ssafa Lifelong support for forces and their families
At the outbreak of world War One the government called on SSAFA to take care of the families of soldiers going to the Front and it\’s still there supporting our forces today.
The history of SSAFA is the history of the men and women of Britain’s Forces and their families.
The vision and drive of one man stands at the heart of the UK\’s oldest Armed Forces charity. In February 1885, as the Second Expeditionary Force set sail for Egypt, Major James Gildea wrote to The Times appealing for funds and volunteers to look after families left behind. Within three months, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association was born. Since then, we\’ve supported millions of people, and millions more are eligible for help.
Through two World Wars and every subsequent conflict involving Britain, SSAFA has been there for our servicemen and women and their families. The ability to adapt quickly to their needs is still at the heart of everything we do. We never stand still, so our new services provide vital support wherever and whenever it is most needed.
Housing and housing advice
Family support groups
Adoption for serving families
Additional needs and disability support
mentoring for SAervice personnel
professional health and social care
personal support and Social work for the RAF
Forcesline confidential helpline
Support for serving families abroad
SSAFA stories:
When Terry left the Army he wanted to focus on getting a new job and settling his young family, who had relocated from Germany to Wales. But Terry had even more on his mind when he found out the house that they were allocated was in a terrible state.
That\’s when his local SSAFA team stepped in. We helped Terry to deal with the local Council whilst providing hands on support to get the house in shape for his family.
In 2012 we helped nearly 4,000 younger veterans like Terry in their 20s and 30s.
Many of those who have lost a loved one through military service find comfort in talking through their emotions. Like Helen Perry and her daughter Erin, the mother and sister of Lance Corporal Michael Pritchard.
Michael died when he was hit by a shot fired in error by a British marksman while in Afghanistan. Helen and her family found a place to talk about their feelings and experiences with the SSAFA Bereaved Families Support Group where families come together for mutual support.
We know being far from home brings practical problems – and sometimes the isolation our Forces experience causes emotional problems too.
Lynda, a SSAFA social care practitioner, provides professional support to the military community in the Falkland Islands, helping them get through difficult times.
Her service is vital to deployed Forces and their families. She understands the pressures they face and can address any concerns immediately, stopping them from developing into something more serious.
When Cayle lost both his legs in Afghanistan, along with sustaining further life threatening injuries, he needed intensive treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital as well as rehabilitation at Headley Court. His mum Bronwyn needed to be by his side as much as possible to help him through it.
We were able to provide a homely place for Bronwyn to stay at our Norton Houses for as long as she needed it. For both Bronwyn and Cayle seeing a friendly face and having a place to relax was a lifeline.
You can find out more about SSAFA from their website ssafa.org.uk from which this article was taken.
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