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Advice and Support for the Armed Forces

Having signed the Armed Forces Covenant we are committed to providing a range of support for current and former armed forces personnel and their families.

This webpage aims to bring together in one place useful information, advice and support services available, both locally within Clackmannanshire and nationally.

A list of useful sources of support can be found on the Armed Forces Covenant website and local contacts are listed below:

Local Help

Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS)

The Royal British Legion Scotland exists to promote remembrance & comradeship and in partnership with other ex-Service charities, to be responsible for the provision of welfare, benevolence and pension support of ex-Servicemen and women and their dependents throughout Scotland.

For more information on RBLS Clackmannanshire and District, please contact John Barrett, Chairman for the branch:

Wee County Veterans

Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP)

ASAP has been created to be the focal point for the Armed Forces Community in Scotland for access to advice, information and support.

ASAP is provided by the Scottish Citizens Advice Bureau Service, a highly trusted network with decades of experience delivering a free, independent, confidential and impartial advice and information service to the general public.

For more information, please contact Ally Gemmell:

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA)

SSAFA provide practical support and assistance to servicemen and women, veterans, and the families of both, every single day of the year.

For more information, contact:

SSAFA Stepping Stone Homes

SSAFAs Stepping Stone Homes based in both the North East and the South of England provide short-term supported accommodation, help and advice to female service or ex-serving personnel, the female spouses or partners of serving or ex-serving personnel, and their dependent children.

Support is also provided to women without children or whose children may be living elsewhere temporarily, those seeking accommodation due to welfare needs, and Foreign & Commonwealth cases. The above list is not exhaustive. Each case will be considered individually.

Our homes provide a comfortable, secure and female-only place to stay for as long as it takes the resident to get back on their feet. From our clean and well-maintained communal spaces to private areas for each resident to make their own, we make our houses like home for however long the resident is with us.

The schemes are also registered with local authorities as refuges for those fleeing domestic abuse and, as such, their locations are not to be disclosed to the public.

Reasons to Refer:

  • Homelessness
  • Domestic Violence
  • Foreign & Commonwealth (NRPF)
  • Compassionate
  • Respite/short break
  • Relocation

For more information, please contact:

  • e: longside@ssafa.org.uk
  • Website: SSAFA

Scottish Veterans Fund

A fund that helps a wide range of projects to support veterans. For more information, please visit the Veterans Scotland website.

Career Transition Partnership

The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is the Ministry of Defence working with Right Management. Service leavers of all ranks from the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines can all benefit from resettlement support, career transition advice and training opportunities.

Full details can be found here:

Alloa JobcentrePlus

Scottish War Blinded's Clackmannanshire Outreach Service

Scottish War Blinded's Clackmannanshire Outreach Service provides free support to ex-servicemen and women who lost their sight during active service, as well as those who have developed visual impairments in later life. Our local support worker works together with members to help them stay independent and maintain and improve their quality of life after sight loss.

The Linburn Centre in West Lothian welcomes veterans for a range of social activities, vision rehabilitation, independent living skills training, and groups frequently go on adventurous activities. The centre is a friendly welcoming environment that has been specially designed for people of all ages who have lost some or all of their sight. Veterans from the Clackmannanshire area can access free transport to and from the centre.

For more information please contact

Clackmannanshire Works

Clackmannanshire Works services aim to promote a healthy labour market in Clackmannanshire.

We aim to support business to grow and develop and individuals to build the skills and attributes that they might need to get a job or start their own business.

For more information please contact

National Organisations

  • Help For Heroes supports veterans and serving personnel who have been wounded or injured, or have become sick, as a result of serving their country. Additionally their families and dependents receive support from the Charity as they care for their loved one, and adapt to the new challenges that they face.
  • Poppyscotland is the leading Scottish charity offering practical support to ex-Service people, their families and dependents in need.
  • Combat stress provides a dedicated service for Veterans whose mental health condition is often complex and long term.
  • The Ministry of Defence offer a wide range of information.
  • The Money Advice Service offer free, unbiased and independent advice.
  • Veterans UK administers the Armed Forces pension schemes and compensation payments for those injured or bereaved through service and provides welfare support for veterans.
  • Veterans Bereavement Support Service was created by those who have served in the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy for those who serve and have served and to ensure that they have full access to a specialist bereavement support network at the time of need for their family and friends.
  • HM Armed Forces Veterans Card Examples of some of the benefits of having a Veterans Card are available via the GOV.UK website.

Health

  • The local NHS Forth Valley contact for veterans, reservists and their families for information about entitlement and access to NHS Services is as follows:
    • Andrew Murray
      Medical Director and Armed Forces Champion
      NHS Forth Valley
      Carseview House
      Castle Business Park
      Stirling
      FK9 4SW
      t: 01786 463031
  • NHS Choices provides information on the NHS, conditions and treatments and Health Services near you.

Housing

As part of our Housing Allocation policy Clackmannanshire Council recognises that ex-service personnel and their families can face particular housing challenges as they leave the Armed Forces. In line with the Scottish Government's commitment to ex-services people, and in accordance with the Armed Forces Community Covenant, Clackmannanshire Council will ensure that ex-service personnel returning to this area are not disadvantaged.

Feedback & Comments

This page is provided as a portal for information about advice and support available to serving and retired Armed Forces personnel both locally and nationally, if you feel we have omitted any useful information then please don't hesitate to let us know by using the Contact Us form.

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