Charities work together to support RAF veterans, serving personnel and their families

13 January 2021

In 2019, the RAF Benevolent Fund pledged to provide annual support over three years towards SSAFA’s Forcesline and Norton House services. In 2020 alone, the Armed Forces charity were awarded a generous grant of £25,275 across these two services, enabling staff and volunteers to continue to make a true difference, especially during such challenging times.

Forcesline is a free and confidential telephone helpline, email service and webchat that provides support for serving (regulars and reserves), veterans and their families.

Bill Grant, Forcesline Manager at SSAFA, said: “Year two of the grant from the RAF Benevolent Fund has allowed us to reach even more members of the RAF family in their greatest time of need. Whether they’re facing emotional, financial or physical issues, we are on hand to support them and point them in the right direction.”

SSAFA’s Forcesline team have supported a case involving an RAF veteran, who was facing the very real possibility of becoming homeless, which would have left him and his 26-year-old disabled daughter in a desperately challenging situation. The family reached out to SSAFA’s Forcesline team and were signposted to specialist assistance and support to ensure they remained safe, with a roof over their heads.

Forcesline is also available to spouses and family members of the RAF family in times of need. One spouse reached out to SSAFA after her husband had transitioned from the RAF to civilian life and had subsequently experienced depression. She told Forcesline that he had begun experiencing nightmares involving flashbacks from his previous tours of duty and was still struggling to adapt to civilian life after 18 months.

Her Forcesline advisor was able to offer support and guidance, referring her and her husband to guidance provided through the RAF Benevolent Fund’s website, and SSAFA’s Mentoring service for early service leavers.

The RAF Benevolent Fund’s grant also supports SSAFA’s Norton House, located in Leicestershire. The house provides free, safe and supportive accommodation to family members whose loved ones are receiving treatment for injuries at the nearby Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre.

Norton House also provides a haven for those receiving treatment, allowing them a break from the hospital environment and providing them with peace of mind in the knowledge that their family is in a comfortable and reassuring environment.

Michelle Arthur, Housing Manager at Norton House, said: “One of our regular families to the house stay here in order to support their daughter, who is an inspirational young lady serving in the RAF. She suffered an accident that resulted in a brain injury almost three years ago.

“The existence of SSAFA’s Norton House means that the patient is able to spend precious time with her family who are able to stay close by, without having to worry. They’ve been able to spend Christmas together here too, which is really special for the family.

“This Christmas, her parents and her fiancé plan to come up together. Though the family visit her at the DMRC regularly, nothing beats the smile on their faces when they get to have their daughter here with them at Norton House. Her mother can cook her favourite dinner and they can watch movies together as a family unit.”

When asked if they would be happy to share their story, her parents wrote: “It is true to say that Norton House has been a home from home for us when visiting our daughter, and your continued support - whether an ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on or just giving us time and space to relax after each visit - has been invaluable in allowing us to continue to support her.”