# Veterans Aid > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Veterans_Aid > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Veterans_Aid.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Aid > Source revision: 1356869955 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/United_Kingdom)-based charity that provides aid to former members of the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy), [Marines](/source/Royal_Marines), [Army](/source/British_Army), [Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force), and [Merchant Navy](/source/Merchant_Navy_(United_Kingdom)), as well as their [widows and widowers](/source/Widow).{{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}} It operates from two locations in [London](/source/London) — a drop-in centre and head office in [Victoria](/source/Victoria%2C_London), and the residential New Belvedere House in [Stepney](/source/Stepney).{{Cite web |title=What we do |url=https://veterans-aid.net/what-we-do/ |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=Veterans Aid}} The charity operates an "[open door policy](/source/Open_door_policy_(business))", with a goal of making its services accessible to all [veterans](/source/Veteran) seeking assistance. == History== Veterans Aid, originally named ''H10'' and later ''The Embankment Fellowship Centre (EFC)'', was established in 1932 to reduce [homelessness](/source/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. The organization was founded by Gwendoline Huggins, whose husband served as [adjutant](/source/adjutant) of the [Royal Hospital Chelsea](/source/Royal_Hospital_Chelsea) from 1932 to 1935.{{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}}{{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}} After seeing homeless veterans in the city and near the [Thames Embankment](/source/Thames_Embankment), she opened ''H10'' in January 1932 at [Lambeth](/source/Lambeth), South London.[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}} In 2007, the charity was renamed ''Veterans'' ''Aid'' in order to more accurately reflect its remit.{{Cite news |title=History - Veterans Aid |url=https://veterans-aid.net/about/history/ |access-date=2017-01-05 |newspaper=Veterans Aid |language=en-GB}} The charity's patron is the [Dowager Viscountess Rothermere](/source/Maiko_Jeong_Shun_Lee%2C_Viscountess_Rothermere).{{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}} == Main activities == The organization has various services, including emergency housing, food and clothing distribution, and referrals to specialized support agencies.{{Cite web |title=How we operate |url=https://veterans-aid.net/how-we-operate/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=Veterans Aid}} Subsequent interventions may include counseling, [addiction treatment](/source/addiction_treatment), [rehabilitation](/source/Rehabilitation_(penology)), debt management, and, where appropriate, access to education and retraining. Veterans Aid has initiatives to identify employment opportunities and to find homes for veterans.{{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}} Veterans Aid participates in the [Mayor of London](/source/Mayor_of_London)'s "Life off the Streets" program, led by London mayor [Sadiq Khan](/source/Sadiq_Khan). The program assisted 5,455 people between March and December 2019.{{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}} ==See also== * [Post traumatic stress disorder](/source/Post-traumatic_stress_disorder) * [Military Covenant](/source/Military_Covenant) * [Homelessness](/source/Homelessness) ==External links== * [https://veterans-aid.net/get-help/ Official website] ==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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Veterans Aid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Aid) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Aid?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.