Danny Greeno: The Veterans Charity CEO on Collaboration with The RNBT

Our mission is simple but powerful: to ensure that no veteran in crisis has to wait weeks for essential help. We provide vital items such as food shopping, clothing, utilities support, communications, household basic and even travel assistance.

Could you start by telling us about yourself – your background, and what led to the founding of The Veterans Charity?
I have always been passionate about supporting those who have served. My background has included many years of working closely with veterans, listening to their experiences and understanding the challenges they face. In 2011, we recognised a real gap in the support available for urgent, practical needs. Many veterans were facing hardship but couldn’t access help quickly enough. That’s what led to the reshaping of The Veterans Charity and the creation of a system which enabled us to assess and deliver swift, tangible support to those who have served their country and now need a hand.

For those who may not be familiar, could you tell us about The Veterans Charity and its mission?
The Veterans Charity is dedicated to providing immediate practical support to veterans in need across the UK. Our mission is simple but powerful: to ensure that no veteran in crisis has to wait weeks for essential help. We provide vital items such as food shopping, clothing, utilities support, communications, household basic and even travel assistance. We’re about responding quickly, with dignity and compassion, so that veterans can focus on rebuilding their lives.

What are the main ways The Veterans Charity supports veterans across the UK?
Our support focuses on speed and practicality. We provide life’s most essential provisions, and, in many cases, we respond and deliver assistance in most cases within just 24 hours of our assessments being completed.

What situations do the veterans you support most often face, and how does your team respond so quickly and effectively?
Many of the veterans we help are experiencing sudden financial hardship which can have a very serious impact on mental and physical wellbeing. Often, those we support have reached a crisis point.

Our team has built a highly efficient process that allows us to assess needs rapidly, source the necessary items, and coordinate delivery — often the same day. We work closely with referral partners and suppliers to make sure the veteran gets the right help exactly when it’s needed most.

The RNBT is proud to support The Veterans Charity. How does this partnership help in your work?
The partnership with The RNBT is incredibly important. It allows us to extend our reach and ensure that Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans facing hardship receive the same rapid, compassionate support.

The RNBT’s funding and trust help us to act fast and together, we ensure that veterans don’t fall through the cracks. As a small charity, partnerships like this are absolutely critical in enabling us to be there when it matters and we are extremely proud that the partnership and our friendship with The RNBT is growing.

Do you have an example that you can share of how the collaboration has made a real difference to a beneficiary in need?
Absolutely. One example that stands out is a Royal Navy veteran who had fallen on hard times after a sudden loss of employment and relationship breakdown. He had to start over again and was struggling badly to meet even the most basic of daily needs.

Through our partnership, we were able to provide immediate needs help for food, clothing and utilities help, all within 48 hours. This immediate help gave him the breathing space he needed to focus on rebuilding his life and accessing further support.

It’s moments like this that show how partnership isn’t just financial — it’s transformational.

In your point of view, why are partnerships between charities in the armed forces sector important?
No single organisation can meet every need. Veterans’ situations can be complex, and often they need a combination of practical, financial, and emotional support.

Partnerships allow us to work together, play to our strengths, and ensure no veteran is left without the right kind of help. By collaborating, we create a stronger, more connected safety net for those who have served.

This year obviously marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War – what does remembrance and legacy mean to The Veterans Charity?
Remembrance is at the heart of what we do. It all began for us with an act of Remembrance when we created the memorial at Pegasus Bridge in Normandy. For us, Remembrance is about honouring not only those who served in the past but also recognising the living legacy — the veterans of today who have followed in their footsteps. This year, as we mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, we reflect on their courage and sacrifice, and we reaffirm our commitment to supporting those who have served since.

Our annual Remembrance initiatives, Routes of Remembrance and Poppies To Paddington will be more poignant than ever, and we have already sent wreaths and tributes around the world in honour of the fallen. Remembrance is about honouring those who have given their lives in service and about maintaining respect for those who serve.

Looking ahead, what are the priorities for The Veterans Charity? Where do you see the charity going?
Our top priority remains delivering swift, practical support to veterans in crisis. But we also want to strengthen partnerships, expand our capacity, and ensure our systems remain efficient as demand continues to grow.

We’re committed to being a reliable, trusted source of help — and to raising greater awareness of how rapid intervention can change lives.

In the coming years, we hope to reach even more veterans, reduce response times further, and continue working closely with brilliant partners like The RNBT.

Finally, do you have a message you would like to share with RNBT supporters and the wider naval community about the work you do and how they can help?
I want to say a heartfelt thank you to RNBT and its supporters. Your backing makes a huge difference to the rapid support that we are able to deliver to veterans in need.

Every donation, every bit of awareness raised, and every message of support matters.

To the wider naval community, I’d say: never underestimate the power of standing together. If you know someone who needs help, reach out. If you can support our work, please do. Together, we can ensure no veteran is left to face hardship alone.

Thank you to Danny for taking the time to speak with us about The Veterans Charity and the growing partnership with The RNBT. You can find out more about The Veterans Charity and all of their amazing work on their website.