{{multiple issues| {{peacock|date=January 2017}} {{Primary sources|date=March 2026}} {{pov|date=March 2026}} }} {{Infobox nonprofit |name = Veterans Aid |logo = |location = 27 Victoria Square, London SW1W 0RB |type = Charity |website = www.veterans-aid.net |num_staff = 25 |formation = 1932 }} '''Veterans Aid''' is a UK-based charity that provides aid to former members of the Royal Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, and Merchant Navy, as well as their widows and widowers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VETERANS AID - Charity 1095308 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3996442/governing-document |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
It operates from two locations in London — a drop-in centre and head office in Victoria, and the residential New Belvedere House in Stepney.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=What we do |url=https://veterans-aid.net/what-we-do/ |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=Veterans Aid}}</ref>
The charity operates an "open door policy", with a goal of making its services accessible to all veterans seeking assistance.<ref name=":2" /> == History== Veterans Aid, originally named ''H10'' and later ''The Embankment Fellowship Centre (EFC)'', was established in 1932 to reduce homelessness among military veterans in London who were suffering from poverty and unemployment at the time. The charity started as a canteen and recreation room for destitute ex-servicemen.<ref name=":1" />
The organization was founded by Gwendoline Huggins, whose husband served as adjutant of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 1932 to 1935.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-12-15 |title=War artist's cartoon resurrected by Veterans Aid in WW1 centenary year |url=https://veterans-aid.net/war-artists-cartoon-resurrected-veterans-aid-ww1-centenary-year/ |access-date=2017-01-05 |newspaper=Veterans Aid |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Skitt |first=Laura |date=2022-04-05 |title=Veterans Aid marks 90 years of helping homeless veterans in crisis |url=https://www.forcesnews.com/military-life/forces-charities/veterans-aid-marks-90-years-helping-homeless-veterans-crisis |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=www.forcesnews.com |language=en}}</ref> After seeing homeless veterans in the city and near the Thames Embankment, she opened ''H10'' in January 1932 at Lambeth, South London.<ref>[http://www.veterans-aid.net/history.html Veterans Aid History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005152351/http://www.veterans-aid.net/history.html|date=October 5, 2011}}</ref>
In 2007, the charity was renamed ''Veterans'' ''Aid'' in order to more accurately reflect its remit.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=History - Veterans Aid |url=https://veterans-aid.net/about/history/ |access-date=2017-01-05 |newspaper=Veterans Aid |language=en-GB}}</ref>
The charity's patron is the Dowager Viscountess Rothermere.<ref>{{cite web |title=VETERANS AID WELCOMES LADY ROTHERMERE AS PATRON |url=https://veterans-aid.net/veterans-aid-welcomes-lady-rothermere-as-patron/ |website=Veterans Aid}}</ref>
== Main activities == The organization has various services, including emergency housing, food and clothing distribution, and referrals to specialized support agencies.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=How we operate |url=https://veterans-aid.net/how-we-operate/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=Veterans Aid}}</ref>
Subsequent interventions may include counseling, addiction treatment, rehabilitation, debt management, and, where appropriate, access to education and retraining. Veterans Aid has initiatives to identify employment opportunities and to find homes for veterans.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://veterans-aid.net/what-we-do/|title=What we do - Veterans Aid|newspaper=Veterans Aid|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-01-05}}</ref>
Veterans Aid participates in the Mayor of London's "Life off the Streets" program, led by London mayor Sadiq Khan. The program assisted 5,455 people between March and December 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What the Mayor is doing to tackle rough sleeping |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/housing-and-land/homelessness/what-mayor-doing-tackle-rough-sleeping |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=london.gov.uk}}</ref>
==See also== * Post traumatic stress disorder * Military Covenant * Homelessness
==External links== * [https://veterans-aid.net/get-help/ <nowiki>Official website</nowiki>]
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Homelessness charities in the United Kingdom Category:British veterans' organisations Category:1932 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Organizations established in 1932