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Support for veterans and members of the armed forces

Help and support is available for veterans, members of the armed forces and their families in the Stroud district at any time, during and after service. It doesn't matter how long you served or when you left the forces, if you, or someone you know, were in the armed forces under national service, as a reservist or regular service, help is available.

A range of services are available from Stroud District Council and partner organisations to help with your resettlement, or with life events where you need extra support.  

Find information and support for the armed forces community here. 

Stroud District Council’s services include waste and recycling, planning, environmental health, parking, parks and recreation, leisure centres, The Museum in the Park, canal restoration, animal welfare, benefits administration and advice, elections, youth work, upkeep of open spaces including Selsley Common and Cam Peak and Long Down, plus licensing and flood management.   

Other services, like education, social services, transport and highways, are the responsibility of Gloucestershire County Council. 

It is important to let us know you are serving or have served in the military, or are an associated family member, as it may have an impact on the type of service you receive. Being a veteran does not give you priority treatment, but knowing your background can help us understand how best to support you.

Housing

We provide housing advice, temporary accommodation and support if you are at risk of being homeless.  At SDC we guarantee a face-to-face interview for veterans to discuss any housing issues. We can also signpost you to local social groups and other sources of support. Find SDC's Housing Services page here.

Leisure 

We run two leisure centres, Active Lifestyles Stroud (formerly Stratford Park Leisure Centre) and Active Lifestyles Dursley (formerly The Pulse). Veterans and members of the armed forces are entitled to 20% off activities and their gym membership. Bring in your military or veteran ID card to claim your discount. 

Visit Active Lifestyles Stroud District for more information, or call 01453 766771 (Stroud branch) of 01453 546441 (Dursley branch).

Visit Gloucestershire County Council's Armed Forces Covenant page for support for members of the armed forces community across the county.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a statement of support between the community and local armed forces representatives. It recognises the contribution of members of the armed forces, their families and veterans and finds ways the council can support them after leaving the services.  

To make sure the Armed Forces Covenant is adhered to, Stroud District Council has an Armed Forces Champion group. The group includes three councillors, Chair of Council Cllr Kate Kay, Cllr Shyama Ananthan and Cllr Paul Turner, and council officers with useful skills, knowledge and experience, including housing and customer service officers. They meet regularly with local veterans and representatives of veterans' groups to make sure the aims of the covenant are being followed.   

If you would like to raise an issue, you can contact one of the Armed Forces Champion Group councillors: 

Cllr Kate Kay. Email: cllr.kate.kay@stroud.gov.uk 

Cllr Shyama Ananthan. Email: cllr.shyama.ananthan@stroud.gov.uk 

Cllr Paul Turner. Email: cllr.paul.turner@stroud.gov.uk 

Or email armedforceschampions@stroud.gov.uk 

 

There are lots of support groups in the Stroud district where veterans can meet face-to-face in a relaxed, safe, social environment to enjoy banter, combat loneliness and enjoy the company of people with shared experiences (often with breakfast). 

We do our best to ensure the details here are up to date, but if they aren’t, or you would like your group added, please contact us. 

Email: armedforceschampions@stroud.gov.uk 

For more social groups in the county, visit Gloucestershire County Council's veterans' webpage.

SSAFA supports Armed Services regulars and reserves, veterans, and their families. This includes National Servicemen, widows/widowers, partners, and dependent children. To be eligible, personnel need just one day of paid service. The range of support offered is at the link below while personnel who may need support in Gloucestershire should contact the SSAFA Southwest Regional Office on 020 4566 9131 or southwest.region@ssafa.org.uk

Help For Heroes supports members of the armed forces community with their physical and mental health and a range of welfare issues. If you are in pain, feel anxious, stressed or lonely, have money trouble, need support with housing or applying for benefits, or just need a listening ear, Help for Heroes can help.  The charity can also provide one-off grants to support clinical and daily living needs, and short-term cost-of-living challenges.  You can call their helpline on 0300 303 9888, lines are open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (calls are charged at your standard network rate) or, alternatively, submit an online form here.

The Veterans Charity supplies vital provisions including food shopping, clothing, household goods, utilities support, smartphones/tablets and even temporary emergency accommodation. 

The Royal British Legion provides grants to help with urgent assistance to get through a temporary crisis or if you need help at home. The RBL also offers recovery programs featuring adaptive sports, adventurous training, and arts projects. 

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust delivers funding programmes worth £10m a year.

WRAC Association Support for women who served and are serving in the armed forces. Call 0300 400 1992 or email info@wraca.org.uk for more information. 

Op FORTITUDE works with individual veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, supporting them either into suitable accommodation or supporting them to maintain their current home.

The Office for Veterans' Affairs provides useful information and a directory of support available to veterans and their families.

Veterans UK: Support for veterans and their families, including a helpline, Veterans Welfare Service, Defence Transition Services and injury/bereavement compensation scheme payments. Veterans UK is part of the Ministry of Defence. 

Apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card

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. It’s free to apply.

Tell your GP

Tell your GP you have served in the armed forces. It doesn't matter how long you served or when you left the armed forces. Ask for the term 'military veteran' to be recorded in your patient record and you will have access to specific veterans’ health services.

Find out how the NHS can help if you're in the British armed forces or are a veteran, a reservist or a family member of someone who is serving or who has served.  

Veteran's travel card

You may be entitled to a free Veteran’s bus travel card, if you are seeking employment in the county. Visit Veteran's Travel Card for more details.

Armed Forces Day  

Armed Forces Day is a chance for people to show their support for the men and women who make up the armed forces community: from currently serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets. There are many ways for people, communities and organisations across the country to show their support and get involved.  

Armed Forces Day takes place on the last Saturday each June.  

Reserves Day  

Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that if their country required them, they would be ready to serve as part of the military.  

Reserves Day was created to highlight and recognise the valuable contribution Reservists make to the armed forces. 

The Poppy Appeal 

The Poppy Appeal is the Royal British Legion’s largest fundraising campaign and takes place every year in the run up to Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.  

The Poppy Appeal relies on volunteers to raise vital funds for veterans, active service personnel and their families. Funds raised provide crucial support for the armed forces community, including housing, debt and money advice, mobility assistance, and employment support. 

If you would like to volunteer to collect funds for The Poppy Appeal, contact your local branch to find out how you can help. Find your local branch here.