The work of the national forces charity SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors Airmen and Families Association) Forces Help in Wiltshire is vitally important to the welfare of the servicemen, women and their families, serving or otherwise, who have chosen to settle in the area.

Last year, SSAFA provided help to more than 50,000 people in the UK – and in Wiltshire, a county with one of the largest military presences in the country, the charity is busier than ever.

With RAF Lyneham to the north, army garrisons at Warminster, Tidworth, Bulford and Larkhill to the south, and the vast military exercise area at Salisbury Plain in between, Wiltshire is home to a huge military family.

It is at times when families or individuals find themselves in need that SSAFA steps in. The charity has seven separate branches in the county, more than 70 professionally trained Caseworkers and a small army of Friends working on the ground.

A former Royal Engineer, John Hopkins has been honorary divisional secretary at the North Wiltshire branch of the charity for the past seven years. He supervises 17 case workers (four of whom are under training) and 14 Friends.
“Many of our team have connections with the services,” explained Mr Hopkins.
“Our oldest case worker is 80, some are retired, while others, like two young women from RAF Lyneham who recently completed their training, are in their thirties.”

In the past year, John and his team have dealt with 219 cases. Normally a caseworker visits the client in their home and assesses their needs. These can range from help with housing, benefits and pensions claims to the provision of special equipment and emergency payouts. Friends support the caseworkers by providing follow up visits and helping clients in various ways. This could be just staying for a chat, taking them out to help with shopping, or tackling some paperwork with them.
‘SSAFA act as an agent for all the service charities,” explained John.
“ Our job is to identify the nature of the problem and cast our net far and wide to find help.”

In recent months, public awareness of the bravery and professionalism of the armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan has been growing, more communities are marking soldiers returning home with ‘welcome home’ ceremonies and pressure is mounting to have an annual Armed Forces Day.

Sadly, many of these returning soldiers need help for both physical and mental injuries, and this is another important part of the charity’s work. SSAFA Wiltshire recently contributed towards the purchase of a house close to the Defence Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey and a parallel project near Selly Oak Hospital, in Birmingham.

This enables families to spend time with their relatives while they are undergoing treatment.

All these activities need not only dedicated volunteers, but money, and SSAFA Wiltshire has an energetic fund raising programme. Recent efforts of supporters have included a sponsored run by personnel at the Royal College of Military Science at Shrivenham and a sell out Christmas Concert at The Corn Exchange in Devizes, which raised more than £5,000.

A fund raising golf match at Orchardleigh near Frome is taking place on June 6, and on June 21 a Safari Supper, preceded by Beating the Retreat, is taking place at Longleat House, with guests of honour HRH Prince & Princess Michael of Kent. In October, a SSAFA team event will be part of the Swindon Half Marathon, and the year will finish with a rousing Christmas concert at the Corn Exchange in Devizes on December 3.

Air Vice-Marshal David Couzens, Chairman of SSAFA Wiltshire, pointed out that the charity is always in need of help, both from new volunteers and for the fund raising events. “I’m privileged to lead a truly dedicated team of volunteers who undertake such fantastic work on behalf of those who need our help,” he said,

“ But we always need more support, both from new volunteers and for the events we organize. If any readers have been impressed by the work we undertake and would like to be involved, or just attend any of our events, full details are available on our web site.”

Josephine Offord (case study)
SSAFA works with all generations, and Josephine Offord from Swindon, whose late husband served in World War 2 is one of them. Mrs Offord, 82 recently underwent a triple heart bypass operation, and then further surgery for replacement hip and knee joints.
After visits from SSAFA case workers, a full assessment was carried out and funds were found from a total of five separate service benevolent funds. This enabled Mrs Offord to buy a mobility scooter:
“The scooter is an absolute godsend and has transformed my life,” she said
“ I’m just so grateful to SSAFA for their help.”

To find out more about supporting the work of SSAFA Wiltshire, becoming a volunteer with the charity or getting advice, access www.ssafa-wilts.com