional and physical support to sufferers of PTSD and other associated mental health issues.

Phone: 0800 040 7873

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Visit Sapper Support
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Help for Heroes

Help for Heroes provides recovery support to service personnel who have been wounded in the line of duty, and their families. Their Hidden Wounds service supports veterans who are living with anxiety, depression, stress, anger, or wish to change their drinking habits.

Phone: 0300 303 9888

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Visit Help for Heroes
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Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families, offering advice on recovery, rehabilitation and transitioning to civilian life.

Phone: 0808 802 8080

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 8am – 8pm

Visit the British Legion
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SSAFA

SSAFA helps the Armed Forces community by providing direct support to individuals in need of physical or emotional care.

Phone: 0800 260 6767

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5.30pm

Visit SSAFA
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Veterans UK

Veterans UK administers the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, the War Pension Scheme and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. They also provide a dedicated welfare service and freephone 24-hour helpline for veterans and their families.

Phone: 0808 191 4218

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm

Visit Veterans UK
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NHS Op RESTORE

Op RESTORE is an NHS service that ensures those who have served in the UK Armed Forces access the right NHS treatment for significant, continuing physical injuries and illnesses caused by their time in the Armed Forces.

Visit the NHS
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Sight loss support

RNIB

RNIB recognises everyone’s unique experience of sight loss and offers help and support accordingly.

Phone: 0303 123 9999

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am – 8pm, and Saturday, 9am – 1pm

Visit RNIB
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Guide Dogs

Guide Dogs helps people with sight loss to live actively and independently. From getting around safely to dog care and welfare, they offer a variety of services to support those living with sight loss.

Phone: 0800 781 1444

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Visit Guide Dogs
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Macular Society

Macular Society is on a mission to beat macular disease for good. From information about the latest research to practical advice and emotional support, they support anyone who has been diagnosed with macular disease.

Phone: 0300 3030 111

Visit Macular Society
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Sight Advice FAQ

The Sight Advice FAQ answers questions about living with sight loss, eye health or being newly diagnosed with a sight condition. This includes those who are supporting people through their sight loss journey, including parents, partners, carers and friends.

Visit Sight Advice FAQ
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Support for older people

Age UK

Age UK is dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life and overcome the challenges that come with ageing. They tackle loneliness, provide advice and information, and support people to stay independent for longer.

Phone: 0800 055 6112

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 8am – 7pm

Visit Age UK
Age UK

Independent Age

Independent Age offers free information, advice and help for older people on issues such as care and support, money and benefits, and health and mobility.

Phone: 0800 319 6789

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 6.30pm, excluding bank holidays

Visit Independent Age
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Silverline

Silverline is a free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and support to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Phone: 0800 470 8090

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Visit Silverline
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Support for carers

Carers UK

Carers UK provides expert advice, information and support to carers throughout the UK.

Phone: 0808 808 7777

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm

Visit Carers UK
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