Serving Community Teams

Supporting serving communities in the UK and overseas.

To be able to meet the unique needs of Armed Forces personnel and their families, SSAFA provides volunteer support to local serving communities both in UK and at British military bases overseas. 

Our volunteer-led Serving Community Teams help the serving community access financial, practical and emotional support whenever they need it.  

Separate from the chain of command, SSAFA volunteers provide a confidential service to those in the serving community, including Reservists, serving personnel and their families whether living on bases or in their own homes.

What do Serving Community Teams do?

Raising awareness and funds are important elements of the work Serving Community Teams do. Depending on your location, other types of support available could include:

  • Community Connection events - groups that bring community members together promoting connection and reducing loneliness.

  • Community Volunteer support – a listening ear, practical help with odd jobs, or signposting to other organisations.

  • Community Grants – small grants to assist services as they deliver support to the serving community.

  • Individual Grants – small one-off grants to support individuals with urgent needs that are not funded by welfare or statutory agencies.

  • Loan stores – hire equipment to help you in your home.


I want to speak to my local Serving Community Team

There is a full list of Serving Community Team locations on this page (see to the right or below).

If you wish to talk to your SCT, or ask a question about the SCT network, then please complete our online webform:



If you need support more urgently, then please do not hesitate to contact our Forcesline help team, available by telephone, webchat or email:



How Serving Community Team volunteers helped in 2023

  • Serving community volunteers supported 707 people including 424 Service Personnel and 283 family members. 

  • 9,346 hours given by our volunteers.

  • Community Connections Champions who run events and activities to help alleviate loneliness and isolation in the serving community supported 283 people through a range of activities such as band nights, bowling, book clubs, walking groups and art classes.  

  • SSAFA’s volunteer led Serving Community Teams collectively raised over £56,000 through a wide range of events and activities.

  • Community Volunteers, who offer practical and emotional support helped 54 beneficiaries. The top four categories of support were health & additional needs, loneliness and isolation, relationship breakdown and transition when leaving the forces.

 

Anyone can become a Serving Community Team Volunteer - please find out more here.