Big donation to SSAFA from BBC Children in Need

09 July 2019

1 August 2016

SSAFA is delighted to announce that BBC Children in Need has awarded a grant of £128,845 over three years for adoption support for Military families. This grant will fund the work of the Post Adoption Support Worker and help make a difference to those children and young people placed with military adopters across the UK.

Since 1885, SSAFA has provided lifelong support for those who serve or have served in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, British Army and the Royal Air Force, and their families. For over forty years, SSAFA’s Adoption service has matched children with members of the military community. The service provides training and assessment for prospective adopters and post-placement support to families.

Approximately 3,500 children in England and Wales are awaiting adoption, and many have been waiting for 18 months or more. With the right support, Military families have qualities which make them ideal parents for children with more complex needs. They have empathy, warmth, and humour, and are experienced at building strong, effective bonds while maintaining boundaries.

The BBC Children in Need grant will fund the work of the Post-Adoption Support Worker over three years. The ongoing support provided by the Post-Adoption Support Worker ensures the children and parents have all the help they need to build their life together as a family unit and gives children the best possible chance of flourishing in their new home.

SSAFA's Adoption Service has been running for over 40 years and is the only specialist adoption agency registered to deliver this service for military families throughout the UK. We realize that competition for Children in Need backing is tough, so we are delighted to have been chosen to receive this vital funding. The grant will help SSAFA to continue to provide much needed post-placement support to families experiencing difficulties once children are placed.

- Corienne Strange, Head of Adoption Service, SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity

BBC Children in Need funding relies on the energy and commitment of thousands of fundraisers and supporters across the UK who donate their time and money to support the Appeal. Whether it’s cake sales, wearing pyjamas to school or having a song and dance, every penny of the money raised goes towards supporting projects across the UK.

All grants go to projects working with children and young people living in the UK who may be affected by homelessness, neglect, abuse or poverty, or those who have faced challenges in their lives such as serious illness, disabilities and psychological disorders.

BBC Children in Need is a charity registered in England and Wales (802052) and Scotland (SC039557) whose aim is to make a positive change to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. BBC Children in Need’s vision is that every child in the UK has a safe, happy and secure childhood and the chance to reach their potential.

BBC Children in Need are currently supporting c.2,600 projects that are working with children and young people facing a range of disadvantages or challenges in their lives such as, poverty and deprivation; abuse or neglect or any kind of disability.