Key Agencies & Support Services

If you or someone you know is a veteran in contact with the police, courts, prison, or probation services, the following statutory pathways and voluntary sector organisations provide specialized intervention and support.

1. Specialist Justice & Early Intervention Programmes

• Op NOVA (Forces Employment Charity)
  Delivered by the Forces Employment Charity and commissioned by NHS England, Op NOVA provides specialist support for veterans in contact with the justice system across England. They offer practical, emotional, housing, and healthcare referral assistance to help reduce reoffending.
  • Freephone: 0800 917 7299
  • Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Care after Combat
  A national charity dedicated to providing mentorship, prison-in-reach, and wrap-around support for former British Armed Forces personnel within the justice system and their families. Care after Combat works in close partnership with Op NOVA to support veterans transitioning out of prison.
  • Helpline: 0300 343 0255 (24/7)
• SSAFA – Veterans in the Criminal Justice System (VCJS)
  SSAFA operates a UK-wide network of Prison-In-Reach volunteers offering practical, emotional, and financial support to imprisoned veterans and their families, assisting with rehabilitation and positive community re-entry.

2. Devolved & Regional Services

• Op NOVA Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland
  Dedicated justice support pathways tailored to the specific legal systems and local referral routes across Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, this includes direct early-intervention referral arrangements with Police Scotland custody suites.
• Sacro – Veterans Mentoring Service (Scotland)
  Provides one-to-one mentoring and support for veterans living in Scotland who are in the criminal justice system or at risk of offending, helping them address underlying social, financial, or mental health challenges.

3. Health, Wellbeing & Specialist Needs

• NHS Op COURAGE (Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service)
  The primary NHS mental health pathway in England tailored specifically for veterans. Op NOVA and other justice agencies work directly with Op COURAGE to ensure veterans in custody or on probation receive appropriate care.
• Combat Stress
  The UK's leading charity for veterans' mental health, offering clinical treatment and support for complex mental health conditions, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
  • Helpline: 0800 138 1619 (24/7)

4. General Welfare, Housing & Legal Guidance

• GOV.UK – Help with Criminal Justice Issues for Veterans
  Official UK government guidance outlining statutory support pathways across the police, courts, prison, and probation services.
• Veterans' Gateway
  The main first point of contact for veterans seeking support across housing, employment, finances, and physical/mental health.
  • Phone: 0808 802 1212 (24/7)