Veterans living with complex mental health challenges will continue to benefit from specialist support thanks to our recent grant of £30,000 to Veterans With Dogs.
For some veterans and their families, the lasting impact of military service can make everyday life difficult.
To help address this need, the Army Benevolent Fund is continuing its support for Veterans With Dogs, a UK charity that pairs Armed Forces veterans with trained assistance dogs, helping them to manage mental health challenges such as complex PTSD, anxiety and depression.
Our grant will continue to support the costs of two key programmes at the charity: Partner Animal Life Skills (PALS), and Support PAWs, enabling the charity to meet the growing demand for service dogs, and to continue providing trauma-informed assistance for the Army family.
Partner Animal Life Skills
Through the PALS programme, veterans are matched with assistance dogs that are trained to recognise and respond to signs of psychological stress. Partnerships between assistance dogs and veterans help to ensure 24/7 support, enabling individuals to rebuild confidence.
Support PAWS
Support PAWS is a programme based in schools that helps children from Army families, particularly those experiencing challenges linked to mobility, deployment and family separation.
Working alongside schools, parents, and pastoral teams, trained community dogs help children to improve their confidence, emotional wellbeing and resilience, so they are better able to engage in learning.
Sally Williams, Chair of Trustees, Veterans With Dogs, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to the Army Benevolent Fund for their support of Veterans With Dogs. Their funding is helping veterans living with complex mental health challenges rebuild confidence, independence, and hope through our assistance dog partnerships and trauma-informed support programmes.
“The impact of this support extends far beyond the individual veteran. It strengthens families, reduces isolation, and helps veterans reconnect with their communities and rediscover a sense of purpose. At a time when demand for our services continues to grow, partnerships such as this are making a genuine and lasting difference to the lives of those who have served.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, Army Benevolent Fund, added:
“We are pleased to provide a grant to Veterans With Dogs this year, enabling them to meet the growing need for assistance dogs, and deliver long-term support for the mental health needs of soldiers, veterans and their families.”