Charities

Am I eligible?

This benefit is available to all Service personnel

What’s it for?

Armed Forces and Army Service charities provide additional impartial support and independent advice to you and your family.

What do I get?

Cobseo

Whilst the Army cannot give preference to one charity over another (othern than those that have a specific relationship or are funded by the MoD), Cobseo (the Confederation of Service Charities) represents the whole Serving and Veterans Community. 

Membership is open to Charities who promote and further the welfare and general interests of the Armed Forces Community. For any individual looking for charitable support – it is recommended that Cobseo service charities are consulted in the first instance.

Army Benevolent Fund The Soldiers' Charity

The Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) is the Soldiers' Charity, the National Charity of the British Army. ABF gives lifetime support to serving and retired soldiers and their families. They believe in independence and dignity for every soldier and provide financial assistance when they are in real need.

ABF have been working with the Army family since 1944, helping with education and training, elderly care, wellbeing, mobility, the wider Army family and housing. 

Helping every cap badge in the British Army, ABF are proud to count many serving and retired soldiers amongst its loyal fundraisers.

Visit the ABF website for more information and details on how to contact them

The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA)

SSAFA helps the Armed Forces community in a number of ways, with a focus is on providing direct support to individuals in need of physical or emotional care. Addiction, relationship breakdown, debt, homelessness, post-traumatic stress, depression and disability are all issues that SSAFA can help you with through their Forces Helpline. More information can be found at SSAFA - how we help

Army Dependants' Trust

The Army Dependants’ Trust is a charity which provides discretionary cash grants to dependants of servicemen and servicewomen who die in service, from whatever cause. The Trust relieves any financial hardship for the member’s family/dependants in the immediate period following their loss. The recipients of the awards need take no action themselves to claim as the charity does everything.

For more information call the Army Dependants’ Trust on 01980 615736

Defence Medical Welfare Service

The St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service is a registered charity that works for the Ministry of Defence and with other charitable partners to provide practical and emotional support to Service personnel, their families and other entitled civilians when they are in hospital, rehabilitation or recovery centres.

Welfare Officers support patients from all three services, wherever they serve, including working within Field Hospitals during times of conflict.

Service personnel in the UK are treated in NHS hospitals and Ministry of Defence Hospital Units. In Germany, services are contracted from Designated German Provider hospitals and in Cyprus, services are located at Akrotiri.

Visit the DMWS website for more information and details on how to contact them

Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion has a range of programmes to support people with physical and mental wellbeing, financial and employment support. More information can be found here

Others

Details of other charities that support the Army are at https://www.army.mod.uk/personnel-and-welfare/army-related-charities/

If it would help, your Unit Welfare and Army Welfare Service staff are able to advise on national and local charities that can provide support.