Get Support
Supporting the Armed Forces community in Ashford
If you are a serving member of the Armed Forces, a veteran, a reservist, or a family member, you may be entitled to additional support. Some services offer priority access or special consideration for the Armed Forces community.
When contacting any organisation or service, always let them know that you are part of the Armed Forces community, as this may affect the support available.
+ Health and Wellbeing
For
Serving personnel, veterans, reservists and family members seeking physical or mental health support.
What support is available
Support is available for physical health, mental wellbeing, trauma related conditions and ongoing care following service. Some services are specifically designed for veterans and their families.
You may be entitled to
Priority NHS treatment for service related conditions and access to specialist veteran mental health services.
Find help through
Healthcare and welfare support for veterans, service leavers and non mobilised reservists, including help with physical health conditions linked to service and support after leaving the Armed Forces.
A free, confidential listening and support service for serving personnel (regulars and reserves), veterans and their families – independent of the military chain of command.
- Call 0800 731 4880
- Freephone, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Royal British Legion – Physical & Mental Health Support
A national information and advice service providing health and wellbeing guidance for veterans and their families.
- Call 0808 802 8080
- Freephone, 8am–8pm, seven days a week
A specialist mental health helpline for anyone affected by service related mental health issues, including family members.
- Call 0800 138 1619 (veterans and families)
- Call 0800 323 4444 (serving personnel and families)
- Freephone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Interpreting service available
Op COURAGE – Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
An NHS led mental health service providing specialist support for veterans.
- Call 0300 365 2000 (South East)
- Calls charged at standard landline rates (usually included in call packages). Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm (excluding public holidays)
A UK charity supporting veterans and their families through mental health services, employment support and care coordination.
- Call 03300 585 800
- Calls charged at standard landline rates (usually included in call packages). Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm (excluding public holidays)
Blind Veterans UK supports ex service men and women of every generation who have experienced sight loss. The charity provides rehabilitation, training, practical advice and emotional support to help blind and vision impaired veterans regain independence and live the life they choose. Support is available regardless of how or when the sight loss occurred.
- Call 0300 111 2233
- Calls charged at standard landline rates (usually included in call packages). Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm (excluding public holidays)
RAF Benevolent Fund Group Calls Service
The RAF Benevolent Fund provides a Telephone Friendly Group offering support to RAF veterans and their partners or widows(ers) to meet new people. The calls connect up to six people at the same time each week for up to an hour with the aim of reducing social isolation and loneliness. The calls are hosted by trained volunteers who are on hand to make sure they run smoothly, and people are grouped together with similar interests and experiences.
- Call 0300 102 1919
- Freephone lines are open 8.00am-4.30pm Monday-Friday
+ Housing and homelessness
For
Anyone in the Armed Forces community who is homeless, at risk of homelessness or needs housing advice.
What support is available
Local authorities and specialist organisations can provide housing advice, homelessness prevention, emergency support and access to suitable accommodation. Members of the Armed Forces community may receive additional priority or flexibility due to service.
You may be entitled to
Exemptions from local connection rules and additional consideration based on service history.
Find help through
Ashford Borough Council – Housing and Homelessness Services
Housing advice, homelessness prevention and emergency support for residents of Ashford.
- Call 01233 331111
- Monday to Friday, office hours
A government backed referral pathway supporting veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness into suitable housing or tenancy sustainment. Veterans can self refer.
- Call 0800 952 0774
- Freephone
SSAFA – Housing Advice and Advocacy
Practical, impartial housing advice for veterans and their families, including support with temporary accommodation, housing applications and referrals to specialist services.
- Call 0800 260 6780
- Freephone
A specialist housing provider offering supported accommodation and outreach services for vulnerable and disabled veterans.
- Call 020 7385 2110
- Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
A leading UK housing charity providing affordable rented homes for veterans and their families across the country.
- Call 020 8685 5777
- Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
+ Money, benefits and debt advice
For
Serving personnel, veterans, reservists and family members who need financial guidance or support.
What support is available
Free, confidential advice is available to help with benefits, budgeting, debt management and financial planning during and after service.
You may be entitled to
Financial assistance, charitable grants or tailored benefits advice recognising Armed Forces service.
Find help through
SSAFA – Welfare, Benefits and Financial Support
SSAFA provides practical financial support, benefits advice and can help access charitable grants or emergency assistance for members of the Armed Forces community and their families.
- Call 0800 260 6780
- Freephone, Monday to Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–4pm
Royal British Legion – Benefits, Debt and Money Advice
Specialist advice on benefits, debt, compensation and access to grants for serving and ex‑serving personnel and their families.
- Call 0808 802 8080
- Freephone, 8am–8pm, seven days a week
A Ministry of Defence service offering advice on Armed Forces pensions, compensation schemes, benefits and welfare support.
- Call 0808 1914 218
- Freephone, Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm
Free, impartial advice on benefits, money management and debt, including guidance specific to the Armed Forces community.
A national charity providing free, confidential debt advice, budgeting support and practical debt solutions.
- Call 0800 138 1111
- Freephone, Monday to Friday 8am–8pm, Saturday 9am–2pm
+ Employment, skills and training
For
Service leavers, veterans, reservists and family members seeking work, training or career advice.
What support is available
Specialist support is available to help translate military skills into civilian employment, access training and qualifications, or re enter the workforce after service.
You may be entitled to
Specialist careers advice, funded training and routes into Armed Forces friendly employment.
Find help through
Career Transition Partnership (CTP)
The Ministry of Defence’s official resettlement service, providing career advice, training courses and job opportunities for service leavers. Available to serving personnel and recent service leavers.
Employment, training and mentoring support for veterans, reservists and family members, including help with CVs, interviews and job matching.
- Call 0121 262 3058
- Calls charged at standard landline rates (usually included in call packages). Monday to Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–4pm
Free, impartial careers guidance, skills assessments and training information for adults, including veterans and spouses.
- Call 0800 100 900
- Freephone
Jobcentre Plus – Armed Forces Champions
Specialist advisers within Jobcentre Plus offering tailored employment support for veterans and the Armed Forces community.
+ Support for families and carers
For
Partners, spouses, children and carers of serving personnel, reservists and veterans.
What support is available
Support is available for families affected by deployment, transition to civilian life, caring responsibilities, injury or bereavement. Services include emotional support, practical advice, advocacy and help navigating education, health and welfare systems.
You may be entitled to
Targeted family and carers’ support services and additional consideration due to your connection to the Armed Forces.
Find help through
SSAFA – Forcesline and Family Support
Confidential emotional, practical and welfare support for serving personnel, veterans and their families, including carers and those experiencing bereavement.
- Call 0800 260 6767
- Freephone, Monday to Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–4pm
Royal British Legion – Family and Carer Support
Advice, advocacy and practical help for families and carers in the Armed Forces community, including specialist support for carers and bereavement.
- Call 0808 802 8080
- Freephone, 8am–8pm, seven days a week
Army Families Federations and RAF Families Federation
Independent organisations providing confidential advice and guidance to service families on issues such as housing, education, employment, healthcare and overseas postings.
- Call 01264 554004
- Calls charged at standard landline rates (usually included in call packages). Monday to Wednesday 8:30am–3:00pm, Thursday 10am-3pm, Friday 8:30am– 1pm, Friday 9am–4pm
A charity supporting children of serving personnel through resources, activities and wellbeing programmes, helping them cope with separation, mobility and school transitions.
Veterans UK – Family and Bereavement Support
Government support for families of veterans, including welfare advice, bereavement guidance and access to compensation and pension information.
- Call 0808 1914 218
- Freephone, Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm
Age UK are keen to reach veterans in the community and can assist with shopping, prescription collections, hearing aid batteries, hot meal delivery and can provide free information and advice.
- Call 01233 668765
- Calls charged at standard landline rates (usually included in call packages). Monday to Friday 9am–3pm
School and young people
Armed Forces families often have to move at short notice within the UK and from abroad. If you are a member of the UK Armed Forces or a Crown Servant with a confirmed posting to Kent, you can apply for an in year admission to a Kent School through Kent County Council.
There are active Cadet organisations for all branches of the Armed Forces in the Ashford area. If you are interested in learning more about the Cadets or joining, you can visit pages for the Sea Cadets, Army Cadets, Royal Air Force Cadets or Royal Marines Cadets.
Need help finding the right support?
If you are unsure where to start, or need help navigating support services:
- Email: communitycovenant@ashford.gov.uk.
- You can also contact SSAFA Forces Line for confidential guidance if you’re not sure which service is right for you.
+ Additional Support Options
You can also access wider Armed Forces support through Forces Connect, a free app developed in partnership with local authorities and Armed Forces organisations.
Forces Connect brings together local, regional and national support services in one place, making it easier for serving personnel, veterans and their families to find help across areas such as health, housing, employment, family support and crisis services. The app is free to use, contains no advertising and does not require users to share personal information.
Forces Connect complements but does not replace support provided by Ashford Borough Council and its partners.
+ Guidance for Nepalese (Gurkha) Residents
Members of the Nepalese (Gurkha) Armed Forces community and their families may face specific challenges when accessing health, wellbeing and support services in the UK.
The Armed Forces Network and the NHS have produced tailored guidance to help Nepalese residents understand the support available to them, including how to access healthcare and other local services.
Available downloads:
Nepalese Armed Forces Guidance [pdf] 404KB – information on health, wellbeing and support services available to Nepalese members of the Armed Forces community.
- Improving Support For Armed Forces Families Nepalese Questionnaire [docx] 180KB – to help identify needs and improve support for Nepalese families
These resources are intended to help ensure Nepalese residents receive appropriate support and are not disadvantaged when accessing services.
+ Other welfare routes (Service-specific support)
In addition to local council services and national charities, service‑specific welfare organisations provide practical, confidential support to serving personnel, veterans and their families. These services understand the unique nature of military life and can help with welfare, family matters, deployment issues and access to specialist support.
Royal Navy / Royal Marines Welfare Team
Dedicated welfare support for serving Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel and their families, including advice during deployments, family separation, health concerns and personal matters.
Independent information, advice and guidance for Royal Navy and Royal Marines families on a wide range of welfare issues, including housing, education, health and family life.
- Call 023 9265 4374
The Army provides welfare assistance to serving personnel and their families, including deployment support, legal and personal welfare advice and access to confidential guidance services such as Forcesline.
Welfare support for RAF personnel and families, covering areas such as accommodation, education, financial matters and family wellbeing during service and transition.
South East Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (SERFCA)
Support for Reservists and Cadets across the South East, including welfare signposting, employer engagement and support for Reserve and Cadet units and their families.
