Serving Suffolk Families, Past & Present
Suffolk has a long history of supporting its Armed Forces Community.
Funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and the Veterans Foundation, Suffolk Family Carers is proud to be part of this support through its Serving Suffolk Families, Past & Present project.
We know that family carers from the Armed Forces Community face similar challenges to other family carers, but we also recognise that armed forces service, whether current or previous can add a different dynamic to life – It can also open up other routes for information and support.
Our Serving Suffolk Families Team works with those from the UK Armed Forces community in Suffolk, this includes those currently serving and their families, (including single accompanied, couples, dispersed families and those on deployment), those who have previously served and their families, reservists and their families. Also, those who did their National Service.
The connection to the UK Armed Forces can be with the family carer or the person being cared for.
Our Serving Suffolk Families team can offer:
- Emotional and wellbeing advice
- Advice with practical issues
- Signposting to other agencies and teams within Suffolk Family Carers if relevant.
- Opportunities to meet with other family carers.
Importantly, the team would like to find out from you, what you need support with, and how we can work together to achieve that.
Our team can offer support by telephone, email, online meetings or sometimes in person in the community. We also attend events at our local UK Armed Forces bases and out in the wider community.
“Much of the project’s work focuses on raising awareness and helping people become informed about the rights, entitlements and services that are available, including information about The Armed Forces Covenant. In our experience, many family carers who are from the Armed Forces are reluctant to seek help, and many, especially those who completed their national service, do not realise they are considered a veteran.”
Kate Hinchliff, Serving Suffolk Families Project Lead
I'm serving in the UK Armed Forces
- I am currently serving or a Reservist
- My partner/spouse is currently serving
- My partner/spouse is a Reservist
- My family member is currently serving
- My family member is a Reservist
I'm a UK Veteran
- I am a Veteran
- I have served in the UK Armed Forces
- I have completed UK National Service
- I am caring for a Veteran
- I am caring for someone has served
If you are living in Suffolk, and are part of the UK Armed Forces Community, past or present and have a caring role or you are caring for someone who is part of the community please take a few minutes to register yourself with Suffolk Family Carers
Find out about how we supported Armed Forces Family Carers out in the Community
Funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has enabled us to develop a dedicated workshop, Armed Forces Family Carers Connected. This provided a series of information and support sessions for family carers in the armed forces community and this document highlights our learning from the experience.
Tips for Supporting Unpaid Family Carers
Family and unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting others, often facing emotional, practical, and informational challenges along the way.
This guide is designed to empower those who support carers – whether professionals, volunteers, or community members – by providing practical tips, essential resources, and guidance on navigating confidentiality, wellbeing, and access to support. By listening, offering information, and connecting carers to local and national services, we can help build their confidence, resilience, and independence, ensuring better outcomes for both carers and those they care for.
Helpful Links and Organisations
The Passport helps service personnel balance care responsibilities with work needs.
Supporting Armed Families worldwide
The Covenant is in place to help members of the Armed Forces community have the same access to Government and commercial services and products as any other citizen. It can provide support with education and childcare, healthcare, housing and accommodation, employment and financial service.
We know that when you’re caring for someone with dementia it can be hard to find the time to look after yourself. Our Admiral Nurses are there to support you, and those you’re caring for, to get the help you need.
We offer telephone support, and home visits can also be arranged if required.
To request support please call the freephone number – 0808 802 8080, or email ANsupport@britishlegion.org.uk for help looking after a loved one with dementia.
A helpline for Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force personnel and their family members who are victims and survivors of Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence or Stalking.
Blind Veterans provide rehabilitation, training, practical advice and emotional support to veterans regardless of how or when they lost their sight. They help blind veterans regain their independence and live the life they choose.
The Bridge for Heroes’ vision is to provide members of the Armed Forces Community with support and facilities which promote good health and well-being, in order for them to lead meaningful lives. Call them on: 0300 111 2030
To help veterans and ex- uniformed services personnel who are struggling in any way to get the support they need and find their place in the world
Provides clinical treatment and support for veterans from the British Armed Forces, focusing on those with complex mental health issues resulting from their experiences during military service.
Defence Discount Service is home of the Defence Privilege Card, the official MoD discount service for the Armed Forces, Veterans and Armed Forces Community. Discounts available both online and on the high street.
DMWS provide a high-quality medical welfare service to those who have and continue to serve the nation including treatment for mental health issues such as PTSD, alcohol and drug abuse, help finding safe housing and meaningful employment.
Fighting With Pride supports the health and wellbeing of LGBT+Veterans, service personnel and their families – in particular those most impacted by the ban on LGBT+ personnel serving in the Armed Forces prior to January 2000.
Before then, thousands of LGBT+ service personnel were removed or forced from service and abandoned, after serving with pride. In the years ahead it is their aim to restore the military covenant and bring this community back into the military family.
Fighting With Pride is working with Veteran supporting organisations to build capacity for LGBT+ Veteran support, to recognise their service and help resolve the challenges they face in their lives beyond military service.
FWP is a ‘lived experience’ LGBT+ charity, supporting those seeking help and a resource for those who seek to help them.
It’s a new scheme being trialled in conjunction with Greater Manchester Police. Its aim is to reduce the risk of harm to service veterans, reservists and currently serving members of the armed forces who go missing by enabling swift access to key information that can help the police find the person more quickly.
Frontline Families offers courses on understanding mental health, supporting mental health, and understanding trauma.
We understand that there is less support for the partners, families and friends of those serving or ex-military personnel. This service is here to give you knowledge, practical skills, and the confidence to support yourself and those around you.
Give Us Time offers respite breaks to UK military families, partnering with donors to provide them with the chance to spend time together and to reaffirm their family bonds and strengthen relationships.
Advice, support, rehabilitation and support services to anyone (over the age of 16) who has, during their lifetime, sustained a brain injury through traumatic accident, stroke, virus, tumour, neurological condition or other similar event.
When a parent or carer’s life has been affected by military service, it can affect the whole family.
Help for Heroes family case managers work with veterans and their families to help plan, oversee, and co-ordinate the support everyone needs.
If you think they can help you, they’ll be beside you and your family every step of the way, to help with any challenges you may face.
For carers of people who may be at risk of going missing (e.g. due to a mental health, learning disability or dementia) the Herbert Protocol is the collation of key information about the person in advance, which can be given to the Police immediately in the event of them going missing, to save valuable time.
An HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a way to prove that you served in the UK Armed Forces. The card can make it quicker and easier to apply for support as a veteran.
The foundation tries to provide a support network for bereaved military families, veterans’ families and serving military families and be inclusive of recent terrorist actions. It also supplies respite care in the form of retreats located around the UK
Hotel Holiday Accommodation for British & Commonwealth ex-armed service men and women
Kitchener’s is a unique Suffolk based charity (registered charity no. 230090) offering holidays and short breaks in Lowestoft, on the East Coast, for serving and veteran enlisted members of His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Merchant Navy, and emergency service workers.
tel: 01502 573564
A bespoke drug and alcohol service offering confidential advice and support to current and ex HM Forces personnel and their families, across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire.
Advice and support to empower Royal Navy & Royal Marines Families
The Not Forgotten provide a varied programme of social activities, outings, respite and challenge breaks for veterans and wounded serving personnel which improve physical and mental health, address isolation and loneliness, and promote a sense of community and balance.
Bringing veterans together, lifting spirits, supporting partners and families and transforming lives.
The service does not have a caseload but is designed to offer wraparound care in collaboration with other NSFT services, Op Courage and specialist agencies.
Any Veteran who is already receiving care from another of our services can be referred to the Veterans Integrated Service by Wellbeing services or secondary care.
The local community mental health team must remain engaged with veterans who have complex needs or are in crisis.
This service provides:
- A veteran specific assessment of need,
- Co-produced care plan
- Access to the veterans stabilisation group 16 week programme,
- Drug and alcohol support,
- Welfare support,
- Family andcarers support.
A number of veteran drop in support groups are also available to access.
Staff can provide consultation support to NSFT teams when required. This may include attending assessments to give a military perspective, advice or to support teams who may have veterans on their caseloads by recommending relevant services outside of NSFT. They can also offer veteran-specific training to teams.
The service provides support, not just for those that have served, but the wider community including carers and families.
Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, veterans and their families.
Op FORTITUDE is the government-backed centralised referral pathway designed to support veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
Op RESTORE, The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service is an NHS service that supports individuals who have served in, or are leaving, the UK armed forces and have continuing, physical health injuries and related medical problems attributed to their time in the armed forces.
The Poppy Factory supports veterans with health conditions and their families into employment, helping them overcome any barriers.
Support for RAF families and personnel
The Ripple Pond support adult family members of physically or psychologically injured British Armed Forces personnel and veterans.
The Royal British Legion is the nation’s leading Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families in the following areas: care and independent living, physical and mental wellbeing, financial and employment support and local community connections.
Help and long term support for bereaved military children.
Provide support to the Armed Forces community in the following areas: joining civvy street, military families, older veterans, welfare and benefits, disability support and mental wellbeing.
For serving members of the Armed Forces or veterans, advice on what benefits, grants or other financial support may be available to you and your family including a benefits calculator
Supported by the Veterans’ Foundation, Veteran Connect offers personalised, localised support and improved access to existing services.
Veterans’Gateway can provide help 24/7 across housing, mental wellbeing, finances and more.
Regional services for Veterans working together in partnership- The Bridge for Heroes are pleased to be working with the following organisations on these projects: Combat 2 Coffee, Veterans Central West Raynham SHQ, Veterans Community Network, The Poppy Factory, James Paget University Hospital, Suffolk Family Carers and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
Serving Suffolk Family Updates
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