We are Forces Online, a small responsive, registered online veteran's charity that works all over the United Kingdom. We help British armed forces veterans, their families and dependents wherever we can. We do this by a combination of direct support and/or signposting to organisations that are more specialised.
Our charity was founded by Len Chappell, who still runs the organisation as CEO. His motivation came from issues in his personal life, which he discusses in a video that can be found on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_LmHhhKhUdk?si=Ts2WwAt03dxbXINR
As Len says, "I spent 23 years as a professional child-care worker and realised during this time that it takes a huge multi-disciplinary effort with everyone working together to be effective with protected children, which is something that I believe is still missing from the care of veterans where we still have fragmented and gaps in services, although it is getting better."
Our five-year-old charity has risen to the challenge of helping our beneficiaries in an environment where it can be difficult to find the right help. We have a good solid foundation where our online web projects work independently and co-operatively, maintaining the same level of approach and connectivity on all. Offline, we are always looking for opportunities to increase our service presence.
We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, demonstrating our commitment to ethical fundraising practices and transparency in how we manage donations.
Forces Online: Supporting the Armed Forces Community
Our journey
Forces Online began in September 2013 as a Facebook social media group created by Len, who recognized that while many veterans' charities existed, finding appropriate support was challenging for the armed forces community. Originally named "Forces United," the organization evolved into Forces Online following copyright considerations. The charity officially converted from a Community Interest Company (CIC) to a Charitable Incorporated Organization (CIO) in April 2020, and expanded to Scotland in January 2021 with its OSCR registration.
Our Mission
Official Charity Aim:
The relief of former members of the armed forces services/emergency services personnel, their families and dependents; who are in need by reason of age, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage, in particular but not exclusively providing them by multi-disciplinary team (advice, information and signposting and bespoke support), through collaboration, networking and campaigning for better access to services, we aim to continue to improve the lives of our beneficiary’s so that they have an enhanced quality of life and overall wellbeing for their benefit, by the provision of services as the trustees feel fit.
Forces Online is dedicated to supporting armed forces veterans, their families, and dependents through a comprehensive approach focusing on:
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Veterans' Mental and Physical Health
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Homelessness Prevention and Support
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Hardship Relief
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Employment Assistance
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Financial Support
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Information Services and Inquiries
Our Projects
As a digitally-focused charity, Forces Online operates several specialised initiatives:
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Veterans Directory (veteransdirectory.uk): A comprehensive resource listing support services for the armed forces community, featuring an in-house database that allows organizations to add and manage their own listings.
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Veterans VirtualHub (virtualhub.uk): A virtual drop-in centre accessible from any smart device, providing live interactions with fellow veterans who have overcome similar challenges. The hub offers counselling, training, meetings, welfare aid, and serves as a virtual office.
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Welfare Support (welfaresupport.net): Established in 2021 with in-house developed control mechanisms to manage various departments including Finance, Legal, Merchandise, Compliance, Web IT, Administration, HQ, and Fundraising.
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Tom Howat Memorial Hardship Fund (veteranshardship.uk): Created in memory of a former director, this fund provides laptops, phones, SIM cards, and food vouchers to veterans experiencing hardship.
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Walk of Life (walkoflife.uk): A fundraising initiative currently under development.
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Forces United (forcesunited.info): A membership support system.
How to Reach Us
As an online charity, Forces Online offers multiple communication channels:
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Website Forms: Submit inquiries through our "Whichway" system on any of our websites
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Live Chat: Available on all websites, provided by Chat Heroes with responses within 15 minutes
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Telephone: 0300 300 2288
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Email: Staff can be reached via their individual @forcesonline.org.uk addresses
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Social Media: Monitored for flagged posts with redirects to email
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Text: Available through Text Magic
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WhatsApp: Message "forcesonline"
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VirtualHub: Direct virtual communication
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BeaconCRM Donations and Volunteers platform.
Forces Online continues to evolve, collaborating with organisations like Front Foot Jobs and Good Things Foundation to better serve the armed forces community through digital innovation and personal support.
Leadership and Management Structure
Whilst the general day-to-day management is run by the operational volunteer team, which can include trustees, Len—as the founder and driving force behind Forces Online—relies heavily on the trustees' expertise and experience to help make sound decisions. This collaborative approach is particularly valuable when developing new projects or overhauling existing ones, especially when measuring success and impact of initiatives.
The trustees meet quarterly via the Veterans VirtualHub, with a real-time information portal providing access to meeting materials and reports well in advance. This system allows trustees to thoroughly review information and prepare thoughtful responses, ensuring more productive discussions and decision-making during meetings. Historical records are also maintained for easy reference, creating a valuable knowledge base for the organisation.
Our Values and Culture
Forces Online operates as a family-type charity, fostering a supportive environment where successes are celebrated collectively as a team. Every contribution is valued, regardless of size, creating a sense of belonging and shared purpose among volunteers, staff, and trustees. This inclusive approach helps build strong relationships within the organisation and extends to how we interact with our beneficiaries.
The charity has been steadily gaining more recognition, particularly from peer organisations within the veterans' support ecosystem. This growing reputation stems from our no-nonsense approach to supporting beneficiaries—focusing on practical solutions rather than bureaucracy, and ensuring that support reaches those who need it most with minimal obstacles.
Making an Impact as a Trustee
Len firmly believes that everyone has their own unique story, and when these individual stories come together, they create powerful narratives that can drive positive change. This philosophy extends to our governance structure, where diverse perspectives and experiences enhance our decision-making and strategic direction.
As an individual trustee, your personal story and experiences can make a substantial difference to the team and the future direction of the charity. Whether you have a military background that helps you understand the unique challenges faced by our beneficiaries, or professional expertise in areas such as digital services, fundraising, or communications, your contribution can help Forces Online increase the number of people it supports.
Trustees can choose to be hands-on, actively participating in operational activities, or focus primarily on governance, providing direction and oversight to the charity. Both approaches are valued, and the level of involvement can be tailored to individual trustees' preferences, availability, and skills.
Join Our Mission
We welcome trustee applications from across the United Kingdom. While we particularly value applicants with armed forces backgrounds who can relate directly to our beneficiaries' experiences, we also consider individuals from other backgrounds who demonstrate a genuine commitment to our cause.
Areas of expertise that are especially valuable include:
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Online support services
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Technical skills in website development and digital media
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Fundraising and donor relations
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Marketing and communications
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Strategic planning and impact measurement