What We Do

These veterans were serving our society when tragedy struck. They were fit and healthy individuals in peak condition. Now they rely on us to give them the best chance of flourishing. Together we can honour their service. Meet the veterans we support below.

OUR
IMPACT

Help for Heroes is needed now more than ever before. Every year, the number seeking our help grows.

When our story began, the media was full of horrifying stories of brave men and women injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our appeal to raise funds quickly galvanised the support of the nation.

Since then, and thanks to the support of the Great British public, we’ve been able to help 32,000 veterans and their families to live well after service.

We support veterans’ physical, mental health, social and welfare needs. Help them to navigate a health service that’s alien and confusing to them. Help them deal with the mental trauma caused by what they have witnessed whilst serving. Some brave men and women only come forward after struggling on their own for many years with hidden wounds.

We’re also out in the communities, running sports, leisure and social activities to help veterans and their families meet others who have been through similar experiences. Our Recovery College courses give men and women the skills, knowledge and confidence to make a success of civilian life.

These life-changing services aren’t available in one place anywhere else and, we’ve seen a year-on-year increase in the number of people seeking our help.

Meanwhile, the number of people donating to military charities has halved.

As a nation, we’re now at risk of leaving behind some of those who need us most. Our very seriously injured cohort is small, but their needs are great. Some have lost limbs, suffered brain injury, or are deaf, blind or paralysed. Many are dealing with long-term mental trauma. Their families have had their lives turned upside-down too.

In 2018 we supported five very seriously injured veterans. We now support 35, and we expect this number to rise. We know there are more out there who will need our help in the years ahead.

We need your support, so that we can ensure no one is left behind.

Three people having run while riding a board that is being pulled along by a boat

SUPPORTING OUR MOST SERIOUSLY INJURED

Many of our most seriously injured veterans will need us for the rest of their lives. We refuse to let them struggle behind closed doors.  

When someone puts their life on the line for our country, they deserve to live well after military service. Every seriously injured veteran in our care receives a detailed recovery plan that’s tailored to their individual physical, psychological and emotional needs.

We work alongside statutory services to ensure care isn’t duplicated. It’s our experienced clinical case managers who are by their side every step of the way, providing tailored and coordinated support that simply isn’t available on the NHS. We relieve the pressure the veterans’ families are under. They’ve had to take on caring roles while dealing with their personal anguish. The practical and emotional support we provide is crucial. 

Access to the right therapy

Before we stepped in, many of the very seriously injured veterans we support struggled to get access to regular therapy, which meant they were plateauing, even regressing, in their recovery journeys.

Our diligent case managers leave no stone unturned in making sure they get the specialist support they need. Physiotherapy. Occupational Therapy. Speech and Language Therapy. Neuropsychology. We work with each veteran to establish what they need to achieve their maximum level of independence. We also have dedicated Occupational Therapists who visit them regularly to assess their needs. They strive to remove any barriers preventing a veteran from carrying out a daily task or activity.

Access to specialist equipment

Our Occupational Therapists help our veterans to establish a meaningful routine. They can also see if a veteran needs a new item of equipment, mobility aid or home modification such as a wheelchair, specialist furniture or an adaptive bed. These items can restore dignity, provide comfort and increase independence.

Ryan

Navy Veteran

Simon

Army Veteran

Stephen

Army Veteran

MEET

OUR VETERANS

VSI is very seriously injured. These veterans need care 24/7 for the rest of their lives. Their injuries are life-long, life changing. We offer a holistic approach to their care and clinical support.

Every very seriously injured veteran's story is special, but it's not possible for us to share every single one. Ryan, Simon and Stephen are just three of the veterans we've supported through the hardships they've faced after leaving the military.

Their stories explain how your involvement can change lives.

Contact Us

If you'd like to know more about our campaign or speak to one of our team about how you can get involved, contact us here.

DOWNLOAD OUR BROCHURE

For full details of the campaign and the need for support, download our brochure.