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Help and Support - a list of useful service, ex-service and charity contacts
While every effort has been made to ensure the information here is accurate, Cruse Bereavement Care cannot be held responsible for information that has subsequently changed. Our thanks to all those who have contributed to the material provided on the site. To go to the website, please click on the organisation name.
You will find further information at the following service sites:
The Royal Navy | The Army | The Royal Air Force
The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
This
covers all three services and consists of a number of organisations which provide support for the bereaved, seriously injured and seriously ill. Click here to see the Veterans Welfare Service bereavement support process.
Support Groups for Parents, Widows and Others
The three services have widows' support groups which are run by widows for widows, widowers and partners, and there are also pan-service organisations - you'll find links below.
The Military Families Support Group
Through the website this group offers: "Help, Support, Information And Guidance For Anyone Who Has Suffered The Loss Of A Loved One While Serving With The UK Armed Forces. We Can Also Offer Help And Support To Injured And Traumatised Service Men And Women, And Also Their Families." Parents of young service personnel who lose their lives through natural causes or are killed in action, often have particular issues to deal with that are not recognized by the “system”. Particular problems sometimes arise where girlfriends / partners and others are involved as Next of Kin, or when parents have divorced and remarried and not all information is shared. Although the Military Families Support Group is for all family members, it has a large number of parents who use the site, offering mutual understanding, and who also meet each other and offer telephone support.
The War Widows Association of Great Britain - essentially a pressure group and exists to improve the conditions of War Widows and their dependants in Great Britain. Its work encompasses those who have suffered bereavement as a result of World War II and all conflicts since, including Iraq and Afghanistan. The WWA also represents those who have suffered the loss of their spouse in peacetime, when his death was attributable to his service life. It is able to help all those whose spouse or partner’s death was attributable to their service life by giving them advice and support. Contact c/o 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA, call on 0845 2412 189, or click here to email. Young widows may be interested in joining a msn messaging group or a group formed through facebook.
Naval Families Federation - the independent voice of Royal Naval and Royal Marines families.
Royal Navy/Royal Marines Widows Association - supports those who are bereaved, formed recently with the aim to bring friendship, support, and guidence to those bereaved within the Navy/Marines community, widows/widowers and those in receipt of a forces pension. C/O NFF , Castaway House, 311 Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth, Hants, PO2 8RN, call: 02392 654374. Although a website is not yet available, there is an email address: rnrmwidowsassociation@hotmail.com
The Army Widows Association - formed by widows in 2004, it aims to offer comfort, support and friendship to all new widows, widowers or recognised partners at this very difficult time. The AWA writes to all new widows, this letter and information will be delivered by the Visiting Officer as contact details are not allowed to be passed on without the direct permission of the widow. All members of the AWA have lost their spouse and it aims to offer support as and when you need it drawing from their many and varied experiences. The AWA has good links with those in the Army responsible for the aftercare to widows (and their children) and works hard to maintain and improve this care. Contact can be made by email at info@armywidows.org.uk or by telephoning 01980 615558.
The Army Families Federation - the independent voice of Army families, works to improve the quality of life for Army families worldwide on any aspect that is affected by the Army lifestyle.
Royal Air Force Widows Association - offers support, comfort and advice to those newly bereaved, whose spouse was serving in the Royal Air Force at the time of their death. It works with the Royal Air Force and the Ministry of Defence to encourage them to recognise their responsibilities to their widows and to make widows an integral part of the community service, and to address matters relating to Royal Air Force Widows and their children. Regrettably, membership cannot be extended to widows whose husband died more than 10 years ago, or who had left the RAF more than two years before their death. The Association welcomes contact from servicepersons who have been widowed and who need help with problems or issues. Tel : 0870 514 3901
RAF Families Federation - represents the concerns of RAF personnel and their families (spouses, partners, parents, children, siblings).
The Officers' Association - supporting Officers, Retired Officers and their families seeking Employment, Advice, Assistance and Accommodation.
Lady Grover's Fund was founded in 1911 and gives financial assistance to dependants of officers of all three services, whether serving or retired; supports officers’ wives, husbands, widows, widowers, and dependant children with contributions to hospital fees, nursing and home help following injury or illness. The subscription is £35 a year. To join, contact 0845 873 7161
Daniel’s Trust started in 2005 in response to requests for help from young soldiers who were being bullied whilst serving in the British Army and in memory of soldiers who had died in non-combative situations.
Contact by email or call 07777 643 448
EX-SERVICES CHARITIES OFFERING SUPPORT
The ex-service charities may well be a useful source of advice and support. Each charity has a particular purpose but increasingly they are working together to best meet the needs of the wider military family and its dependents – and yes, the bereaved dependents are regarded as part of that family! Click on the purple links to go to the websites.
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Summary of services, with quick links
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The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSASFA) helps and supports those who serve in our Armed Forces and those who used to serve - even if it was only for a single day - and their families. Support group website for bereaved families |
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SSAFA Forces Line - a free and confidential helpline that is completely independent of the military chain of command. Experienced civilian staff provide a supportive, listening and signposting service for serving personnel and their families as well as former members of the Armed Forces. The service is available 365 days a year and can be accessed from anywhere in the world. The line is open from 1030am - 10.30pm (UK local time). |
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The RAF Association (RAFA) is a membership organisation of serving and former members of the Royal Air Force, their families and dependants and all those supporting the aims of the Association. |
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The Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) is the Soldiers' Charity providing support to soldiers, former soldiers and their families in times of need |
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The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is the RAF's leading welfare charity, providing financial, practical and emotional support to all members of the RAF family. It helps serving and former members of the RAF, as well as their partners and dependants, on a very wide range of issues. |
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The Service Personnel and Veterans' Agency, an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence, provides pay, pension and support services. There is now a podcast discussing changes to the veterans' welfare service. You can read more in the press release here on the new podcast facility. |
The Armed Forces Community Welfare Pathway |
This is a conceptual pathway, which provides the Armed Forces community - all Service Personnel, veterans, their families and widow(er)s - with a means of more easily and effectively accessing the help and advice they may need. The Pathway does not replace existing signposting mechanisms but seeks to reinforce them by ensuring that people don’t slip through the net. |
| Veterans First Point | A one-stop-shop for veterans living in Lothian in Scotland, offering help and assistance to veterans whatever their needs may be. |
| Directory of other help | Click on the link (in coloured type) to find the information |
| Afghan Heroes - a charity supporting military families affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. | |
| The Forces Pension Society - exists to ensure that serving and retired members of the Armed Forces, their widows, widowers, surviving partners, civil partners and dependants receive the pension to which they are entitled and which they deserve. | |
| Forces Discounts - the discounts and benefits provided in the Defence Discount Directory and website are aimed at the Defence Community in its widest sense. | |
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Civvy Street - a website for Service leavers and anyone who has ever served and their dependants with information about resettlement, learning. Part of the British Legion's Poppy Advice, civvy street is a good place to go for information, advice and guidance. |
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| Pensions - everyone’s circumstances are different and it may take a little while to get your exact entitlement sorted out; the Service Personnel and Veterans' Agency may be able to help. |