SSAFA NEWS FOR SUPPORTERS - TURNING TO SSAFA IN MY DARKEST HOUR INSIDE
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INSIDE
SSAFA
NEWS FOR
SUPPORTERS
AUTUMN 2021
SAVING JOHN FROM DEBT
PAGES 12 - 13
TURNING
TO SSAFA
IN MY
DARKEST
HOUR
Page 8
Regulars | Reserves | Veterans | Families
THANK YOU VOLUNTEERING
As we approach the end of 2021
with over 42 million* of the adult
our mentors through one-to-one
support. Last year 747 people, aged
FROM EAST TO WEST
Our volunteers are key to supporting the Armed Forces
population fully vaccinated it is 17-50 years old, were supported
important to remember the team through mentoring programmes, and now you can hear from two of them.
effort of everyone involved. And 94% more than 2019.
East: Meet Dave West: Meet Alex
that is what you - our supporters This time you will hear from Haydn
– are, a team working together to about the devastating accident Dave is no stranger when Alex volunteers as Divisional Secretary for
make positive changes to the lives which changed his entire life, and it comes to serving the SSAFA in Salisbury and the surrounding
of our Armed Forces community. how turning to SSAFA for support general public. From Army area. As well as working full-time, she
Without you these services would helped him cope with his grief. to Police to council and manages a team of caseworkers to help
not be possible! After our wordsearch we are back now a SSAFA Branch serving personnel and veterans in need.
Did you know last year, because of with another challenge; this time, Secretary for Cambridge “We're all volunteers. I manage the
your contributions, our Forcesline a quiz on the Armed Forces. and Bedfordshire, he fits caseworkers and the cases that come to
helpline was able to help 27,761 So, get your thinking caps on volunteering around his us by phone, email or through referral.
people though calls, emails and and remember no Googling full-time job. “Being a “My role is to have a chat with the client and
online chat to ask for the support the answers! good listener is key and see how we can help them. We help lots of
they desperately needed? Our Armed Forces still need your that leads to being an different people from those who've just
That’s enough people to fill Lords ongoing support, so they have effective communicator. come out of the Forces to those who served
Cricket Ground! somewhere to turn when they require You need empathy and a in the Second World War. Some may only
It is thanks to your continued help. After serving their nation we degree of warmth because have served for a short period; some, for
generosity that veterans, struggling should be there for them in their time you may be the third or decades. We help them all: individuals,
to adapt to civilian life, are helped by of need. * At time of print fourth organisation the couples and families.
beneficiary has called “The work we do is extremely varied.”
for help, but the only one "It's very humbling to know that we
that's able to offer them can make a difference to people's lives,
any support. and sometimes it's just the small things
“There is no better that matter.
feeling than giving “We're always looking for volunteers.
something back” There are lots of different roles they can
Page 4 Page 15 Page 11 “And we have support perform ranging from caseworkers to
from the SSAFA network divisional secretaries, treasurers, mentors
FUNDRAISING PROMISE too. We've got a really and fundraisers.
CONTACT US
good relationship with “You don’t have to come from a military
We commit to high standards SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, SSAFA Head Office background. Anybody from all walks of life is
We are clear, honest and open Queen Elizabeth House,
4 St. Dunstan’s Hill, and with the team always welcome to come and find out more
We are respectful
London EC3R 8AD who runs Forcesline, about SSAFA, what we do and how you
We are fair and reasonable
Tel: 020 7463 9225 our charity helpline. could make a difference.”
We are accountable and responsible
Email: supporter@ssafa.org.uk
ssafa.org.uk To become a volunteer visit: ssafa.org.uk/volunteer
2 SSAFA NEWS FOR SUPPORTERS ssafa.org.uk 3
GINA’S NEW WHEELS KEEP CALM
Knocked over in a hit
and run, Gina was
“Getting in touch with SSAFA is the best
thing that's happened to me this year” AND GET
CONNECTED
taken to hospital, and
the bike she was so I temporarily moved asking if they would
riding was written off. to be near him and help fund a new bike.
with his care. He kept pushing, but I
Riding was her only That’s when I started didn't expect much.
coping mechanism to Thanks to a grant from The Department for
cycling. I needed However, together the
deal with her brother's Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) the
something to take my regiments donated the
terminal illness and, mind off things. full amount to buy me a ‘Keep Calm, Get Connected and Carry On’
without it, she was lost. “When Covid hit fabulous new bike! project can continue.
Thankfully SSAFA during the first “I love my new bike,
stepped in to help. lockdown his treatment it's good for my mental
“I've been in uniform The project aims to Forcesline, our specialist
came to a halt and I health. No one has ever
since I was 13 when I combat loneliness and helpline, to delivering
was told he had little done anything like this
joined the Army isolation amongst those breakfast bacon rolls to
time left. The day for me before.
Cadets. After my most vulnerable in the those isolating in rural
before he died, I was “I knew about SSAFA,
A-levels I did 11 years, Armed Forces communities. The scheme
knocked off my bike in but it wasn’t until I was
mainly in the Royal community. Thanks to a creates social connections
a hit and run with supported by them
Signals, serving on the grant extension from for lonely veterans and their
another cyclist, who that I realised the
frontline across the DCMS, we were able to families, co-ordinated across
was travelling on the extent of everything
globe from Bosnia to extend this project England, delivered through
wrong side of the cycle they do for the
East Timor - often first throughout 2021. In June SSAFA’s branches in local
path. The impact Armed
on the ground as last year, the Government communities, and supported
catapulted me off the Forces.
conflict broke out. announced that they by more than 4000 trained
bike. Luckily, I was I am now
“After leaving in 2006 only badly bruised, would donate £5 million volunteers, to support
fundraising
I was diagnosed with to national organisations more veterans at risk of
but my bike was for SSAFA,
Post Traumatic Stress to help them tackle loneliness, whilst our one-to-
completely trashed. to thank them
Disorder (PTSD). Whilst loneliness. As a result, one mentoring service has
“Following my for their
receiving support, my SSAFA has now received managed to reach out to
accident, I got in touch support.”
brother was diagnosed with SSAFA. a total of £950,000 from those who would have been
with cancer, DCMS to help combat previously isolated and cut
“Graham, my SSAFA
loneliness and isolation off from their community.
caseworker, was
amongst veterans and It aims to facilitate a
brilliant. He went
their families. The grant technological adaptation of
through the forms with
has helped support those services, enabling them to be
me and then wrote to
most at-risk during the delivered online and
my different regiments
COVID-19 pandemic remotely, where required,
across England, from providing a positive impact
adapting services, such as beyond the grant.
To hear from Gina
scan the QR code.
ssafa.org.uk 5
"She honestly was the strongest, most
amazing woman I had the pleasure of LET’S GET
knowing and will be missed by everyone.”
HONOURING Do you know all there is to know about SSAFA and the Armed
Forces? Well now is the time to find out in our brand-new quiz!
HER MEMORY Get those pens out and your thinking caps on in our latest brain
teaser challenge
Earlier this year, 9-year-old Jack Jack said: “I feel really good and Fill in the answers below to these questions and test your
Chadwick took on a pogo-stick happy that I can help people.” knowledge today. Answers can be found upside down at the
challenge in memory of Marisa Beth Chadwick, Jack's older sister bottom, but no peeking please!
Tomkins, a veteran and dedicated tells us: “Jack tries to raise money
SSAFA volunteer, after she passed for charity every year. So, this year, 1. In which year was SSAFA established?
away at age 63. Jack decided to do something a
2. Which three colours make up the three services in
On February 26, 2021, Marisa little out of the norm and complete
SSAFA's logo?
Tomkins sadly passed away 200 pogo-stick jumps each day in
suddenly and peacefully. Young March to try and raise £200. He had 3. Which military base is situated next to a famous natural
family friend Jack was inspired to yet to choose a charity when our beauty spot on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, England?
fundraise in her memory, and lovely family friend Marisa Tomkins
continue to support her favourite passed away. Marisa was a much
charity, by attempting to complete loved and dear friend to everyone. 4. How old must you be before enlisting in the Army as
200 pogo-stick jumps every day “If Marisa had to live by one line, it a soldier?
throughout March. This amounted would be to “live life to the full” and 5. In which year was the RAF founded?
to a total of 6,200 jumps. she certainly did that!”
Marisa served in the Army Jack has already smashed his 6. What does SSAFA stand for?
Reserve from 1985, including target of raising £200 and has
military operations in Baghdad, raised an amazing £3,000 so far.
Iraq. She received the Iraq medal 7. Name Britain's first nuclear powered submarine,
commissioned in 1963?
in 2006. She also obtained her
5-year and 10-year Service Medal, 8. In which English county is RAF Benson?
and her Jubilee Medal. Marisa was
very well respected and retired 9. How many trained volunteers does SSAFA have?
from the Army Reserve at the age 10. Which British military regiment has the following motto:
of 60. In 1992 Marisa joined the 'Ready for Anything'?
police force and served for 18 years
alongside her continued TA
commitments. Once retired she You can create a Facebook in
volunteered to support the Armed memory fundraiser by visiting:
ANSWERS
Forces community in the Bury area
7.HMS Dreadnought, 8.Oxfordshire, 9.4,000 10. Parachute Regiment
facebook.com/SSAFAOfficial
with SSAFA.
April 1918, 6.The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association,
1.1885, 2.Red, Light Blue and Dark Blue, 3.Lulworth, 4.16 years old, 5.1
6 SSAFA NEWS FOR SUPPORTERS ssafa.org.uk 7
“SSAFA came at just the right time” “I spent the next
couple of hours trying
I knew I had to speak to
a professional so I got
“Even though life
is difficult at times,
to phone the hospital, in touch got in touch I know that I have
to find out what had with SSAFA. I met wonderful friends
happened. I eventually Jenna, a SSAFA social and family, a great
got through to the worker, and she allowed support network
ward, and I spoke to me to tell her the whole and Collette. Nothing
my wife Collette. She’d story and I bawled my could ever happen
broken her neck and at eyes out for at least an that would break our
that stage Isla and our hour. “Jenna arranged relationship and
unborn baby were alive for me to see a licensed we know that now.
THE DAY
but at serious risk, with counsellor, paid for “I have recently
Isla sustaining head by the Royal Air Force returned to Odiham
and neck injuries. Benevolent Fund. and have become an
HAYDN’S I needed to get home
and the RAF were
I had five or six sessions
and felt so much better.
instructor preparing
frontline crews
LIFE
incredible for operations.”
at getting me back Though the pain
CHANGED
– but each hour can’t be taken away,
was torture.” Haydn thanks the
Upon arriving at charity for giving
FOREVER
the hospital Haydn him an outlet for
discovered their his grief and
unborn child had being there for him
Devastated by the deaths of his died and was shortly when he needed
told afterwards their them most.
three-year-old daughter Isla and daughter Isla would “I've got massive
unborn child, following a crash on not pull through. respect for what
the A34, Flight Lieutenant Haydn Haydn then had SSAFA does and
“Even after Jenna had
turned to SSAFA for support. to break the news I would encourage
organised the
to Collette. other people to use
counselling I still went
“I initially trained on the Middle East to Haydn tried to come them. I appreciate
back once a week
the Harrier and then the Falklands.” to terms with what had the people who
to chat to her. She was
moved onto Haydn was on a happened, the support SSAFA and
very easy to talk to, and
helicopters, which posting in the devastation of his donate to them too
she really listened. I was
I always wanted. Falklands when a tragic loss eventually so people like me
allowed to accept how
I've been flying the harrowing call came caught up with him. can access help when
I genuinely felt in
Chinook since 2013 in to tell him that his It was then he got in we need it most.”
each moment.
and have travelled, family had been touch with SSAFA.
carrying out exercises involved in a crash Haydn says:
and deployments, all with a lorry and were “It was two years
over the world, from seriously injured. after the accident, If you need support, please visit:
I got pretty sad. ssafa.org.uk/raf-personal-support
8 SSAFA NEWS FOR SUPPORTERS ssafa.org.uk 9
" SSAFA understand the military way of life."
COMING BECOMING A FAMILY
BACK HOME After unsuccessful attempts at IVF and a miscarriage, Royal Navy
Reservist Ann and her wife Emma began their adoption journey in
Bill, a 96-year-old Second World War
June 2018, when they made an initial call to SSAFA’s Adoption Team.
veteran and all-round adventurer joined the
Navy at just 14. After a lifetime of travelling, Ann Miller-McCaffrey joined the By June 2020, they were matched,
being on Artic Convoys and special duties, WRNS in July 1987, aged 18. Working and in July they were able to bring
Bill is now saying thank you SSAFA, who in the education support branch of their daughter home, with the
helped him get home to the UK to live, just the WRNS, she worked regularly with formal adoption order arriving
as COVID-19 took a grip on the world. the Royal Marines deploying with in December.
them to Norway. Following the Throughout the process, Ann and
merging of the WRNS and Royal Emma were supported in their
“Supporting service veterans is very Navy in 1990, Ann volunteered to go quest for parenthood by SSAFA
to sea, serving on board HMS adoption social worker Roger,
important. They're not to be forgotten.” Roebuck and HMS Somerset. who they describe as their 'rock',
After many years in New Zealand Secretaries in France and Wiltshire After 24 years of full service, Ann for not only facilitating and guiding
after the Second World War, Bill co-ordinated Bill's return home. joined the Royal Navy Reserve. their adoption journey, but for
settled in France aged 77, and lived “Once he'd settled in, I got in Currently, she is the last standing supporting them as they attempted
there for 18 years, until the draw of contact with Bill and went round member of the Royal Navy who to adopt during the Covid crisis,
home became too much, and he there with a few SSAFA goodies wears the Educational and Training and multiple lockdowns.
wanted to move back to the UK. to check he was okay and had Services, (ETS), epaulette. In total, 409 households were
And this is when he turned to everything he needed.” Ann married Emma, a charity supported by our Adoption
SSAFA’s branch in France for help. Bill later decided he wanted to worker and former teacher after services in 2020, and nine new
They then reached out to their move to Southsea, a place he grew proposing in uniform at Liverpool households were approved to
colleagues at the Wiltshire branch. to know during his Navy days. It Pride in 2016. The couple was keen to adopt. 55.5% of those were same
“I was told there was a gentleman was a challenging move, midway start a family and took the stability sex couples, far higher than the
in Normandy, a Second World War through the pandemic, but one that offered by a posting to RMA national average for adoption.
veteran in his 90s, who wanted to has made him feel more at home Sandhurst to begin their journey.
return back to live in ‘Blighty’”, after years away from the UK. “We want to see a reflection of
Alex, Divisional Secretary for Since the move, Bill has been us, and we got that with SSAFA.”
SSAFA in Salisbury, explains. helped with a wide variety of issues At the start of 2020, just a few
“I knew of a local care home that from signing him up with a doctor, weeks before the Covid crisis hit,
was suitable and we discovered to getting a mobility scooter and the couple saw the profile of a
luckily that there was a space chasing hospital appointments. 13-month-old little girl who they
there for Bill.” As Bill tells us: “The people from wanted to be theirs.
After many hours of careful SSAFA are like my relations, they’ve
planning, SSAFA's Branch done so much for me.” To find more about adoption
within the Armed Forces visit:
If you know of an older veteran who needs support ssafa.org.uk/adoption and
visit ssafa.org.uk/supporting-older-veterans to hear from Ann and Emma
scan QR code.
10 SSAFA NEWS FOR SUPPORTERS ssafa.org.uk 11
“Speaking to
Trevor was like
being thrown a
life raft when I
was drowning.”
“As a result, I couldn't go
back to work, which put me
into severe debt and triggered
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
SAVING JOHN
(PTSD). Because of the stress
I was under, I started having
nightmares about my time in “He also asked about my wife and
Northern Ireland. her needs, which I didn't think was
FROM DEBT
“By the start of the pandemic something that would happen.
the debt became crippling. I assumed that it would only be ex-
After being put in touch with military who got support. SSAFA
SSAFA I was assigned to ook care of my whole family which
After suffering from Pulmonary Embolism in his lungs, caseworker Trevor Scott. He was amazing.
was brilliant. I never got to “Because of the support I'm
John Druce’s livelihood was stripped from him. Within meet him face to face because completely debt free. SSAFA
two weeks, the former Trooper was facing crippling debt of covid restrictions, but from encouraged me to apply for Universal
and his health started deteriorating. the first phone call where I Credit, because my physical condition
explained my situation he said, means it's hard to find work, so this
Eventually the struggle became saw the fall of the Berlin Wall. 'Leave it to me. I’ll see what I has reduced my stress levels too.
too much, and he had to reach out After leaving the Army in 1995 can do.’ “I’d love to shake Trevor’s hand
or face dire consequences. John John spent 10 years in Canada “He sorted everything out in and tell him that he was my light at
was put in touch with his local before moving back to the UK order of priority and made me the end of the tunnel during the
SSAFA branch in Gwent – and from where he became a bus driver. feel so assured. I didn't even darkest point.
there his problems began to Then John’s life took a turn for have to make a phone call to “To anyone else who needs support:
disappear… the worse. my landlord or housing get in touch! I know if I ever have
John initially joined the Royal “I lost my bus driving job because agency, he did all that for me issues in the future I will pick up the
Military Police before transferring to I suffered from pulmonary as well. phone to SSAFA.”
a Welsh tank regiment, The Queen's embolisms. Both my lungs filled up “There was no judgement
Dragoon Guards, where he served in with blood clots. I nearly died and from Trevor, he just wanted the
Northern Ireland before heading was in intensive care as my heart facts and told me every step of To find your local branch visit:
over to West Germany, where he went down to 10% function. the way how he would try to ssafa.org.uk/local-branch
find the funding to help me.
12 SSAFA NEWS FOR SUPPORTERS ssafa.org.uk 13
VETERANS “Keith and his
co-workers
Stanley, 99, has been recognised for his
military involvement in the Liberation of
IN EUROPE
France during the Second World War.
were extremely
understanding.” Legion
D'Honneur
Following the UK’s departure
from the EU, SSAFA France
helped couple Jan and Des proved difficult due to his
apply for French residency. disability. After seeing an advert
After joining the RAF recognition
in The Connexion, an English
as an apprentice at the of the Allied
Jan was married to Des, a former publication distributed in
age of 17, Sqn.Ldr Airmen and
RAF Pilot, for over 25 years. France, she decided to contact
Stanley Booker MBE SOE agents
Following his 35 years’ service and SSAFA and ask for assistance.
RAF (Rtd) trained as who were
Jan’s retirement in April 1991 they She was put in touch with
an Observer in Wales tortured
decided to move permanently caseworker Keith who
and then joined 10Sqn and incarcerated in “He packed more into
to France. immediately got on to their case
as a navigator flying the camp. the first 20 or so years
Des suffered from Chronic and helped sort through all the
Halifax Bombers. Despite his harrowing of his life than most
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease necessary paperwork.
On 3rd June 1944, his experience, Stanley would in their whole
(COPD) and dementia along with As Jan says: “They were very
Halifax was shot down continued his career in lifetime. Modest and
other health problems. This led to good to me. I think Keith
in flames and crashed the RAF and worked as unassuming, his survival
Jan taking the difficult decision to realised it was all mounting up
near Dreux, in France. a spy, moving to after bailing out of his
place Des in a care home. on my shoulders. I didn’t know
His pilot and wireless Germany with his stricken aircraft is a
On the 31 October 2019, the UK which way to turn, because
operator were killed family, where he saved testimony to his
left the EU under The Withdrawal I wasn't getting guidance
but Stanley was able to thousands of people in courage, fortitude, and
Agreement. Under the terms of this from anywhere.
escape by parachute. the Berlin Airlift and strength of character.
agreement, UK Nationals living in the “I would definitely recommend
Stanley was hidden worked on intelligence “Stanley has the
EU at the end of the transition period anyone who needs support to
by members of the operations during the greatest respect for
could continue to live and work in get in touch with SSAFA, they
French resistance but Cold War. the work that SSAFA
their host country by applying for were fantastic.”
was betrayed by a In 1951, he was does. He has made few
a new biometric residency permit. Sadly, Des passed away from
Belgian Gestapo spy. recruited to work for calls on SSAFA but
SSAFA was appointed by the his illnesses earlier this year.
He was captured and British Intelligence in knows the charity is
UK Government via the UK 17,274 people have accessed
tortured and then sent Hamburg and Berlin there for him if needed.
National Support Fund (UKNSF) our UK National Support Fund
to Buchenwald and undertook secret “His award of
to assist Armed Forces veterans in from across Germany, France
Concentration Camp, intelligence gathering becoming a Chevalier in
at-risk groups with their and Cyprus. That’s more than
rather than a prisoner of Soviet activities the Ordre National de la
residency applications. the number of people who
of war camp, where he during the Cold War. Legion d' Honneur is
Jan needed to apply for Des’s new joined the UK Regular Armed
witnessed many He was later awarded a richly deserved.”
residency card on his behalf, but it Forces in 2020.
atrocities. He was MBE by the Queen for
eventually liberated his work.
after the war ended. Barry Dickens (Air To read more
If you need support and are based in Europe visit:
Stanley’s harrowing Commodore Ret’d), about Stanley visit:
ssafa.org.uk/veterans-in-europe
experience led to Chairman of SSAFA ssafa.org.uk/stanley
a lifelong campaign for Berkshire, said:
14 SSAFA NEWS FOR SUPPORTERS ssafa.org.uk 15PROVIDING FOR THE FUTURE Every year many loyal supporters like have served in the Armed you pledge to leave a gift in their Will Forces both here in the UK to SSAFA. Will you join them? and Overseas. Leaving a gift in your Will is an amazing “I have a strong conviction way to ensure the people and causes that those who voluntarily join you care about the most will never the Armed Forces to keep the be forgotten. rest of us safe should not be By choosing to remember SSAFA in denied the support they need, your Will you are ensuring our services if required during their will be there for our Armed Forces family lifetime. Nor should the for generations to come. families of those service We recognise the importance of personnel. SSAFA is the one protecting the people we love, and we charity that meets both of know that your own family and friends will those requirements. always come first. However, like so many “I think SSAFA does an other people who remember our Armed amazing job – and has done Forces family in their Will, we hope that for such a long time.” you will also find room to include SSAFA. “It is a remarkable charity, Alexandra Walmsley, a valued supporter whose work will never of SSAFA, told us: cease being important. It “I’d like to leave a legacy to SSAFA to is so good people can get mark my time on this earth and help help decades after leaving those who have put their lives on the the Forces. line for us all to live in a safe and “I believe those of us who independent country. are able should contribute “My husband served as a submariner in – in whatever way we can the Royal Navy for many years. I have a – to help those who are lot of friends who are still serving, or who less fortunate.” To find out more about how to remember SSAFA in your Will visit – ssafa.org.uk/mylegacy or call 020 7463 9225 Regulars | Reserves | Veterans | Families Registered as a charity in England and Wales Number 210760 in Scotland Number SC038056 and in Republic of Ireland Number 20202001. Established 1885.
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