Army families facing the stress and uncertainty of a loved one’s hospital treatment will continue to have access to free accommodation and support, thanks to a £30,000 grant from the Army Benevolent Fund to Fisher House at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
Fisher House provides a dedicated military “home away from home” within the grounds of the hospital. With 18 en-suite bedrooms and welcoming communal spaces, it offers free accommodation to serving personnel, veterans and their families, allowing them to remain close to loved ones during treatment and recovery.
The grant from the Army Benevolent Fund will contribute towards the continued operation of Fisher House, helping military families access practical and emotional support while remaining together during periods of serious illness or injury.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham is the principal receiving hospital for UK Armed Forces personnel who are seriously ill or injured, as well as many veterans requiring specialist care. For families travelling long distances to be near a loved one, finding suitable accommodation can add significant financial and emotional pressure at an already difficult time.
Demand for Fisher House’s service remains high. In 2025 alone, 499 serving Army personnel and 314 Army veterans, together with their families, benefited from support at Fisher House. Since opening in 2013, the facility has welcomed nearly 9,000 guests, providing more than 50,000 nights of accommodation.
James Elliott, Charity Chief Executive of University Hospitals Birmingham Charity and Fisher House UK, said:
“We really appreciate the support from the Army Benevolent Fund to help keep the doors open to this amazing facility for our military families when they need it most.
“Fisher House is a lifeline to families longing to be near each other while their loved one is being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Some have had to travel huge distances across the country and even across the world, so to offer them a comforting, safe place to stay means the world to them and helps with the patient’s recovery, knowing their loved one is being looked after just a short walk away.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, Army Benevolent Fund, added:
“We are delighted to award a grant to Fisher House, supporting its provision of a safe, welcoming home from home for military families and allowing them to stay close to loved ones during treatment. As the Army’s national charity, we are committed to supporting all members of the Army family, and are proud of our longstanding partnership with Fisher House, enabling this important facility for Army families to continue.”