Urgent help
Where to get support or advice in an emergency or crisis
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
Read more
Apply for support
We help blind veterans of any generation, regardless of how or when they lost their sight.
How we help veterans
Find out how we help ex-Servicemen and women turn their lives around.