16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence, which runs from 25 November to 10 December, is a global campaign to raise awareness and take action to end domestic violence and gender-based abuse.
At the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF), we are committed to supporting all members of the Army family facing hardship or in need, including those affected by domestic abuse. This financial year, the ABF has awarded over £200,000 of funding towards projects that tackle domestic abuse and provide vital support to the Army family.
Free confidential advice for military families affected by domestic abuse
One of the charities we are proud to support is Aurora New Dawn, which offers safety, advocacy and empowerment to survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking. In November, we awarded Aurora a grant of £35,000 – building on a similar grant made in 2024 – towards a confidential helpline to complement its Armed Forces Advocacy service. This new service launched in March 2025 and has already provided vital assistance to many Army personnel and their families.
Developing a more joined-up response to domestic abuse
We are also working with SafeLives, a UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, on a £418,000 three-year initiative to improve the response to domestic abuse for serving and veteran families. This is drawing directly on the insights of survivors, service personnel and frontline domestic abuse professionals to make it easier for military families to get the help they need, when they need it most.
Building on research and a pilot project carried out during the first year of this initiative, our most-recent grant of £138,000 has enabled SafeLives to launch a national training programme for the Army Welfare Service (AWS), Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) and multi-agency professionals, and to provide them with an accessible toolkit to support them in this vital work. This will foster a culture of awareness and proactive approach to the issue within Army environments, ultimately improving the safety and wellbeing of all family members.
Ellen Miller, Chief Executive Officer at SafeLives, said:
“Domestic abuse can affect anyone, and for military families the impact can be intensified by the unique pressures of service life. When someone discloses abuse, they deserve a response that truly meets their needs. Our partnership with the Army Benevolent Fund is about making sure no one is left to face abuse alone. We’re proud to be working together to take this bold step forward.”
Creative approaches to increasing awareness
Finaly, we are proud to contribute £30,000 to Beyond the Warzone, an innovative theatre production commissioned by the Army as part of the MOD’s Domestic Abuse Action Plan 2024–29. This powerful initiative raises awareness of domestic abuse and pathways to support across the Army community; and complements the SafeLives training programme by reaching a wider audience.
Peter Monteith, Chief Operations Officer at the Army Benevolent Fund, said:
“Domestic abuse is a society-wide issue that affects families across all walks of life. But the specific demands of military life – such as frequent re-locations, and isolation from family and friends – require a tailored response. That is why we work with specialist organisations such as SafeLives, Aurora New Dawn and Beyond the Warzone, and, most importantly, with domestic abuse victims and survivors, to support projects that provide immediate help, raise awareness, and prevent domestic abuse within the Army community.”
We believe every member of the Army family deserves safety, dignity and respect. By funding these vital projects, we aim to build a culture of awareness and proactive intervention, ensuring that no one has to face abuse alone.