The Army Benevolent Fund is a long-standing supporter of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, which is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans, and their families in their time of need. We are once again delighted to award SSAFA a grant of £245,000, towards its casework service for Army beneficiaries and its Stepping Stone Home.
Stepping Stone Home provides secure, female-only accommodation and services for women and children of the Armed Forces community who have experienced domestic abuse and violence. Describe by Anglia Ruskin University as “… a unique and invaluable service” , Stepping Stone Home supported some 165 women and children last year. More than 80% of them had a connection to the Army.
SSAFA’s casework service offers welfare advice and support to the Armed Forces community, including serving personnel, veterans, and their families. SSAFA’s staff and volunteers work across the UK and the ABF’s individual grants programme is dependent on SSAFA’s casework. By supporting this service, we help ensure that everyone is able to get the right help they need, when they need it.
Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO of SSAFA, said: “Time after time, the Army Benevolent Fund has provided incredible support to SSAFA so it can continue to deliver exceptional services to the Army family, and on behalf of all volunteers and staff, but most importantly those who come to SSAFA for help, thank you.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, ABF, added: “Since 1945, we have supported SSAFA in its mission to support serving personnel, veterans, and their families in their time of need. We are proud to support SSAFA’s Stepping Stone Home and the charity’s Casework service which provides vital advice and assistance, tailored to the individual needs of soldiers, veterans, and their loved ones. This is especially important at a time when many families are facing increased living costs and higher bills, which can adversely impact mental health and wellbeing.”
For more on the full range of services SSAFA offers, visit ssafa.org.uk/get-help.