Ex-services organisations

These charities offer financial support to current and former members of the armed services, and those who make their living at sea.

SSAFA - The Armed Forces Charity

SSAFA gives help to regulars and reserves in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force and their families, including anyone who has done National Service.

Their focus is on physical and emotional care. If you're a member of the Armed Forces, they can:

• support serving personnel and veterans as they make the transition from life in the Forces to life as a civilian

• provide welfare services to be family members of the Armed Forces community

• provide a number of services for retirement age veterans, helping with both domestic and emotional needs

• provide social care, advice and housing

• support serving personnel, their families and veterans with anything relating to disability

• help you cope with bereavement, injury and other forms of stress

Contact details

SSAFA has branches throughout the UK and internationally. The website has a search function where you can find your nearest branch by typing in your postcode.

Helpline: 0800 260 6767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

The website has a Live Chat function too.

The Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion helps members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families.

Some of the services the Royal British Legion provides include:

• care homes for the Armed Forces community and their families, including 5 with specialist dementia care

• Admiral Nurses - a specialist service together with Dementia UK helping the Armed Forces community and their families living with dementia

• recovery services supporting veterans and serving military personnel to overcome barriers and challenges as a result of injury or illness

• financial support to ease the burden of financial pressures and moving back into civilian life

• social support

• overseas support - supporting Armed Forces wherever they are in the world

Contact details

The Royal British Legion has branches throughout the UK. The website has a search function where you can find your nearest branch by typing in your postcode.

Helpline: Call 0808 802 8080 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week)

The website also has an online chat function.

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

The RAF Benevolent Fund is the RAF's welfare charity that looks after all serving and former members of the RAF and their families.

The RAF Benevolent Fund gives help with:

• finances

• care and independent living

• family and relationships

• emotional wellbeing

• friendships and connections

Contact details

Helpline: 0300 102 1919 

Email: mail@rafbf.org.uk

The website also has a web chat.

Association of Royal Naval Officers (ARNO)

ARNO gives benefits and services, including financial help and lifelong support to officers and their dependents of the Royal Naval Service. They do it through their charity The Royal Navy Officers' Charity (RNOC).

The RNOC gives help through their partner charities. They can support in the following areas:

• finance

• family

• housing

• health and wellbeing

• bereavement

Contact details

Phone: 020 7402 5231 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.00pm)

Email: rnoc@arno.org.uk

Army Benevolent Fund

Army Benevolent Fund is the Army's national charity. They give grants to charities as well as grants to individuals across 6 areas:

• independent living

• elderly care

• training and education

• mental wellbeing

• army families

• housing

Contact details

Phone: 0207 901 8900

Email: info@armybenevolentfund.org

Poppyscotland

Poppyscotland supports people of all ages in the Armed Forces who live in Scotland. They also help the families of ex-servicemen and women, including partners, widows, widowers and children. 

Poppyscotland can help with:

• general advice

• financial support

• mobility

• housing

• mental health

Contact details

Helpline: 0131 550 1557

Email: Enquiries@Poppyscotland.org.uk

Seafarers UK

Seafarers UK gives grants to maritime charities and charitable maritime projects. Although they don't fund individuals, they help serving and ex-serving seafarers and their families who need support through other organisations that they fund.

The grants of Seafarers UK aim to affect the lives of seafarers in 5 areas:

• better financial resilience
• better working lives at sea
• improved health and well-being
• safer working lives
• increased social justice

Contact details

Phone: 020 7932 0000

Other resources

For a complete list of charities offering grants, ask for this book in your local library:

The Guide to Major Trusts 2025/26

Ian Pembridge

18th edition

Published by the Directory of Social Change, September 2024

ISBN 9781784821197