POhWER recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our charity and our country. We are proud to announce that as of August 2024, we have signed up to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. 

Our Commitments:

We will be ensuring we promote the Armed Forces Covenant on our website alongside promotion and awareness on both our online and recruitment processes and will be looking to review this commitment annually, this will include a guaranteed interview for those who are serving, Veterans and Spouses providing they meet the minimum required criteria for the vacancy ensuring we give those under the covenant the opportunity to make us aware at point of application . 

As part of our recruitment practices, we provide a robust recruitment process to ensure all applications are on the merit of someone’s experience and interview which ensures members of the Armed Forces Community do not face disadvantages arising from their service in the provision of public and commercial services.

As part of our polices we ensure we accommodate for special provision that may be justified, especially for those who have given the most, such as the injured or bereaved.

We will support Armed Forces Day, Reserves Day, the Poppy Appeal Day and Remembrance activities with promotion on both our website, social channels and internal communications via our Intranet.

For more about the Covenant and what it means for you, visit the gov.uk Armed Forces Covenant page.

Where to seek support

Whether you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, these support groups can offer expert advice. For immediate support in an emergency please call 999. For urgent mental health support you can contact:

Combat Stress – for Veterans mental health

Combat Stress provides a range of community, outpatient and residential mental health services to veterans with complex mental health problems. Services are provided in-person, and via phone and online.

• Call the helpline: 0800 1381619 - open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Text: 07537 173683
• Email: [email protected]
• or visit the Combat Stress website

The Samaritans

Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

• Free phone: 116 123
• Email: [email protected]
• visit the Samaritans website.

The Samaritans also has a free Veterans app that can provide you with emotional support after your career in the Armed Forces. Find out more about it on the Samaritans Website.

Op Courage: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

Op Courage is a new NHS service that provides specialist care for those Armed forces veterans suffering from a mental health crisis. The new service  combines the Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS), the Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS) and the Veterans’ Mental Health High Intensity Service (HIS). This means that veterans can access the most suitable level of service for them.

• Call 0800 652 2867
• or email [email protected]. 

The Op Courage urgent care and support service is accessible by healthcare referral only. For more information visit the NHS website.

Op FORTITUDE – Veterans Homelessness Service

Op FORTITUDE is funded by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund to deliver a centralised referral pathway into veteran supported housing. An organisation called Riverside, will work nationally with individual veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, supporting them either into suitable accommodation, or supporting them to maintain their current home.

Further details can be found on the Riverside Website.

Referrals to Op FORTITUDE can be made via the online referral form, or by calling 0800 9520774