For families, for life

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is here for military families throughout their lives.

We support families in a variety of ways, from expanding family units via our adoption service and supporting those struggling with bereavement, to hosting families with additional needs on our Short Breaks holidays and providing welfare assistance to families in tough times. SSAFA recognises the importance of families and steadfast believes we all need to support each other.

Lt General Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said: “Since SSAFA was founded in 1885 to look after families left behind when troops went overseas, the charity has had the wellbeing of families at the heart of much of what we do. When serving people deploy, families have to manage their lives and deal with the stress caused by not knowing what is happening, especially over the worry that their loved one might be killed or wounded; they also get moved at short notice and isolated from their own support structures. 

"Without their commitment, this nation’s Armed Forces could not function.  SSAFA is therefore very proud to have supported military families since its formation; we will always continue to do so.”

Eric came to the UK as a student in 2009.  By the time of his graduation he had been convinced by a friend to join the British Army, which he did in 2012.  

Eric remembers his service with fondness, serving with the Yorkshire Regiment, the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and finally the Royal Lancers.

In 2021 he left the Army in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, recognising the call to arms that the NHS was making, for more frontline staff.

During this transition period Eric was put into contact with SSAFA, who helped him with his move to civilian life, providing financial to properly equip his new family home.

Read his story here

SSAFA's Short Breaks service provides adventure holidays for service families who have a child living with a disability.

They are incredibly popular, providing extremely welcome fun, relaxation, and social opportunities for families who usually have to work hard providing the specialised care their children need.  The Short Breaks allow the children to discover new activities in a safe environment, and gives the parents the space to meet similar families, and share and discuss their experiences.

The Short Breaks are organised by SSAFA's Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum (FANDF), and you can find out more about them here.  If you are living with a disability, and wish to engage with similar people, then please do not hesitate to join their mailing list.

Read about our most recent Short Break here

On Tuesday 18 October, we shone a spotlight on the team that keeps our Adoption Service running at a ‘thank you’ event for the team, invited panel and adopters.

The celebration was held at the Household Cavalry Museum where guests first heard from SSAFA’s Controller, Sir Andrew Gregory, and the Head of the Adoption Management Committee, Susie Moran. The last speech of the night came from Mark Law whose adoption story didn’t leave a dry eye in the house.

Click here to read snippets of Mark’s emotive story

After conducting a small survey, research suggests that bereavement is a stage in life that most of us would perhaps rather not think about with three in five Brits (61%) agreeing that society still regards death and dying as a taboo subject.

SSAFA has three support groups to help those who are struggling with bereavement and to give them a place where they can talk freely with others who are experiencing similar loss.  Please click here to find out more.

Find out more about our survey results here