Veterans Volunteer Service

Who we are and what we do

Our vision is to provide a unique service where veterans can find a renewed purpose and pass on their knowledge to others, particularly young individuals facing behavioural challenges. This initiative is called ‘RE-FILL YOUR BOOTS’ and benefits both veterans and the local community whilst promoting positive outcomes, bridging generational gaps, and offering pathways to potential career choices. 

What triggered the need for the charity?

Veterans Volunteer Service was founded by Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who understands first hand the trauma that conflict can cause to mental wellbeing.
The catalyst for the VVS came from several places. The first being the lived experience of leaving the army and identifying the need to utilise special skill sets and to give back to the community as a civilian. The second was seeing how the local area needs support.                                                                        

The ethos behind VVS

The ethos of the Veterans Volunteer Service is to provide opportunities to engage in meaningful community initiatives, rekindling a sense of purpose and promoting civil responsibility.

Our community initiatives

Fit and Feed

The Fit and Feed initiative offers young people aged from 4 to 18 the opportunity to enjoy a fitness training session, a hot meal and a haircut – all for £1!

Over 40% of the residents of Littlehampton live in food poverty, so as you can imagine, the need to fit and feed this community is huge.

The food is prepared into hot meals by veteran volunteers in our local churches. The fitness session takes place in local community buildings and delivered by military veteran PTI’s.

Fit and Feed is an amazing example of building community resilience. Uniting young people, families on the breadline, and military veterans with health and wellbeing the central focus for all. We were thrilled to have this program highlighted by BBC News South earlier this year. 

Youth Focus Group

The Youth Focus Group offers a bespoke educational experience to our local youngsters. We provide modular, hands-on practical learning opportunities with active participation guided by Military Veterans utilising their unique skillsets and experiences. 

The young people attending the Youth Focus Group have been referred by District Councils, anti-social behaviour teams and social services to improve and inspire the youth of today. 

During the 10-week programme the participants engage in four modules: ‘Self Resilience’; ‘Community Resilience’; ‘Cyber safety’ and ‘Fitness and First Aid’.

The final week of the programme results in a challenging test scenario combining all the skills they have learnt - whilst under a little pressure from the military instructors, of course!

PROJECT SOMME- YOUR DONATION IS VITAL!

In addition to the 'Youth Focus Group', the VVS provides a Veteran welfare programme. This programme consists of direct support, signposting to appropriate organisations and a buddy-buddy system paring veterans who have settled into civilian life with those who are struggling.

The Somme Project gives Military Veterans the opportunity to transforms their lives and improve physical and mental wellbeing through exercise and camaraderie.
VVS has united a group of veterans with various visible and non-visible injuries in the challenge of walking the length of the front line of The Somme, France.
This will be 110 years since the British Infantry Attack on the 1st July, 1916.

The team will be leaving England on the 29th June and returning on the 3rd July.

Testimonials

Former Paratrooper with 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment, having served in multiple conflicts around the world.

"I met blokes with stories as intense and varied as my own. And in sharing them, we rediscovered parts of ourselves we'd forgotten- the professionalism, humour, resilience and mutual reliance that made us such effective soldiers". What stood out most was the welfare impact. Veterans supported each other naturally, just as we did in uniform. Conversations, shared experiences and reflection helped many of us reconnect with parts of ourselves we'd forgotten-  discipline, pride, resilience and unity".

Former Special Forces Veteran

"Like so many veterans, I found myself desperately searching for a renewed sense of belonging and purpose after leaving service. It was only then that I truly realised how vital those things were. I had lost my tribe- and I know this experience is shared by so many others.

The Somme trip in 2025 reignited that sense of belonging. I reconnected with men I hadn’t spoken to in many years, some of them on the very battlefield itself. It was a powerful reminder of what service gave me, and of how important it is that we continue to show up for one another as we transition into civilian life.
In my opinion, experiences like this should be compulsory".