Veterans Aid

Veterans Aid is a UK charity providing support to ex-servicemen and women (Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, RAF or Merchant Navy), and their widows and widowers.

The organization operates from two locations: a Drop-in Centre/Head Office in central London (Victoria) and a residential home called New Belvedere House in east London (Stepney).

The primary focus of the charity is to prevent and address crises, especially when they pose a risk of homelessness.

History
Veterans Aid was originally established in 1932 under the name EFC - The Embankment Fellowship Centre. It was created in response to the issue of homelessness arising from poverty and unemployment within the ex-service community in London.

The charity was founded by Mrs. Gwendoline Huggins, whose husband served as the Adjutant of The Royal Hospital Chelsea from 1932 to 1935. Deeply moved by the sight of former servicemen sleeping on the streets of London and along the Thames Embankment, she decided to take practical action. This led to the opening of H10 in January 1932, a canteen and recreation room in Lambeth, South London dedicated to destitute ex-services personnel.

In 2007, the charity underwent a name change to become Veterans Aid, and its mission expanded from addressing homelessness to encompass all issues affecting veterans in crisis.

The patron of the charity is Dowager Viscountess Rothermere.

Main activities
Broadly speaking, the charity's activities are centered around providing assistance to ex-servicemen and women facing crises. Specifically, they address various factors contributing to these crises, with a strong focus on preventing homelessness. Recognizing homelessness as both a cause and a consequence of dysfunction, the charity's efforts encompass a wide range of charitable activities. The primary goal is to help veterans in crisis regain their ability to lead productive, independent lives.

One of the key initiatives of the charity is the commitment to "No First Night Out", where immediate assistance, including food, new clothing, and safe accommodation, is provided to individuals seeking help and meeting the necessary criteria.

Additional interventions may include counseling, addiction treatment and rehabilitation, debt management, and, when appropriate, access to education, retraining, or the development of new skills. The charity also assists in identifying employment opportunities, and once veterans are deemed ready, it helps them find appropriately furnished homes.