About Us Leaflet 2025

THE ARMY'S NATIONAL CHARITY

WHO WE ARE As the Army’s national charity, the welfare of soldiers, former soldiers, and their immediate families has always been at the heart of everything we do.

Our founding purpose has remained the same since 1944: to ensure that soldiers, veterans, and their families (including the bereaved) can avoid hardship and live with independence and dignity.

The Army Benevolent Fund is one of the largest funders in the sector. We stand at the forefront of support, last year supporting 80,000 members of the Army family in 52 countries across the globe; and funding 93 other charities and organisations delivering specialist services. We are here to support the Army family through all of life’s challenges, including bereavement, injury, getting back to work, elderly care, and much more besides.

In FY24-25 we spent over £9.2M supporting 80,000 members of the Army family

The youngest person we supported was THREE YEARS OLD, the eldest was 105

We funded 93 OTHER CHARITIES AND ORGANISATIONS to support the Army family

We supported the British Army family in 52 COUNTRIES

HELPING ARMY FAMILIES We are committed to supporting the immediate families of those who have served their country.

Our help comes in many forms: promoting the welfare of bereaved children and widowed spouses from Army families; funding respite holiday breaks for service families; and funding hospital accommodation for the families of wounded serving soldiers. We also fund numerous other charities and organisations that deliver services on our behalf to help Army families.

Fit and full of life, Olivia enjoyed the opportunities offered by a career in the Army, until she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Since completing her first adaptive climbing course run by Climb 2 Recovery, which the ABF helps fund, Olivia has found a new purpose, a sense of belonging and a wonderful group of friends, all of which have been very positive for her physical and mental health.

MENTAL WELLBEING We promote and enable better mental and physical wellbeing so that soldiers, former soldiers, and their immediate families can lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

We provide wide-ranging assistance to ensure that soldiers past and present, including those with complex mental health needs, can access specialist treatment.

After being deployed to Afghanistan, Matt was injured when his Platoon came under attack.

He left the Army in 2022 and had a belowknee amputation. We provided £1,000 towards the cost of an electrical adjustable bed to improve his recovery.

Our £250,000 grant to COMBAT STRESS enabled life-changing support for veterans with complex mental health conditions, including PTSD. Our £15,000 grant to CLIMB 2 RECOVERY went towards the charity’s running costs, enabling it to help around 70 Army veterans each year.

TRAINING & EDUCATION Most soldiers transition into civilian employment smoothly but, for some, leaving the Army is a daunting experience.

We are here to equip former soldiers with the training and education they need to succeed in their chosen field.

Our support includes helping soldiers who have been wounded, injured or sick and have had to leave the Army as a result.

Henry is the disabled son of an Army veteran, Lee, and his wife, Natalie. Aged four, Henry was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare life-limiting, muscle-wasting condition.

We provided a grant of £13,500 to help fund essential adaptations to the family home. Henry is now able to get outside into the garden in his wheelchair, to enjoy time with his family.

Jack served for six years before being medically discharged, which affected him badly as he was a keen soldier and wished to remain in the Army. Estranged from his family and homeless, his future looked bleak. With funding support from the ABF, employment opportunities opened up and Jack now has his own flat and a job.

INDEPENDENT LIVING From home adaptations for injured veterans to specialist equipment for disabled children in Army families, we provide grants to help people lead independent lives.

We also give grants to leading charities across the UK that support members of the Army family with physical disabilities.

HOUSING We work hard to ensure that members of our Army family can live in safe and comfortable homes.

We are on hand with individual grants for housing needs and fund a range of housing providers that offer accommodation to former soldiers and their families across the UK.

Erskine is the only charity in Scotland providing care homes exclusively for veterans and their spouses, of whom 70% are living with a dementia diagnosis. The ABF made a grant of £150,000 to Erskine in FY24-25, enabling the charity to provide Army veterans with social opportunities and enhanced care, to improve their health and wellbeing.

CARE FOR THE ELDERLY Former Metropolitan Police officer and Army widow, Elaine, has been living at the Chiswick War Memorial Home, part of The Stoll Foundation, since 2018. The ABF helps fund The Stoll Foundation, which provides housing support for military veterans and their dependants.

We provide support for soldiers, for life. A cornerstone of our activity is ensuring that elderly former soldiers and their families have the care they need, long after service has ended.

From funding leading specialist care homes to providing financial assistance to Commonwealth exsoldiers in 52 countries, we are here to provide lifelong support for those who have served their country.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP? To help raise funds for the Army’s national charity, contact your local ABF office or head to armybenevolentfund.org to get started.

GET INVOLVED There are a lot of ways you can support soldiers, past and present, and their families.

DONATE Give a one-off donation or a regular gift and help us provide ongoing support.

EVENTS Support the Army family by joining us at an event or by taking on a challenge, such as the Cateran Yomp.

LEGACIES Help safeguard the future by leaving a gift in your will.

VOLUNTEER Help out at one of our fundraising events or join a county committee.

Search armybenevolentfund.org to get started

CONTACT DETAILS HEAD OFFICE T 020 7901 8900 E supportercare@ armybenevolentfund.org

SCOTLAND T 01313 764 008 E scotland@ armybenevolentfund.org

EAST ANGLIA T 01206 817 105 E eastanglia@ armybenevolentfund.org

SOUTH EAST T 01276 535 975 E southeast@ armybenevolentfund.org

EAST MIDLANDS T 01159 572 103 E eastmidlands@ armybenevolentfund.org

SOUTH WEST

LONDON T 0203 903 6030 E london@ armybenevolentfund.org NORTHERN IRELAND T 02892 678 112 E ni@armybenevolentfund.org NORTH EAST & YORKSHIRE T 01748 900 236/237 E northeast@ armybenevolentfund.org NORTH WEST T 01772 288 896 E northwest@ armybenevolentfund.org

Bulford Office T 01980 672 337 E southwest@ armybenevolentfund.org Exeter Office T 01392 342 787/786 E southwest@ armybenevolentfund.org WALES T 02920 377 080 E wales@ armybenevolentfund.org WEST MIDLANDS T 01952 674 369 E westmidlands@ armybenevolentfund.org

Army Benevolent Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales (1146420) and Scotland (SC039189) and registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (07974609).