VINT - Veterans In Need Together

This week, take a lesson from a dog.

Wake up excited for the day. Enjoy the simple things. Spend time with people who make you smile. Get outside, stay curious, and don’t waste energy on things you can’t control.

Chase what brings you joy, rest when you need to, and celebrate the little wins.

Life doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes happiness is just doing more of what makes your tail wag.

New week. New start. Make it a good one.

We often talk about supporting younger veterans, and there is a very important reason why.

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, male veterans aged 25–34 are twice as likely to die by su***de as male civilians in the same age group. At the same time, more than half of all veterans report experiencing mental health difficulties.

These are not just statistics. They represent real people, real struggles, and real lives.

If you know a veteran, please tell them about what we do.

While there are other excellent mental health support groups operating locally, we are the only group specifically for veterans. That matters.

We would never suggest that one person’s problems are more important than another’s. Everyone’s challenges are significant to them, and everyone deserves support. But imagine sitting in a room where people are discussing the stresses and strains of everyday life while you’re carrying memories of conflict, loss, trauma, or experiences from a war zone that replay in your mind every single day.

Sometimes, the people who understand best are those who have walked a similar path.

A veteran-only space provides understanding without explanation, support without judgement, and a community where experiences don’t need to be translated.

That is why veteran-specific groups are not just important — they are essential.

Please help us reach those who may be struggling in silence. A simple conversation or recommendation could make all the difference.

❤️🖤 Tonight 19:00,

Boy band or our amazing team? We’ll let you decide. 😎

Tomorrow night all three of our VINT groups will be open and ready to welcome you in. One of the team will be there to make sure you feel at home (except for the one currently skiving on holiday… but we’re not naming names 🙄).

Whether you fancy a brew, a chat, or just getting out of the house for an hour or two, why not come along? You might even leave with a smile on your face—we’ll certainly do our best.

And before anyone asks… no, we’re not all sat in a circle crying. Firstly, that’s just not our style. Secondly, trying to organise a group of veterans into a neat circle would be like herding cats.

There’s absolutely no pressure at our groups. Come as you are, stay as long as you like, and get involved as much or as little as you want.

📍 Morley Fire Station
Please park at Morrisons and use the gate next to our banner. The gate will be locked, so just drop us a message and we’ll come and let you in.

📍 Stanningley Fire Station
Parking is available on site. There’ll be a phone number on the gate—give us a ring and we’ll come and let you in.

📍 St John St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle (LS10 3DN)
Plenty of parking is available in the rear car park—just follow the driveway round to the right as you drive in.

🕖 Wednesday | 7:00pm

If you’re unsure about anything, or not sure which group is right for you, just send us a message.

The kettle will be on. The welcome is guaranteed. ❤️

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to an end, you may have noticed that over the last 31 days we’ve been more visible, posted more often, and shared more of what we do.

Why?

Because one of the most important factors in improving mental health is consistency.

Throughout May, we wanted to demonstrate that positive things can happen when you show up consistently. This month alone, 98,800 people viewed our posts. That reach didn’t happen by chance—it happened because we put in the effort, stayed committed, and kept showing up.

As a result, we’ve reached more veterans, started more conversations, and raised greater awareness of the importance of veteran mental health.

So what does that have to do with Mental Health Awareness Month?

Everything.

We wanted to prove a simple point: real change comes through consistency.

One walk won’t change your life. One conversation won’t solve everything. One visit to a support group probably won’t transform how you feel overnight.

But consistently taking positive steps—getting out for a walk, talking to someone you trust, attending support groups, checking in with friends, asking for help when you need it—can make a real difference over time.

So as we close Mental Health Awareness Month, our message is simple:

Stay consistent.

Because without consistency, nothing changes.

Small steps. Repeated often. That’s where progress begins.

From all of us at VINT, thank you for supporting veteran mental health this month and every month.

A stigma we’re trying to break 💔

When people hear the word “veteran”, many automatically picture someone aged 70+.

But a veteran is anyone who has served in the British Armed Forces — which means a veteran could be as young as 18.

Right now, British military personnel are still serving in places such as Syria and Iraq. Many leave the forces carrying experiences, trauma, and mental burdens that most people will never fully understand.

Around 46,000 UK personnel served in Iraq during Operation Telic, and more than 150,000 British troops served in Afghanistan during Operations Herrick and Toral — Britain’s longest military operation of the 21st century.

Why does this matter?

Because many of the people in our groups have lived through these conflicts. We know first-hand that today’s veterans are not just older generations.

They are young men and women still working jobs, raising children, trying to adjust to civilian life, and searching for their place in the world.

Being a veteran has nothing to do with age. It’s about service.

We need to break the outdated image of what a veteran “looks like” and make sure younger veterans get the same support, understanding, and access to help that older veterans deserve too.

Remember, tomorrow night all 3 of our groups will be open and waiting for you to join us for a chat and a brew. 🖤❤️

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 💚

Tonight, our friends at MINT are hosting their men’s support groups — open to all men, not just veterans.

If you’re looking for support, a space to talk, or just want to connect with others who understand, why not come along? No pressure, no judgement — just a welcoming environment where you can be yourself.

You don’t have to go through things alone.

🔵🔵 Morley / Leeds Group 🔵🔵
- Every Tuesday evening
- St Peters Church, LS27 9PA
- 19:00 - 21:30pm
- FREE refreshments - Tea, Coffee & Biscuits

🔵🔵 South Leeds Group (Middleton/Belle Isle) 🔵🔵
- Every Tuesday Evening
- BITMO Building, Aberfield Gate, LS10 3QH
- 19:00 - 21:30pm
- FREE refreshments - Tea, Coffee & Biscuits

🔵🔵 Ossett Group 🔵🔵
- every Tuesday
- Ossett Fire Station, WF5 9TR
- 7:00PM - 9:00PM
- Free refreshments - Tea, Coffee & Biscuits