The Veterans’ Adviceline for Statutory Professionals

The Veterans’ Adviceline for Statutory Professionals (VASP) Service – a Northern Ireland signposting service, which offers assistance and advice with issues such as State Benefits, War Pensions, physical, mental and emotional health and suitable referral to Veteran organisations – has embedded itself into the framework of many Statutory bodies such as Police and Mental Health Services.

Project Manager Mark Ewing explains: “It has literally been transformative and life changing for some of the clients, by lifting them from severe financial hardship and destitution; assisting them to obtain State Benefits, War Pensions, Troubles Related Pensions, and various grants.”

The VASP Service has also been able to provide emergency accommodation in crisis cases where homeless and intimidated Veterans had nowhere else to go, thereby giving them time to register with the appropriate statutory bodies.

The VASP Service has dealt with crisis calls including suicide. It has directed about 36% of the enquirers to appropriate Veteran mental and physical health organisations to address the needs of the client.

Mark concluded to say: “The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has, by their generosity and kindness, delivered a valuable and much needed service which has helped over 1,200 Veterans in Northern Ireland.”