This year we have given £7.93million supporting 5,295 soldiers, veterans and

their families in need, and funded 76 charities to deliver help on our behalf.

An Army team competing in the Alliance Trust Cateran Yomp

Supporting Individuals – Providing Independence and Dignity

Chris Parrott Chris was injured twice whilst serving with 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment on two separate tours of Afghanistan. After he was medically discharged from the Army, The Soldiers’ Charity helped Chris attend a horticulture course – transforming the confidence and employability of a young veteran.

Terry De’ath Terry joined the Army in 1985 and served with the Royal Anglians and Royal Artillery. He suffered a blast injury in Northern Ireland which caused physical and mental health problems. Our Specialist Employment Consultant programme helped Terry to find a new life as a carpenter and book binder outside the Army.

David Thackeray David served in the Army for 13 years; in The Parachute Regiment and as an Army helicopter pilot. He suffered gunshot wounds after being shot down over the Malayan Jungle and was later Mentioned in Despatches. Our funding for a stairlift allowed this decorated elderly veteran to move around his home and ensured that his wife was able to cope.

Jessica JosephJessica is originally from St Lucia and served for 11 years as a chef in the Royal Logistics Corps. When she left the Army a grant from The Soldiers’ Charity allowed a single parent, without any help or support, to set up home with her young daughter by paying for essential furnishings.

Ben RishtonBen served as an infantry soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan. He later suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which led to medical discharge from the Army. The Soldiers’ Charity stepped in after local authorities turned down Ben’s request for assistance with housing. Ben and his young family now have the security of affordable accommodation.

The impact of these grants can be as immediate as securing a roof over someone’s head that night, or assisting with travel to an educational course, to helping an elderly veteran facing hardship.

We are proud to quickly provide the money where it’s needed, usually within 48 hours. Working with Regiments and Corps to reach those in genuine need, The Soldiers’ Charity provides a ‘hand up’ to allow our beneficiaries to get on with their lives.

How ABF The Soldiers’ Charity made a difference to soldiers, veterans and their families in 2013-14

£5.002million helped 5,295 individuals and families in the last year alone

Housing

Specialist Employment Consultants

Elderly Care

Education / Training

Mobility

Well-Being

Transition support for Wounded Injured and Sick soldiers

Support to Families

Other support to Wounded, Injured and Sick Soldiers, in collaboration with Help for Heroes and others

We have given £2.93million to 76 specialist charities focusing on specific areas of support, such as mental health, housing or veterans, which deliver essential services on our behalf

High GroundThe Soldiers’ Charity provided funding to allow High Ground to establish pioneering horticulture therapy at the Defence Rehabilitation Medical Centre. More than 80 soldiers’ lives have been transformed in the last year.

The Poppy FactoryWe funded employment services at The Poppy Factory, which brought sustainable, meaningful employment and financial independence for more than 150 disabled veterans, who are often unable to access other services.

The Erskine Hospital Since 1944, The Soldiers’ Charity has given annual funding to The Erskine Hospital, which cares for elderly veterans like Douglas Cameron (above). Last year, we awarded £140,000 to help support the home.

Royal Star and GarterA grant from The Soldiers’ Charity means that more than 100 young disabled veterans each year can be residents – giving them dignified nursing care and a good quality of life.

Vitalise£34,000 to help provide 100 affordable holidays for ex-Army personnel with physical disabilities, from all areas of the UK, giving respite to the daily challenges of life with a disability.

Rutland Citizens Advice Bureau A money advice specialist provides an outreach service to a remote barracks in Rutland. Financial advice tackles issues including debt and living costs.

FABFAB (Family Activity Breaks) provide adventurous respite holidays, helping families cope with grief and loss. More than 40 families have benefited from FAB breaks in the last year, thanks to a grant from The Soldiers’ Charity.

ZANE(Zimbabwe A National Emergency) provides the only social services network in Zimbabwe. Our annual grant of £345,500 to the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League, enables it, amongst other projects, to lift 600 ex-Rhodesian African Rifles servicemen out of destitution and enable them to pass their old age in relative comfort and dignity.

Just some of the charities we’ve helped in 2013-14

Housing and homelessnessWe fund schemes which tackle the root

causes of homelessness and provide

emergency accommodation for homeless

veterans.

Well-beingPutting resource into awareness, treatment

and recognition of mental health across the

serving and veteran community is something

we continue to invest in.

Elderly CareWe support organisations which provide

specialist care for elderly veterans. They give

compassionate care to those who have no

other resource to call on.

Support to familiesWe support separated families, provide

educational initiatives where required, and

vital respite breaks for bereaved families.

We also help those moving on from Army life.

MobilityWe support organisations which empower

disabled veterans, or disabled dependants

of soldiers, to live the fullest possible life,

whatever their disability.

Employment and TrainingProviding jobs, work experience and training.

Charities we support in this area provide extra

skills and build confidence to those finding

their feet.

Breaking it down: the grants we make to other charities by sector

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity; the Army’s enabling charityWe work with individuals, charities and other stakeholders; identifying areas of work and making sure the money is carefully stewarded where it’s needed most. As an established grant-making charity, The Soldiers’ Charity can capture trends and identify emerging issues. Co-ordination, de-confliction and prioritisation lie at the heart of our work

Born in 1944The Soldiers’ Charity funded a new bathroom for a 70 year old veteran who had served for 22 years in the Ulster Defence Regiment. The veteran and his wife, both in poor health, can now use their own bathroom and safely carry out their daily routines.

Born in 1954The Soldiers’ Charity supported a Gurkha family in the UK. The father, aged 60, had served in the Brigade of Gurkhas for 19 years. When the soldier left the Army he was surviving on a minimal wage and had other difficulties. White goods and furnishings provided an adequate living environment for him and his two young children.

Alabaré Funded by The Soldiers’ Charity, Alabaré Christian Care and Support has been working to develop a pathway of housing and support for vulnerable veterans of working age in Gloucestershire. The aim is to provide an effective route out of homelessness for veterans through the provision of supported housing, ‘move-on’ housing and a befriending and mentoring service.

StollFunding from The Soldiers’ Charity enables Stoll (formerly Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation) to provide the support to

vulnerable ex-Army personnel so they can maintain their tenancies and work towards their aspirations in all areas of their lives. It is only with our support that this work can continue.

Haig HousingProviding homes and housing assistance for Service and ex-Service men and women. The Soldiers’ Charity part-funds a case worker, enabling Haig Housing to reach additional deserving beneficiaries, as well as supporting their ‘Less Abled Assistance Scheme’ which, this year, has provided assistance to 79 ex-Army tenants in the UK with their home or garden.

A programme of kitchen upgrades has also been made possible this year, thanks to The Soldiers’ Charity.

Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR)SVR will shortly open its new supported housing for veterans in Glasgow. The project will provide first class accommo-dation and a transitional support service to help service leavers make the change to civilian life successfully. Financial support from The Soldiers’ Charity has been crucial for the completion of this project, which will provide practical help for vulnerable veterans for many years to come.

Some of the housing charities we have helped in 2013-14

Our grants to individuals, of almost £1.2million for housing, have been supported by £328,000 to charities tackling homelessness and housing issues in the veteran community

For example; supporting a range of housing solutions for those in difficulty

Just some of our beneficiaries, since 1944

Born in 1964An urgent grant from The Soldiers’ Charity supported a 50-year-old veteran and his seven-year-old son. The father, the sole provider for the child, served in the Royal Armoured Corps and in the TA. The result of a low salary and high child care costs meant the pair were forced to leave their home. With help from The Soldiers’ Charity, the little boy and the veteran could stay together and moved into a flat.

Born in 1974We helped with the cost of renting a holiday cottage for a 40-year-old former Gunner with restricted mobility and PTSD. Three of his four children also have disabilities and work needed to be carried out in their home. Thanks to support from The Soldiers’ Charity, the family had a much needed respite break and a place to stay during the adaptations.

The impact of The Soldiers’ Charity over the past year is, of course, measurable in hard data. However, statistics are only part of the story. We are proud of our long history of loyalty to our soldiers – no matter where or when they’ve served. Allowing a veteran to stay in their own home, or helping a wounded soldier find a new career with training and support when they leave the Army, these are things we have always done and continue to do. Our work this year has been all-encompassing; including supporting new initiatives working exclusively for the benefit of the Army family, and focusing on supporting other charities which don’t have our infrastructure or experience.

Major General (Retd) Martin Rutledge CB OBE. Chief Executive – ABF The Soldiers’ Charity

Our Vision:“That all serving and former soldiers and their dependants should have the opportunity to avoid hardship and to enjoy independence and dignity”

Our Values:IntegrityThe Soldiers’ Charity is part of the Army’s and Nation’s fabric; we must act accordingly.

RespectWe respect every individual and their needs.

LoyaltyWe have a sense of loyalty to the Army as an institution, its people and those who support us.

InspirationWe create opportunities and inspire others, with the emphasis on a ‘hand-up’ not a

‘hand-out’.

CommitmentWe must be approachable, effective and quick to respond.

CourageWe act on behalf of our beneficiaries without fear or favour, telling it as it is.

Our Purpose:We give a lifetime of support to serving and retired soldiers and their families in need

We make grants to individuals through their Regiments and Corps

We make grants to specialist organisations and charities that help soldiers and their families

We work with veterans of every conflict, including the Second World War and those from current operations

We make grant payments quickly, making a significant difference at a critical point in peoples’ lives

As so many members of the Army are moving on, we too must move with the times. Our focus this year has been firmly on transition, helping those who are leaving the Army – through redundancy, injury or simply going on to other jobs – to make this journey as smooth as possible. More than a quarter of the money we gave to individuals went to serving soldiers and their families; proving we are there for soldiers, veterans and families in need, no matter what their circumstances.

General (Retd) Sir Mike Jackson GCB CBE DSO DL. President – ABF The Soldiers’ Charity

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity; the Army’s enabling charityWe work with individuals, charities and other stakeholders; identifying areas of work and making sure the money is carefully stewarded where it’s needed most. As an established grant-making charity, The Soldiers’ Charity can capture trends and identify emerging issues. Co-ordination, de-confliction and prioritisation lie at the heart of our work

Born in 1984The Soldiers’ Charity awarded a grant to help purchase a mobility scooter for a 30 year old Corporal who served in the Royal Logistic Corps. The soldier suffered a stroke shortly after returning from an operational tour of Afghanistan. The scooter allowed him to go out for short distances, giving him some independence and mobility.

Born in 1994A grant of £846 covered the course fees for a 20-year-old soldier who had been injured whilst serving with 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan. He suffered muscle damage to both legs and a significant injury to his left hand. Our Charity helped pay for a cycle maintenance course to ensure a young soldier had a new career and a future after injury.

Alabaré Funded by The Soldiers’ Charity, Alabaré Christian Care and Support has been working to develop a pathway of housing and support for vulnerable veterans of working age in Gloucestershire. The aim is to provide an effective route out of homelessness for veterans through the provision of supported housing, ‘move-on’ housing and a befriending and mentoring service.

StollFunding from The Soldiers’ Charity enables Stoll (formerly Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation) to provide the support to

vulnerable ex-Army personnel so they can maintain their tenancies and work towards their aspirations in all areas of their lives. It is only with our support that this work can continue.

Haig HousingProviding homes and housing assistance for Service and ex-Service men and women. The Soldiers’ Charity part-funds a case worker, enabling Haig Housing to reach additional deserving beneficiaries, as well as supporting their ‘Less Abled Assistance Scheme’ which, this year, has provided assistance to 79 ex-Army tenants in the UK with their home or garden.

A programme of kitchen upgrades has also been made possible this year, thanks to The Soldiers’ Charity.

Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR)SVR will shortly open its new supported housing for veterans in Glasgow. The project will provide first class accommo-dation and a transitional support service to help service leavers make the change to civilian life successfully. Financial support from The Soldiers’ Charity has been crucial for the completion of this project, which will provide practical help for vulnerable veterans for many years to come.

Some of the housing charities we have helped in 2013-14

Our grants to individuals, of almost £1.2million for housing, have been supported by £328,000 to charities tackling homelessness and housing issues in the veteran community

For example; supporting a range of housing solutions for those in difficulty

Born in 2004Funding from The Soldiers’ Charity provided an educational bursary to the ten-year-old son of a Scots Guards veteran. The child suffers from autism, as well as other medical conditions, and was unable to cope at a regular school. When the local authority declined to give assistance, we stepped in with a grant which has allowed the child to attend a special needs school near to their home.

Born in 2014The Soldiers’ Charity helped pay the funeral costs of the new born daughter of a SCOTS soldier. As a result of her death, the young father suffered severe depression and had resigned from the Army. Funding from our Charity helped alleviate financial concerns at this tragic time.

Donations and appealsLegaciesVoluntary Income from Army personnel Investment incomeOther donations and eventsIncoming resources from charitable activities

Total: £14,454,275

Where our money comes fromWithout you – our supporters, corporate partners, trusts and other charities – our help to thousands would not be possible

Income by sector

London Marathon: £100,000Equivalent to rent deposits for 150 veterans in crisis.

Cateran Yomp: £380,000Enough to fund a mental health and wellbeing programme with Combat Stress.

Red White and Blue Day: £38,000Pays our support to The Child Bereavement Charity who record Storybook Soldiers.

Skydiving: £40,000This would provide education and training courses for ten of our most deserving soldiers and veterans.

Community FundraisingRutland Rouleur Cycling club raised over £700 – enough to cover our average grant to a soldier or veteran.

Legacies: £2millionThis means we can sustain our programme of help to over 70 specialist charities.

As the Army’s National Charity, a considerable proportion of our time and effort is spent on co-ordinating activity across a range of charities which deliver on our behalf, on managing substantial funds on behalf of others, and on underpinning the Army’s Recovery Capability. We don’t charge for this support, or receive grants from public bodies, or derive any income from our grant-making activities.

Resources expended

Costs of generating voluntary incomeFundraising tradingCharitable grantsFurther support to charities

Total: £14,752,000

The Soldiers’ Charity and The Army

Carrington Drum The Carrington Drum Award 2013-14 was won by The Regimental Recruiting Team 1st Bn The Grenadier Guards. The competition raised over £120,000 for our Charity, highlighting the importance of fundraising by serving soldiers to help the Army’s National Charity. This money is enough to pay for every home adaptation grant we provided last year – allowing soldiers and veterans with mobility issues to remain in their own homes.

This document is drawn from the information held in our Annual Report 2013-2014. Copies are available on request.

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales (1146420) and Scotland (039189). Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (07974609).Registered Office: Mountbarrow House, 6-20 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9RB.

Tel: 020 7901 8900 Email: fundraising@soldierscharity.org

www.soldierscharity.org youtube.com/soldierscharityfacebook.com/soldierscharity twitter.com/soldierscharity

As the Army’s National Charity, we work closely with every Regiment and Corps to deliver rapid support

#celebrateoursoldiersHighlighting celebrity support for soldiers, the Charity launched a social media campaign at Wellington Barracks, in December. Supported by VIPs including Lorraine Kelly, Bear Grylls and David Beckham, it showed serving soldiers and their families that people care, as well as raising money for our grants programme.

British Military TournamentIn December 2013, the Charity presented the spectacular British Military Tournament for the fourth successive year at Earls Court. Participants were drawn from across the Armed Forces, supported by our sister charities – the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Cadets – Revision TrophyLeighton Buzzard ACF Detachment won this year’s Revision Challenge - a competition open to Army Cadet units to see which can raise the most for The Soldiers’ Charity. The total income from this initiative was £21,000 - enough to fund the Home Farm Trust, which offers support to dependants with learning difficulties.

ReservesA team from the Honourable Artillery Company raised £1,000 for The Soldiers’ Charity, by trekking to the top of Pen y Fan – enough to pay for, and install, a stair lift for one of our elderly or wounded veterans.

We need your help to continue to make a difference to soldiers, veterans and their families. Text ARMY5 to 70004 now to donate just £3** Text costs your donation amount plus network charge. ABF The Soldiers’ Charity receives 100% of your donation.

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