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Veterans

Jack English War Veteran and Counsellor on Operations as a young soldier

I joined the British Army in 1994 and had the honor of becoming a Fusilier, part of a Front Line Infantry regiment rich in history.

My first tour took me to Bosnia in 1995,

where I served under both the United Nations and later NATO.

I also spent three years on separate tours in Northern Ireland and was one of the Desert Rats who liberated Basrah, Iraq in 2003.

I completed my service and left the British Army in 2004.

Jack English War Veteran and Counsellor on Parade in Newcastle Upon Tyne UK

The Battle's Continue

After leaving the military, I found myself lost, struggling to navigate life.

Within two years, I hit rock bottom—divorced, bankrupt, unemployed, and homeless. Isolated and battling severe mental health issues, I was diagnosed with PTSD and became suicidal.

But I fought back, one step at a time. I re-educated myself, earning a BA (Hons) degree in Counselling.

Now, I’m a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).

With years of experience in veteran support and counselling, both with charities and privately,

but I’m not your typical counsellor.

I’m just a straight-talking guy who’s been through the worst and come out the other side and to my knowledge,

I’m the only frontline war veteran with a degree in person-centered counselling in the country.

Jack English War Veteran and Counsellor Meeting Princess Anne
Jack English War Veteran and Counsellor meeting HRH Queen Elizabeth II at The Poppy Factory
Jack English War Veteran and Counsellor having Tea and Cake with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Leaving the military is incredibly tough. Research shows that many highly trained veterans struggle to accept that they might need support, and even more so to ask for it. The challenges they face include depression, survivor's guilt, PTSD, homelessness, addiction, and difficulties adjusting to civilian life.

Veterans might not realize that the skills and behaviors that kept them alive in service don’t always translate to civvy street, leading some to end up in Her Majesty's Prisons,

dealing with issues like domestic violence or sexual harassment.

For years, I’ve worked with veteran charities, including supporting those in the Criminal Justice System.

It angers me to see veterans treated poorly in their time of need, and it’s heartbreaking to attend another funeral of a veteran lost to suicide.

As a Front Line War Veteran myself, I understand these struggles because I’ve faced them. I’ve turned my own negative experiences into positive lessons. With personal and professional experience, a BA (Hons) degree in Counseling, and a proven track record, I’m here to help veterans fight their battles and find their way back.

I will never exploit a veteran’s story for funding or publicity.

Veteran Support

Having worked as a Veteran support worker for many years, I feel it’s important to provide some links to other Veteran support services. Just Jack Counselling Services isn’t specifically endorsing these services, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth exploring. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all in support—it often depends on the worker you connect with and the available funding.

I’ve experienced many Veteran organizations personally and professionally. What worked or didn’t work for me might be different for you. Keep an open mind, focus on the positives, and if something isn’t working, don’t hesitate to try another option. The most important thing is that you get the help you need and don’t give up.

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Veterans’ Gateway

Information and support for veterans and their families

We are the first point of contact for you and your loved ones. Contact us 24/7 for help across housing, mental wellbeing, finances and more. And we can also refer you directly to our Referral Partners. Get in touch with our friendly helpline team by phone, chat, text and email.

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We provide lifelong support to those who are serving or have served in the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines or the Royal Air Force, and to their families.

Founded in 1885, we’re extremely proud of our long-standing heritage and of all the work we do with inspiring people from Tyne & Wear, across the UK and around the world.

The Royal British Legion Logo

The Royal British Legion is here to help members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families. And we’re not going anywhere.

We support serving and ex-serving personnel all year round, every day of the week.

Our support starts after one day of service and continues through life, long after service is over.

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We provide free support for veterans and their families, including a helpline, Veterans Welfare Service, Defence Transition Services and injury/bereavement compensation scheme payments.

We also provide welfare support for veterans of any age, and their families through the Veterans Welfare Service and the Veterans UK helpline: 0808 1914 218.

Who we are

We provide compensation, pension and welfare support to serving personnel and veterans and facilitate access to appropriate support from other government departments, local authorities,

independent bodies and the charity sector.

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