Support for veterans and their families in Northern Ireland
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-24)

Find out about welfare, specialist healthcare and advocacy support available to veterans and their families in Northern Ireland.

Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland (VWS NI) provides one-to-one support to veterans, their families and dependants through a network of Welfare Managers across Northern Ireland. We work with the Royal Navy, the British Army, the Royal Air Force, the Office of Veterans Affairs, Local Authorities, Voluntary Organisations and Service Charities to promote independence and maintain dignity. This page provides information about the services VWS NI provides to veterans, their families and dependents - and other stakeholders in the veterans’ community.

Welfare

On-going need to reduce the detrimental effects of military service on the veterans’ community has led to the provision of welfare staff based in Field Teams throughout Northern Ireland who provide emotional and moral support and can signpost/facilitate access to specialist expertise from across a wide range of statutory bodies and charities, including benevolence funding.

Our aim is to provide a confidential, trusted service that supports each veteran or dependant through an individual care package, addressing their needs in a holistic manner.

All UK Armed Forces Veterans are eligible for this support, which in some cases - depending on the circumstances - also extends to bereaved parents, widow(er)s and dependants.

Medical

A specific medical response for timely Physiotherapy and Psychiatric/Psychological Interventions is available to eligible veterans to counter physical and mental conditions caused by or made worse by military service.

Engagement is by specialist, trusted medical service providers with experience in the treatment of ex-service personnel and, in certain circumstances, their families. When treatment is requested, the potential client’s eligibility to use the service is confirmed and the VWS NI Medical Service provider will then invite the client for a clinical assessment to determine their suitability for treatment.

Once the client and therapist have together agreed that benefit could be gained from the range of medical services on offer and the presenting condition has been verified by the IA as being Service related, treatment will commence. All initial assessments for Psychiatric/Psychological therapy take place in Belfast with subsequent treatment offered closer to the client’s home.

Clients seeking Physiotherapy will be initially assessed at Holywood – albeit those living outside the Greater Belfast area may be offered subsequent treatment closer to their home.

Medical services eligibility

All UK Armed Forces Veterans domiciled in NI and RoI, whose presenting conditions are attributable to or exacerbated by their time in service are eligible for support subject to appropriate eligibility criteria in keeping with the Armed Forces Covenant. In certain circumstances – determined by VWS NI - immediate family members may also be eligible for medical interventions when in relation to the eligible Veterans’ presenting condition or service.

Psychiatric/Psychological assessment and (where applicable) subsequent treatment is available to eligible UK Armed Forces Veterans - and in certain circumstances their family and dependents - whose presenting condition is Service related. This service is available by various means including Face to Face, by telephone or through an IT based platform. All contracted clinicians are fully accredited, security cleared, and the interaction is conducted within the clinical guidelines of confidentiality.

Physiotherapy is available to eligible UK Armed Forces Veterans in NI whose presenting condition is Service related or exacerbated by their Service Eligibility may be extended to the carer of the eligible veteran if their presenting condition is of a direct result of caring for the veteran.

This service is not a replacement for the NHS/HSC and proof of non-availability from statutory services may be required particularly for Physiotherapy.

Benevolence Funds

The Ulster Defence Regiment

The Benevolent Fund exists to help those former members of the Regiment and their dependants who are in need, because of sickness, disability, accident, infirmity, poverty or other adversity.

All applications and supporting documentation are accepted without prejudice, and decisions, while at the absolute discretion of the UDR Benevolent Fund Trustees, are based on need being adequately demonstrated, and the type of assistance requested being permitted under the Benevolent Fund Trust Deed.

An application submitted through VWS NI will be processed by the Benevolent Fund Office with the decision and any relevant paperwork being returned to VWS NI to enable them to advise the applicant accordingly.

The Royal Irish Regiment Benevolent Fund

The Royal Irish Benevolent Fund was established as a charitable trust in 1992 on the formation of the Regiment. The aim is to render aid, financial or otherwise, to soldiers and veterans, their widows and/or dependants who are in need or in financial difficulties.

This fund is managed by several Trustees who are either still serving, retired or closely associated with the Royal Irish Regiment and its antecedent formations. All former soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment or any of its predecessor, whether General Service, Home Service or Territorial Army/Reservist, together with their dependants, are eligible for assistance. This might include helping veterans to improve their chances of success in civilian employment, to provide opportunities for veterans to keep in touch through organised activities and to foster and further the well-being of the Regiment.

The Trustees have a legal duty of care to ensure that the fund is managed prudently and effectively in meeting its charitable objectives and with due consideration of its long-term viability. To ensure that applications for help are properly processed staff from Regimental Headquarters the Royal Irish Regiment will assess need. An application for support may then be submitted to the Trustees, who will exercise discretion granted to them under the terms of the Trust Deed in deciding whether the application meets the fund’s charitable objectives. Support provided by the fund is then administered by RHQ R IRISH for the Trustees. Applications for benevolent support should be submitted to RHQ R IRISH directly THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT CHARITY - 1052056 (https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fregister-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk%2Fen%2Fcharity-search%2F-%2Fcharity-details%2F1052056%2Fcontact-information&data=05%7C02%7CDBSCS-InternalCommsTeam%40mod.gov.uk%7C9bd14b071c914fc0277b08de2b6c3a10%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C638995940980141315%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nV2oivwx731Ie6yQyxvbELPCL5YTTge%2Bwwdekgz%2FXHI%3D&reserved=0).

Signposting

VWS NI can signpost/facilitate access to a range of partner organisations and statutory bodies. Strong relationships have been forged with various military charities, welfare agencies and organisations which may be able to help in areas outside the VWS NI immediate remit. Our trained and experienced caseworkers can advise and assist in this process.

Respite Apartments

The allocation of apartments is administered by VWS NI using eligibility/priority criteria agreed by the Trustees of the Benevolent Fund. All completed applications should be sent to the relevant Field Team. Please note, you must have served in the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) to be eligible to apply.

Respite Apartment Application Form

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68d14ca98c739d679fb1dbe1/Ringhaddy_House_Respite_Application.docx)

Ringhaddy House Respite Application Form (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68d14ca98c739d679fb1dbe1/Ringhaddy_House_Respite_Application.docx)

MS Word Document, 37.2 KB

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68d3cb82275fc9339a248c2e/Ringhaddy_House_Respite_Application_Form_.odt)

Ringhaddy House Respite Application Form - Accessible Version (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68d3cb82275fc9339a248c2e/Ringhaddy_House_Respite_Application_Form_.odt)

ODT, 29.1 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-open-document-formats-odf-in-your-organisation) format

Contact us

Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

The Headquarters of VWS NI is situated in Holywood Co Down with a further four field teams located in Coleraine, Portadown, Enniskillen and Holywood.

Regional Field Teams

North (Coleraine Area) - xx-xxxx-xxxx South (Portadown Area) - xx-xxxx-xxxx East (Holywood Area) - xx-xxxx-xxxx West (Enniskillen Area) - xx-xxxx-xxxx

A member of the team will:

A member of the team will conduct a Holistic Assessment of a client’s needs and provide the necessary advice, guidance and support to enable and empower the client to address their queries/issues as appropriate.

Search the Roll of Honour

You can search the Roll of Honour database for UDR, R Irish (HS), R Irish (GS), Rangers and Regimental TA members and ex-members who were killed during Operation Banner, 1969 to 2007.

Search the Roll of Honour (https://www.gov.uk/search-armed-forces-memorial-roll-of-honour)