London Veterans Partnership: Better Together
London Veterans Partnership seeks to build a strong, supportive and inclusive network with London’s ex-Forces community at its centre. In doing so it will help veterans gain access to services, overcome barriers and explore new opportunities to support positive mental health and reduce social isolation.
Partner organisations will work together to support London veterans in the following ways:
- London Veterans Partnership will strengthen its members’ ties and working relationships to build a strong, supportive and inclusive network, with veterans at the centre.
- Inclusivity is vital. The partnership will seek to offer support to all members of the ex-Forces community in London, including their families, partners and support networks, and particularly those who may encounter barriers to accessing services.
- London Veterans Partnership will use its collective strength to advocate for the ex-Forces community, ensuring that veterans’ voices are heard and the challenges they face are addressed.
- Veterans will be able to easily access a range of services offered by partners. They will understand the opportunities that are available and will be able to move easily between them.
- Veterans won’t have to keep re-telling their story or prove their identity in order to access different services.
Funded by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, the partnership is part of the Veterans’ Places, Pathways and People programme, which provides grants to ensure places of safety and pathways of support across the UK.
As portfolio holder in London, The Poppy Factory coordinates activity across the partnership and distributes project funding to other partners.
Veterans supported through the partnership can access The Poppy Factory's specialist employment service, which provides one-to-one support to help members of the ex-Forces community overcome barriers on their journey towards employment.
To contact London Veterans Partnership, please email lvp@poppyfactory.org
If you are a veteran or a professional working with the ex-Forces community, please sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter below and join the London Veterans Partnership group on LinkedIn.
The London Veterans Partnership calendar is the central point for veterans looking to attend events/activities across London.
Project Partners
Community Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services will build on its existing mental health and life support for veterans, primarily in south-west London with outreach to other areas.
Veterans will receive tailored, structured support to improve mental health and reduce suicide risk, and longer-term support to enhance their life through activities.
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Defence Medical Welfare Service will embed a new medical welfare officer in Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust to provide a listening ear, support referrals to other organisations and assist with each individual’s presenting issues.
Solutions will be person-centred and enduring. Findings from the project will be shared with other hospitals within London.
The Fighting Chance will provide a programme of non-contact boxing training, advocacy, mentoring support, social events and outdoor activities. The boxing training is inclusive and designed for people of all abilities – the participation of veterans’ families is actively encouraged.
Veterans will also have opportunities to access individual support, get practical help with training and employment and be part of a wider veteran support group.
Fighting with Pride will work with organisations in London to adopt its new Pride in Veterans Standard, which includes training and resources around support for LGBT+ veterans. It will actively reach out to LGBT+ veterans who may feel lonely and isolated, working to create safe spaces where they connect with others who have similar lived experience.
FirstLight Trust will launch a London café hub, providing easy, street-level access to veterans without stigma. It will follow the model of the trust’s five existing café hubs across the UK, where qualified support workers and activity coordinators are on hand to support veterans and make referrals.
The Ripple Pond will provide peer-led support for unpaid carers supporting loved ones who have been physically or psychologically injured during service, helping veterans’ family members and partners to increase their awareness, skills and abilities as carers and building improved resilience and wellbeing.
Stoll, which provides housing and support services for London veterans, will work with partners to offer access to its health and wellbeing activity programme. It will work with The Poppy Factory to launch the Navigator Programme, supporting veterans with complex mental health needs to find meaningful activity that supports positive mental health and wellbeing and increases independence.
More you might like
- Read how The Poppy Factory supported London veteran Daniel into employment
- Video: See how The Poppy Factory changed veterans’ lives during the pandemic
- See more news from The Poppy Factory