Northern Ireland Veterans Support Committee
Providing services for veterans
A committee has been established in Northern Ireland which brings together different organisations and charities that provide support for veterans. The committee aims to improve cooperation between all services involved in supporting veterans and to facilitate better coordination of effort when interacting both for individuals and for groups.
If you are a charitable organisation in Northern Ireland and would like to get involved with the committee, contact the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Northern Ireland, telephone: 028 9068 6150.
Support to veterans
Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor Dawn Huggins is the Council’s current representative to the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Northern Ireland (RFCANI). Councillor Dawn Huggins is the Veterans’ Champion for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough. If you, a member of your family or a friend are a veteran and you need advice on accessing support, contact Councillor Dawn Huggins.
Mob: 07966 504 064
Email: Dawn.Huggins@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
Information about other support agencies
The committee has published a handbook for veterans which signposts local agencies. Download the handbook below.
For more information on the committee, click on the link below to go to RFCANI website.
Reserve Forces and Cadets Association Northern Ireland website
Deputy Veterans' Champion
Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor Philip Anderson is the Council’s current Deputy Veterans' Champion representative to the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Northern Ireland (RFCANI).
Mob: 07772 272 479
Email: Philip.Anderson@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
Championing the Voices of Veterans in Northern Ireland
9 September 2025
Mr David Johnstone was appointed as Northern Ireland’s Veterans Commissioner in
January 2025 and serves as the independent voice for veterans across the
region.
Working alongside Council Veterans Champions, as Commissioner, his
primary role is to advocate on behalf of veterans, ensuring their needs and
concerns are heard at the highest levels of government and decision-making. He
is dedicated to influencing positive changes in policy, legislation, and
service delivery so that veterans in Northern Ireland receive the recognition,
opportunities, and support they deserve.
Supporting Mr Johnstone in this work is the Northern Ireland Veterans
Commissioner’s Office, established in 2020 to provide a strong foundation for
engagement and outreach. The Office enables the Commissioner to connect with
veterans, organisations, and community groups, building trust and developing a
clear understanding of the challenges faced by those who have served.
Through
direct veteran engagement the office also provides opportunities for veterans
and services to connect directly with each other, by coordinating access to
welfare services, peer support, mental health resources, employment
opportunities, and community initiatives. The Office aims to ensure that veterans
can navigate services more easily and receive timely assistance.
Together, the Commissioner and his Office remain committed to improving the
quality of life for veterans in Northern Ireland.
If you wish to contact Mr Johnstone and his team, you can do so via:
Email: commissioner@nivco.co.uk
or by Telephone: 028 25 483 169.
The Commissioner’s Office exists to support his mission of advocating for veterans and to ensure that every veteran is valued, respected, and given access to the services they deserve.