On this page, you will find information about our individual grants programme and how to apply for financial support
If you require emergency or immediate assistance, please call 999, contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit our useful contacts here
Are you or someone you know at risk of homelessness?
Op FORTITUDE is funded by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund to deliver a centralised referral pathway to end veteran homelessness. The remit of the team will be to work with individual veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, supporting them either into suitable accommodation, or supporting them to maintain their current home.
Who is it for?
• Veterans of the U.K. Armed Forces
• Veterans applying for assistance as an individual, not as a family unit
• Veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness
Who can refer?
• Anyone in contact with an eligible veteran, with the veteran’s permission, can refer into Op FORTITUDE
• Eligible veterans can also self-refer using the 0800 number below
• Referrals can be made by calling 0800 952 0774 from 3 July, 24/7 and emergency accommodation will be sourced for veterans actively sleeping rough at the point of referral
OUR GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
We award Grants to people in financial need who are:
- Members and former members of the British Regular Army who have completed adult basic training
- Exceptionally, individuals who are medically discharged as a direct result of an injury sustained during basic training may also be supported
- Members and former members of the British Army Reserve or The Territorial Army (TA) who have completed one year’s satisfactory service
- Exceptionally, for a lesser period than one year’s satisfactory service if death, injury or distress arises from any action or incident whilst on military duty or the soldier had deployed on a designated operation
- Spouses / civil partners, widows, widowers, dependant child/children of those detailed above
WAYS WE CAN HELP:
We offer assistance in a number of ways where there is a need and where all statutory funding has been exhausted. Below are examples of what we can help towards:
- Priority debt with written recommendation by a qualified debt advisor eg CAB, StepChange
- Essential household goods and repairs
- Funeral costs
- Essential family needs
- Elderly care
- Mobility – we may be able to help with mobility equipment and aids where the need is supported by a professional Occupational Therapist report and quote
Applications for tuition fees for first degrees and vocational courses will be considered when the applicant has been disadvantaged by Service and/or the course can lead to gaining or retaining employment
Requests for assistance towards a restricted number of counselling sessions may be considered after statutory sessions have been completed
Former soldier Kuziva was retraining as a nurse when his boiler broke. We supported him with a grant for a replacement, helping to keep his family safe and warm
We awarded Rick a grant for a specialist wheelchair and bathroom adaptations after he was operationally injured in Afghanistan
All applications are means tested
Each application is considered on its own merits
WHAT WE CAN’T GIVE GRANTS FOR:
We cannot provide grants for medical, legal, immigration, visa or repatriation fees, non-priority debts, memorials or headstones
HOW TO APPLY:
- If you are a serving soldier or spouse/civil partner, widow, widower, parent/carer of a dependant child/children of a serving soldier contact your Unit Welfare Officer, Personnel Recovery Officer, Resettlement Officer, or the Army Welfare Service
- If you are a veteran, spouse/civil partner, widow, widower, parent/carer of a dependant child/children of a veteran contact your local SSAFA office Find local branch | SSAFA or The Royal British Legion, call their helpline on 0808 802 8080. They’re open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm
- If you are in Scotland contact PoppyScotland Get help now | Contact us | Poppyscotland
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity does not accept direct applications. Applications must be submitted through the Soldier’s or Veteran’s Regimental or Corps Association.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
- SSAFA, TRBL or PoppyScotland will assign you a caseworker who will arrange to meet with you, either virtually or face-to-face. They will assess your situation and, with your permission, prepare a written report
- This report is sent to your Regimental / Corps Charity. If they are unable to fund the request in full, they will forward your case to us for consideration
- If we are forwarded your case we will review it and collaborate with other military charities to ensure you receive appropriate support
- We aim to make grant payments to the relevant caseworking organisation eg SSAFA, within 48 hours of receiving the case
We are unable to discuss the status of applications with individuals –Individuals should contact the relevant caseworker to discuss their application
Both SSAFA and the Royal British Legion will need key information such as Service Number, Regiment, Service Dates, Income, Expenditure and details of any savings. It would be helpful, but not essential, to have all or some of this information to hand when you contact them
KEY CONTACTS:
SSAFA – SSAFA.org.uk Find local branch | SSAFA
Or call their Forcesline on 0800 260 6767 They’re open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm
Royal British Legion – Britishlegion.org.uk RBL near you | Local Communities | Royal British Legion
If you can’t find a service near you, please call their helpline on 0808 802 8080. They’re open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm
PoppyScotland – www.poppyscotland.org.uk Get help now | Contact us | Poppyscotland
Call 0131 550 1557 or email [email protected]
For caseworkers, use the guidance and contact numbers on the Casework Management System
Contacting our Grants & Welfare Team
Please note we do not provide caseworking services, so the quickest way to access support is by contacting the relevant organisation (see details above). If, however, you would like to speak to our Grants & Welfare team about the grants process, please use the form below
Please note, completion of this form should not be seen as a guarantee of support being provided by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and we will still need to liaise with a caseworking organisation