“for veterans by veterans”

who are we?

“For the Veterans of Inverclyde and their families to thrive in a civilian community.”

The Inverclyde Veterans Network (IVN) is a fully constituted not-for-profit organisation run by Veterans to support Veterans and their families in the Inverclyde area. We are a collaboration of Veterans of different ranks from different Forces and Regiments who have identified a lack of continuity in the deliverance of services and support for the Veteran community of Inverclyde and formed IVN as a result.

We will welcome early service leavers, Veterans transitioning to civilian life, Veterans of past and present campaigns and their surviving families. We are here for every Veteran, regardless of their age, gender, or length of service. We celebrate individual differences and seek to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect, and we endeavour to help each individual person to thrive and become socially accepted in civilian life.

Every day Veterans face extraordinary challenges when facing reintegration into civilian life. They not only struggle to find a purpose or fight the feeling of isolation, but have extreme difficulty overcoming the emotions of combat trauma or PTSD, regularly thinking that the only way to deal with life is by taking one’s own.

  • A large white anchor monument on a stone pedestal overlooking a town by a body of water, with mountains in the background.
  • A man with a serious expression, wearing a black beret with a red and white checkered band, standing among others wearing similar military-style hats.
  • Four men standing in front of a building holding three flags, including the Royal Artillery Veterans and Their Partners flag, the Union Jack, and the Gibraltar flag.
  • Two men in military uniforms with medals standing in front of a formation of soldiers in uniform during a ceremonial event.
  • Close-up of engraved stone monument with the names George Washington Carver and Maria MacArthur.
  • Group of nine people gathered in a cozy restaurant, sitting at a long table with drinks and menus, with a man in a red polo shirt standing near a window smiling at the camera.
  • Line of elderly veterans standing in uniform with medals during a memorial ceremony outdoors.
  • Close-up of a person in a black suit with multiple medals on a colorful striped ribbon bar pinned to their lapel, including a bronze star, silver star, and silver medals with inscriptions.
  • Large red lighthouse sculpture on a platform at sunset with city lights in the background.
  • Three people in business attire standing in a formal room, holding a framed certificate or award.

what we do

“The Inverclyde Veterans Network strives to be a conduit of information for Veterans affairs and to represent the interests of all Veterans in Inverclyde”

We aim to direct Veterans to carefully tailored and holistic support organisations/ networks for their physical and mental health, along with their welfare and social needs. Whether they served in a conflict or not is irrelevant as we’re here for anyone who’s served no matter where or when or how long for. We will also support families as they can just as easily be affected and may require similar assistance and support.

These days, there is so much help out there for Veterans and their families (there are over 50 Veteran services in Scotland alone) that it can be very difficult to know exactly where to start; especially considering there is nothing specifically dedicated to the Veterans of Inverclyde which, at the last count, numbered some 2000-2500.

Making phone contact can sometimes be difficult and frustrating especially if you can’t get through on a help line or feel as if you are being sent round in circles. Not only do these charities and services operate elsewhere, it is extremely difficult to navigate a clear path to access them. Moreover, many of these services are limited both in their support and length of provision.

Whereas most Veteran supporting networks provide assistance for up to two years, we at IVN aim to provide long-term, one-to-one, face-to-face support for the Veterans of Inverclyde for as long as is needed. We will never just sign post someone to one of these agencies. Instead, we will follow up on our commitment to ensure the Veterans of Inverclyde receive appropriate support from the correct provider whether it be for housing, benefits, employment, mental health or social isolation. We will provide support for as long as we are needed and will never seek to limit access nor impose time constraints.

At IVN we will empower Veterans by reigniting their sense of purpose, enabling them to make a positive contribution to their communities and to lead independent and meaningful lives. Whether mentally, physically or socially wounded, we will support ex-service personnel and their families throughout!

“I served in the Armed Forces and then the MOD itself for 40 years before retiring 10 years ago. Since then, I have been floundering and rudderless with no direction or clear objective. Since becoming involved with the Inverclyde Veterans Network, I feel I have found a new purpose to which I can commit wholeheartedly and I feel rejuvenated as a result with more energy and aspiration”

— John ex-Royal Navy

why us?

Serving personnel and Veterans don’t want hand-outs – they’re proud and used to getting the job done. They just need the tools to meet their objective and that’s what IVN will provide. We acknowledge that we are on a long and perhaps hazardous journey, but our experiences are such that we will prevail because defeat is neither recognised nor accepted.

We will offer personalised employment support, mental health and well-being support, and support care coordination to help Veterans who are struggling after military service. Where appropriate, we will signpost them to training providers to obtain employability skills, assist with building their Curriculum Vitae, and suggest ways to explore the different routes and pathways open to them.

No longer will veterans or their families feel isolated or lonely, helpless or unworthy as IVN will replace the Armed Forces community with whom they so loyally engaged. We will give them back their sense of belonging thereby encouraging them to adjust to the demands of civilian life and to build the necessary resilience to successfully participate in their local communities.

Where a Veteran or any family member is unable to physically attend, we will provide assistance by virtual means. That is, we will forward a link via a digital platform (Teams or Zoom for example) for them to connect and speak directly to a volunteer on a 24/7 basis.

“I served a total of 42 years in the Army and Territorial Army (now Army Reserve) finishing in 2018. My health got the better of me and sent me in a downward spiral. I have hearing difficulties and back pains and recently fought cancer. Since then I have found solace being involved with IVN and able to talk to people who understand me, and my mission is to help other Veterans in Inverclyde and other areas.”

—Billy, Retd Major RLC