Our Mission
To be the voice of the few, provide peer-to-peer support, signposting to essential services, and organizing events that foster camaraderie and connection. We aim to reduce social isolation and suicide, ensuring that those who have served our country receive the support and recognition they deserve.
Our history
Tommy’s Voice was the brainchild of Jennie Riley (nee Thorn) and Mick Riley MBE.
Originally starting out as a CIC, Tommy's Voice quickly gained an outstanding reputation in the Huddersfield area offering support to the veteran and military community.
Tommy's Voice was granted charity status in 2024. and continues to grow and florish offering support and signposting to veterans.
Tommy’s Voice became the driving force for good in the Huddersfield area for Veterans and their families, and has grown from the CIC into it’s own registered charity. As one of the founders, Mick Riley MBE said;
“I realised after leaving the military there are still many veterans who are slipping through the cracks with un-diagnosed medical conditions, especially with their mental health.”
Through Micks own struggles with PTSD following his 25 years in the British Army, retiring as WO1 (RSM), the highest non-commissioned rank in the Army, he realised there needs to be a service at a grass roots level where veterans and serving personnel can get the advice, support and signposting that’s often overlooked by the bigger charities in the UK.
Jennie, co-founder and Micks wife is in agreement;
“There is no one in our area that is able to sit down with a veteran and help them with paperwork to get things like their Veterans ID Card, access to services. Veterans are entitled to so much support but may not be aware, this is where Tommy’s Voice will come in”
Both Jennie and Mick also wanted the families of veterans to have an organisation they can turn to and get support with their daily lives. Often, it’s the family members of veterans and serving personnel who recognise changes in their loved ones before they see it themselves. Through Tommy’s Voice we can assist them with getting the support and assistance they rightfully deserve and need.
“I’ve always been an advocate of the veteran community, I began to realise that so many veterans are not getting or able to get support from the big main-stream charities. Whilst they do amazing work, they are unable to to help with the little things that many veterans struggle with.”
Jennie found that many veterans and family members were coming across barriers to services or were unable to find where to turn to for advice on completing documentation and accessing records from military service. This is where Tommy’s Voice comes in. we are able to give that 1-2-1 support and guidance.
“We are different as we compliment and work alongside the main-stream charities and organisations, we don’t compete with them. We are here to guide and assist you on your journey to get access to the support you need, be it from local councils, other charities or organisations.”
Through Tommy’s Voice Both Jennie and Mick have been invited to Downing Street and had a candid conversation with the Prime Minister regarding Veterans and their families as well as meeting the Veterans Minister to discuss how to improve access to services for Veterans.
What we do
Tommy’s Voice is a dedicated charity committed to supporting military personnel, veterans and their families across the UK. Our mission is to give a voice to the Armed Forces Community by providing peer-to-peer support, signposting to essential services, and organising events that foster camaraderie and connection similar to their military service.
We offer guidance on applying for housing and benefits, assist with mental health self-referrals, and provide information on pensions and Veteran ID cards. Our goal is to help prevent social isolation and suicide, ensuring that those who have served our country receive the support and recognition they deserve. Join us in making a difference in the lives of our heroes.
Our Logo
The Tommy’s Voice logo is a patriotic nod to the ‘old Tommy from WW1 through to the modern military men and women across the armed forces. You’re able to tell what it is from the outset but remains a silhouette. With a subdued Union Flag, which all armed forces personnel wear on their uniform with pride in the background finishes the logo off.
Why is it called Tommy's Voice?
Our name comes in part from the famous Rudyard Kipling poem, ‘Tommy’ as it resonates with veterans from all conflicts past and present.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — “you bet that Tommy sees!”
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