We stand at the forefront of support for the Army family. We award grants to individuals and families, and fund leading charities and organisations to ensure help is there when you need it.

In financial year 24/25, we helped 80,000 people in 52 countries worldwide, and funded 93 other charities and organisations that deliver frontline services.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

We aim to provide soldiers and veterans with the means to live independently, and with the dignity they deserve.

For some Army veterans, injury, disability and advancing years can make it difficult to remain independent and to stay living in their own homes. We are on hand to support veterans and their families, both young and old, with home adaptations and mobility equipment that enable them to live where they have the best quality of life. Some will require significant support for the rest of their lives, and we are here to ensure their needs are met over the long term.

We also award grants to charities and organisations that provide specialist services and support on our behalf.

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Jit served for 13 years. A serious injury meant he had to have a below-knee amputation, which affected his mobility and independence. Our grant of £1,150 towards the cost of an electronically propelled vehicle has given him his life back.

ELDERLY CARE

We provide support for soldiers, for life. A cornerstone of our activity is ensuring that elderly veterans and their families have the care they need, long after service has ended.

This ranges from providing substantial support to leading care homes for veterans – such as Royal Star & Garter and Broughton House in England, and Erskine in Scotland – to providing specialist equipment to protect elderly veterans from pain, discomfort and injury. We also provide care at home support and assistance with care home fees.

We are here to provide lifelong support for those who have served their country.

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Erskine provides care for Scottish veterans and spouses at four care homes across Scotland. Last year, we awarded £150,000 to towards nursing, dementia and palliative care for Army residents.

TRAINING & EDUCATION

Most soldiers transition into civilian employment smoothly, bringing into society the skills and values developed during service. But, for some, leaving the Army is a daunting experience. We are here to support those who are in particular need of help. This includes supporting soldiers who have been wounded, injured or sick and have had to leave the Army through no fault of their own.

We provide bursaries for disabled veterans to attend university; and fund training schemes and workshops for service leavers to embark on rewarding new careers. Our goal is to ensure veterans have the opportunities to put their varied skills and experience to best use, enabling them to lead fulfilled lives, with dignity and independence, making a valued contribution to society.

As well as providing grants to individuals, we fund a range of partner charities and organisations that provide education and employment support to the Army family.

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After her service, Rawnie was able to secure employment with help from the Poppy Factory - a charity that ABF supports.

MENTAL WELLBEING

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the Army family is central to our work. We promote and enable better mental and physical wellbeing, so that soldiers, veterans, and their immediate families can lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

We provide wide-ranging assistance to ensure that serving and former soldiers, including those with complex mental health conditions, can access specialist treatment and support. This assistance ranges from funding a young soldier to receive counselling for childhood trauma, to enabling an older veteran to access support to help manage the symptoms of PTSD.

In addition to ensuring there is support for people in immediate need, we also fund programmes that improve the mental wellbeing of the Army family, such as respite breaks for people who are recovering from an illness, bereavement, or other life-changing events.

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Former Reservist, Rebecca, was left with PTSD after her service. With the support of Bracken, an energetic spaniel cross, who was paired with Rebecca by a charity that the ABF helps fund, her life is looking positive again.

HELPING ARMY FAMILIES

We are committed to supporting the immediate families of those who have served their country. Our support can include everything from helping provide highly specialised equipment for disabled children so they can join in with family activities and increase their quality of life, to covering funeral costs in order to ensure veterans can be buried with dignity. We work hard to ensure Army families are empowered to overcome challenges and move forward with their lives.

As well as supporting immediate family members via our individual grants programme, we also fund numerous other charities and organisations that help Army families on our behalf. We work especially closely with, and fund, the Army Families Federation, which is the independent voice of Army families and works to improve the quality of life for Army families around the world.

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Henry is the disabled son of Army veterans, Tania and Anthony. Henry’s condition affects his behaviour but thanks to the ABF’s funding of £6,000 towards a sensory room, he now has a safe, calming space, when he needs it.

HOUSING

We are committed to ensuring that soldiers, former soldiers and their immediate families can live in safe and suitable homes.

The housing needs of veterans and their families are incredibly varied, and we are here to support the Army family with the many housing issues they may face. This might involve awarding grants for urgent repairs, or helping an individual in financial distress to avoid eviction and homelessness.

We are also delighted to fund other charities and organisations that can provide affordable, high-quality housing and support services to veterans in need of support, enabling them to lead fulfilling, independent lives.

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Ryan was homeless before he became a resident at Launchpad’s Speke House. In 2025, the ABF awarded a £75,000 grant to Launchpad, to fund its vital work supporting homeless veterans.