How We Help

Beyond the Battlefield was formed as a charity to look after the well being of the Ex-service community in both parts of the island of Ireland.

The charity fulfils a number of roles which will concentrate on working with a group of counsellors in order to assess and treat Ex-service people who can experience a variety of symptoms and problems that indicate they are experiencing from Post Traumatic Stress disorder.

This service is open to all veteran service personnel from the Armed Forces, the Police and Emergency services through to anyone who because of service or indeed through their connections to the services has or is experiencing PTSD.

Beyond the Battlefield carries out a number of roles which include treatment of PTSD, the associated problems which could be Stress, Alcohol Abuse, Drug or, domestic Abuse, Suicide, Bereavement, Financial Difficulties, Relationship difficulties, Self harm, and trauma.

The Charity also performs a series of different tasks which will improve the lives of the Ex-service Community.

These include:

• Forming a befriending service.




• Ensuring veterans are aware and are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled.




• Lobbying government to change the law on things like unemployment and sickness benefits.




• Other areas such as Housing veterans require additional support in relation to homelessness, our work in this area includes the development of a veterans centre, incorporating bedrooms for homeless veterans.

Northern Ireland is unique in that it has just come out of over 40 years of conflict. During that time there are estimated to be over 140,000 people who have served in Northern Ireland, be it in a combat role or emergency services.

Following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement no thought was given to the future needs of service people and how they and their families would cope with the trauma they had endured over the 40 years.

Many service people have and still are experiencing the trauma they were required to endure as part of their jobs, and most at the moment, because of lack of understanding by health and housing professionals are experiencing this trauma in silence.

Beyond the Battlefield offers help, support, and brings attention to the needs of veterans and their families. Following the conflict, those who served their country and their communities were largely forgotten. Veterans were simply discharged and little thought was given as to how they would integrate into general society. Many veterans have found this transition very hard and some have found it impossible, hence the reason for the many suicides, marriage break ups and addictions experienced by the ex-Service community.

Much work is needed to develop all services offered to veterans in Northern Ireland, whether these be statutory, voluntary or community, to ensure services are not only inclusive of veterans but fully reflect the needs of veterans and their families.

Beyond the Battlefield is a Northern Ireland based charity developing evidence based support for the needs of the ex-Service community. In mental health for example our counsellors conduct professional assessments to establish client needs. Our counsellors then take the necessary information and use it to ensure all our clients are given the best possible chance to overcome the difficulties they have presented with which could include lobbying and campaigning for policy changes.

Volunteers are welcome within all areas of the work of Beyond the Battlefield, there are options to serve in different capacities within the charity. Our aims and objectives are to ensure that the comradeship and trust our members had whilst serving their country can be given back to them through being part of and participating in the therapeutic and social events the charity is engaged in.

Beyond the Battlefield is a charity who listens, treats, and gives on-going advice and support to the many courageous veterans and their families who feel they have been forgotten.

• All members are entitled to counselling for PTSD.
• Every member will be entitled to a war pension heath check. If entitled a small charge will be made for carrying out the assessment and submitting the documentation plus any reviews or appeals required.
• Help with housing issues and entitlements to grants or housing benefits.
• Help with applying for benefits and advice on entitlements and help with form filling.
• We will work with the Veterans UK to ensure medal entitlements are pursued and received.
• We will be dealing with widow entitlements ensuring our widows are given the respect and pensions they deserve.
• We will provide pipers ‘buglers and advisors for military funerals within the family’s wishes and where a member is entitled there will be a cost for this, but only the expenses of the people involved.
• We have secured the help and assistance of local politicians in sourcing funding and lobbying for change in housing and benefits veterans are entitled to on completion of service.
• We intend to seek further funding to sustain our veterans centre in Portavogie to enable veterans to have a place to go in the event of a financial burden or crisis leaving them in need of a place to live.

• Beyond the Battlefield aspires to have members in every city, town, and village working as a community with members on call to help each other in times of trouble, distress, sickness, or bereavement. To create a community who are surrounded by friends and comrades who are looking out for each other’s welfare.
• Every member irrespective of rank or position within our service will be equal within the charity and every full member will be eligible to serve on any committee or sub committee.
• All members will be encouraged to be active in the charities fund-raising activities and will be expected to promote the charity and raise awareness of the work the charity is carrying out for the benefit of members.
• Any and all funding and fund-raising will be accounted for and members will receive a statement of account at the yearly annual general meeting (AGM).
• All monies will be used for the benefit of members.
• All personal details and information will be stored in a secured data base and will never be disclosed to anyone unauthorised to receive it.