FrontLine Winter 2022

WELCOME FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Welcome to the Winter issue of Frontline magazine. I have been in post as Chief Executive for a year, and it has been an honour and an education to see and experience all the Charity does; both in terms of the range of welfare support provided, and the many and varied fundraising events, at which it has been a privilege to meet so many supporters. We could not do all we do for the Army family without you.

COVER IMAGE

A King’s Troop horse and a Gunner both smiling before heading in to perform the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery Musical Drive at Royal Windsor, photographed by Michael Patrick.

FRONTLINE ISSUE 25

First published 2022.

© ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. While every effort is made to check the information in Frontline, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions.

EDITOR  Jack Leggetter

We have, throughout the year, marked the 40th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict, paying tribute to the British servicemen who fought to liberate the Falkland Islands after Argentine forces invaded on 2nd April 1982. You can read more about the conflict, and stories of Falklands veterans whom the Charity has been proud to support, on page 21.

In September, we joined the nation in paying tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who was our Patron since 1953. Like the wider Army family, we at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity had the very highest respect and admiration for her sense of service, resilience and fortitude; and for the evident care and attention Her Majesty demonstrated for her Army and its people. You can find our tribute on pages 12-15.

As we look forward to 2023, I once again am reminded of the value of service, which was exemplified by our

late Queen. For most soldiers, their service gives them the values, skills and attributes needed to contribute meaningfully to society, long after they have left the Army. We are here for those who need some extra help so they can live with independence and dignity, and make a similar contribution; you can read more about the transformative impact of this support throughout this issue, including programmes and services we are funding throughout the UK and internationally (pages 6-7).

In all of this, we are indebted to our supporters. Thank you for enabling us to be here for soldiers, for life. I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and New Year.

MAJOR GENERAL (RET’D)

TIM HYAMS CB OBE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY

HOW YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

YOU’RE SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT LIVING

We help members of the Army family to live independently, with the dignity they deserve.

YOU’RE HELPING TO CARE FOR ELDERLY VETERANS

We support soldiers for life and ensure our elderly veterans and their families have the very best care they need.

YOU’RE HELPING VETERANS TO FIND NEW JOBS

We fund education, training and employment support, so veterans can find new and rewarding careers in the civilian world.

YOU’RE SUPPORTING MENTAL FITNESS

We provide wide-ranging assistance to ensure that serving and former soldiers, including those with complex mental health conditions, can access specialist treatment and support.

YOU’RE HELPING ARMY FAMILIES

We are here to help Army families when times are tough, whether through illness, disability, injury, family separation or financial hardship.

YOU’RE ASSISTING WITH SAFE HOUSING

We are committed to ensuring that soldiers, veterans and their families can live in safe and comfortable homes; and avoid eviction and homelessness.

In the 2021-22 financial year:

We spent £8.4M supporting 65,000 members of the Army family

The youngest person we supported was SEVEN MONTHS OLD, the eldest was 103

DENZIL’S STORY

When Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, Denzil, then aged 25, was a Lance Corporal in the Anti-Tank Platoon, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.

We funded 66 OTHER CHARITIES and organisations that provide support for the Army family

During the Battle of Mount Longdon, he came under mortar fire and suffered serious injuries, losing his left leg. In recent years, his steep and uneven driveway was preventing him from leaving his house. We helped fund essential resurfacing work, so Denzil can enjoy life with much greater independence and freedom.

We supported the British Army family all over the world – in 48 COUNTRIES

Around 16% OF THE GRANTS we made to other charities benefited the serving Army

DENZIL

“I WAS DESPERATE FOR A NEW DRIVEWAY, IT WAS THAT BAD THAT I COULDN’T GO OUT IN THE WHEELCHAIR. MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH VERY THANKFUL TO THE CHARITY FOR ITS ASSISTANCE, WHICH HAS GIVEN ME MY INDEPENDENCE.”

PROGRAMMES AND SERVICES

As well as making grants to individuals in need, we also fund a range of organisations and charities that help the Army family in the UK and overseas.

Here you can see just some of the 66 other organisations and services we helped fund last year, thanks to your support.

INTERNATIONAL

ROYAL COMMONWEALTH EX-SERVICES LEAGUE

During FY21-22 we awarded a £200,000 grant to the Royal Commonwealth ExServices League (RCEL) to support food aid to Commonwealth veterans and their families, many of whom are elderly and frail.

Our grant will be used by the RCEL in conjunction with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office’s overseas aid programme to fund the cost of two meals a day so that around 6,000 vulnerable veterans, widows and families can enjoy a healthy diet and stay out of poverty.

NATIONAL

COMBAT STRESS

We have a longstanding and close relationship with Combat Stress, making grants towards its life-changing support for veterans with mental health issues, with a particular focus on complex PTSD.

Our most-recent £250,000 grant went towards the charity’s provision of a wide range of free services including psychiatric and psychological treatment, substance misuse management, occupational therapy, peer support, family support, and a 24-hour helpline.

CORNWALL & DEVON

VETERANS OUTDOORS

Our £10,000 grant to Veterans Outdoors will help provide a range of outdoor activities and experiences that are proven to improve the mental health of veterans, helping to reduce anxiety, build their confidence and find meaning and purpose in their lives again.

KENT

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION INDUSTRIES

Our £100,000 grant to Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) will help fund a new state-of-the-art dementia care facility for older veterans.

RBLI provides unique integrated care for more than 300 veterans and their families at the charity’s 75acre village in Aylesford, Kent. The multigenerational village includes emergency accommodation for veterans at risk of homelessness, family homes and apartments, assisted-living accommodation and two luxury care homes.

The new dementia-friendly facility will complete the charity’s “full care pathway”.

POPPYSCOTLAND

Our charity shares Poppyscotland’s mission to deliver help and relief to veterans in times of hardship and need. Our £65,000 grant will fund its Armed Services Advice Project, which covers a wide range of assistance such as finance and debt advice, housing, employment and family welfare. Since the project started in 2010, it has supported over 19,000 veterans, and last year over 2,000 veterans received assistance.

NEWCASTLE

LAUNCHPAD

The homeless charity Launchpad will use our £38,000 grant to help cover the housing and utility costs of around 46 homeless Army veterans living at Avondale House, which is Newcastle’s largest provider of accommodation for veterans.

We are also funding the annual cost of a specialist caseworker devoted to helping vulnerable veterans with complex mental health and substance addiction problems, recovering from broken family relationships or unable to find paid employment.

NORFOLK

THE BRIDGE FOR HEROES

We made a £20,000 grant towards the Norfolk-based charity’s “Project Connect”, which helps veterans and families connect with each other to promote mental and physical wellbeing and reduce social isolation; and share advice about finances, independent living, housing and employment. Of the veterans and families receiving help from the charity, 64 per cent are from the Army family.

THE LATEST NEWS AND STORIES FROM THE ARMY’S NATIONAL CHARITY

LONDON MARATHON

On Sunday 2nd October, over 40 ABF The Soldiers’ Charity supporters ran the London Marathon from Greenwich to The Mall, watched by thousands of cheering Londoners.

This year the marathon was delayed from its usual date in April, so we were very pleased that so many of our supporters stayed faithful to such a tough physical and mental challenge. We are incredibly proud of our Fundraising Army for reaching the finishing line, smashing their targets and raising essential funds for soldiers, veterans and their families. One of our supporters, David Jones, set a new Guinness World Record of 2 hrs 47 minutes 15 seconds while running in his pyjamas.

CYCLE RIDE TO ARNHEM RAISES £118,000 FOR ARMY VETERANS AND FAMILIES

This year’s Wheels on the Western Front cycle challenge took place from 4th to 9th September, with 45 riders cycling the 331-mile route from Folkestone, through France, Belgium and the Netherlands to Arnhem, where they commemorated Operation Market Garden, the Second World War battle for the bridges, which took place in September 1944. The route covered the battlefields of the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Division landings at Eindhoven and Nijmegen, and the British 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem.

This was a tough challenge for our cyclists, averaging 65 miles a day through hills and hot weather, though everyone completed the trip in good time. On the final day, in cooler weather, our team laid wreaths around the Arnhem battlefield, including at the Oosterbeek Commonwealth War Grave and the Polish Memorial in Driel, and paid their respects to all Allied soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the campaign.

Cycle riders praised the fantastic team spirit and especially the military history expertise of battlefield guide Brian Shaw. Brigadier (Ret’d) Robbie Scott-Bowden, who took part in the challenge for the third time, said:

“What a tremendous ride we enjoyed. All the hard work in fundraising was rewarded. The organising team did us proud. As always, the riders, with their enthusiasm, drive, comradeship and cracking banter made the ride so special. I feel lucky to have taken part. A huge thanks to you all.”

FIRST EVER FEMALE SOLO WINNER AT THE CATERAN YOMP

On 4 th-5 th June this year, 631 soldiers and civilians from a wide range of countries trekked for 24 hours across the 54-mile Cateran Trail in Perthshire.

The first ever female solo winner was 50-year-old Bonny Smart from Plymouth who ran the Gold route in 12 hrs 50 mins. She said: “I’m a boxer and couldn’t run a mile a year ago. I’ve only ever run 30 miles in one go before this weekend but running’s definitely my thing now! It’s been a massive journey to get to this point, in more ways than one!”

Second place went to Martin Greenaway (52) from Essex, finishing in 13 hrs 8 mins, with Alexander Seagar (37) from Sunderland coming third in in 13 hrs 30 mins.

Major General Tim Hyams, Chief Executive of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity said: “ABF The Soldiers’ Charity was

ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY FUNDRAISER AWARDED BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL

Our charity is delighted that Mrs Diana Hart received the British Empire Medal during the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her voluntary service to soldiers and their families.

Since 2007, Diana has been the Chair of our Middlesex County Committee, which she joined 50 years ago. During the last 20 years, she has helped to raise £800,000 for British Army families and veterans in need. This included around £40,000 raised each year over several years doing bucket collections during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show week. Diana was also involved in The Girls Brigade for many years.

Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, said: “We were thrilled to hear about Diana’s BEM, a fitting reward for her decades of devoted service to our charity, soldiers and veterans.”

absolutely delighted to be back in the Highlands for the Cateran Yomp. It was particularly special to come together over the Platinum Jubilee weekend to raise considerable funds that enable us to provide a lifetime of support to serving soldiers, former soldiers, and their immediate families when they are in need.”

Kirstie, who produces the handmade soaps pictured below, and her family.

Soldier George and nurse Martha, founders of the Manchester Wax Company, have created two scented candles (pictured below) especially for our charity.

Princess Elizabeth, a Junior Commander in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, receives a clock presented to her by her old associates at the camp where she received her early training, during a ceremony at the No. 1 M.T. Training Center, in Camberley, 3 rd August 1945

REMEMBERING OUR PATRON

We joined the nation in paying our respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, our Patron since 1953.

We at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity were saddened deeply by the death of Her Majesty The Queen. We were immensely privileged that The Queen succeeded her father as our Patron in 1953 and supported the Army’s national charity throughout her reign.

Like the wider Army family, we had the very highest respect and admiration for her sense of service, resilience and fortitude; and for the evident care and attention she demonstrated for her Army and its people.

The Queen held a long and close relationship with the Armed Forces, both in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.

As a young princess, The Queen became the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Forces as a fulltime active member, training as a truck mechanic during World War Two.

Since then, The Queen maintained a close relationship with the Armed Forces, not

least through regular visits to service establishments. She held many military appointments and honorary ranks.

The Queen’s birthday was celebrated each year with the Trooping of the Colour on Horse Guards Parade and for many years The Queen took part in Army uniform, riding her black Royal Canadian Mounted Police mare, Burmese, side saddle.

The Queen also spent much time meeting servicemen and women of all ranks, and their families, both at home and on overseas trips.

In addition to awarding various military honours at investitures, The Queen also introduced the Elizabeth Cross. The first award to which The Queen put her name, this was introduced in 2009 to give special recognition to the families of those who have died on military operations, or as a result of terrorism, since 1948.

Clockwise, from top left:

1. Princess Elizabeth meeting Airborne troops, May 1944

2. The Queen serving as a subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service

3. The Queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022

4. The Queen takes the salute at the Palace gates, Queen’s Birthday Parade, 1984

5. Princess Elizabeth undergoing instruction at the Auxiliary Territorial Service training centre, April 1945

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity’s flagship event, The Cateran Yomp, is the biggest, toughest event of its kind in the UK. Take on 54 miles (gold) of rugged terrain and incredible scenery in the Scottish Highlands, testing your physical and mental limits. Sign-ups are also open for the silver and bronze distances (36 and 22 miles respectively). Sign up now individually or with friends, family and colleagues to experience an unforgettable weekend raising vital funds for soldiers, veterans and the entire Army family.

THE BERLIN MISSION: 40 MILES | 10 CODES

January 1949. The Nazi regime has fallen and Germany is divided into four zones occupied by British, French, American and Soviet forces. Inside the Soviet zone, lies Berlin which, like the rest of the country, is also divided into four zones.

Cooperation between East and West has

deteriorated and Stalin has cut off supply routes into West Berlin leaving 2 million Germans cut off. We need you to help beat the blockade.

Walk, or run, 40 miles across Berlin, make contact with other agents and decrypt their coded messages before it’s too late.

Brigadier Fitzroy Maclean is leading the Maclean Mission (MACMIS) to train Tito’s

men to fight back. But while Maclean leaves Yugoslavia to brief Churchill, we need a new pair of boots on the ground - YOURS.

Go undercover, arrange supply drops, organise attacks and gather intelligence. But beware! The Germans and Serb Chetniks know the mountains well.

HOW IT WORKS

2 Receive mission updates and codes to crack when distance milestones have been reached. 3 Solve the codes and use the answers to decipher the hidden message. 4 Complete the distance and

the final message before time runs out.

1 Start walking at your own pace, logging your distance manualy or with your fitness tracker. JANUARY 2023 – CAN YOU COVER THE DISTANCE, CRACK THE CODES AND DELIVER THE SECRET MESSAGE BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT? TAKE ON ONE OR BOTH OF THESE EPIC AWARD WINNING MISSIONS!

EVERY £ RAISED WILL HELP SOLDIERS AND VETERANS - PLEASE SIGN UP TODAY

LOOKING TO SUPPORT US BY TAKING PART IN A CHARITY EVENT? WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF EVENTS

TO SUIT EVERYONE.

RUN

Use your love of running to raise funds for the Army family. Events take place across the UK, including major events such as the London Marathon and Great North Run.

DINE

Join us at one of our dining events across the UK, such as the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch.

TREK

Raise funds while experiencing breathtaking scenery and locations. We host treks in the Pyrenees, Sahara, Atlas Mountains, and more!

GOLF

Are you a keen golfer? Why not join us at one of our charity golf days?

VIRTUAL

Looking for a virtual event? We have a range of exciting options, including Operation Bletchley, an incredible codebreaking challenge which you can do from anywhere in the world using your phone or fitness tracker.

JUMP

Take the leap! Why not take on one of our skydives? Available throughout the year across the UK.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Looking for something unique? Take on one of our special events, such as the Medicine Ball Challenge.

To find out more about our wide range of events, please head to: soldierscharity.org/events/

SUPPORTING ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY

Without your continued support and generosity, we wouldn’t be able to be there for our soldiers, veterans and their families when they need us.

Find out how to donate on soldierscharity.org

REMEMBERING THE FALKLANDS CONFLICT

2022 marked the 40 th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict, which took place between 2 nd April and 14 th June 1982. Although brief, the 74-day conflict was costly, with 255 British personnel killed. 25,948 UK Armed Forces personnel received the South Atlantic medal, awarded for service in the campaign.

40 years on, it is still fresh in the memories of those who deployed; and, as a charity, we continue to support individuals and families involved in the conflict. Indeed, in the past two years, we have spent almost £240,000 supporting veterans who served in this conflict, and their immediate families, both via grants to individuals and grants to 18 other charities including the Army Widows’ Association, Combat Stress, The Poppy Factory, Walking With The Wounded, Royal British Legion Industries, Defence Medical Welfare Service, Falklands Veterans Foundation, SSAFA, and SAMA (82).

We produced a special-edition podcast to mark the 40 th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict, featuring testimonies from veterans who fought in the various campaign battles, and the broadcaster Robert Fox, who witnessed the conflict first-hand.

The three veterans who shared their stories in the podcast are all beneficiaries or ambassadors of the charity; and we are honoured that they shared their remarkable stories of courage under fire in some of the conflict’s fierce battles.

Denzil, a Paratrooper, lost a leg after he was injured in the Battle of Mount Longdon. John, a Royal Engineer, lost an arm during a controlled bomb explosion on HMS Antelope, and Mal rescued badly injured Welsh Guards comrades after the Argentine attack on Sir Galahad, which killed 48 crew and soldiers.

In May we were honoured to host a commemoration dinner for Falklands veterans at Pangbourne College, including senior British Army officers who served in the conflict as our special guests: Lt Gen John Kiszely KCB MC DL, Maj Gen Chip Chapman CB and Lt Col Chris Keeble DSO, as well as veterans of the Battle of Mount Tumbledown. Pictures are on pages 22-23.

Find the special-edition podcast here: soldierscharity.org/voices-of-thefalklands-conflict

Pictured right: Lt Col Chris Keeble (left), Lt Gen John Kiszely (centre) and Maj Gen Chip Chapman (right) attending our commemoration dinner for Falklands veterans, held at Pangbourne College. The event also featured music from the Royal Army Medical Corps band, pictured on page 23.

JOHN’S STORY

WO2 John Phillips commanded a bomb disposal team during the Falklands Conflict in 1982. He saw the brutal aftermath of The Battle of San Carlos, a key battle between Argentine aircraft and ships of the British Task Force.

John’s team had been tasked with the dangerous duty of deactivating Argentine bombs landing on Royal Navy ships, including HMS Argonaut and HMS Antelope. This resulted in serious injuries to John, and a member of his team being killed in action.

After receiving urgent medical care for his injuries, John had his left arm amputated at the shoulder. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in the Falklands. On his return to UK, he continued his Army service after his recovery, going on to serve for 31 years. Today, John is an Honorary Vice President of The South Atlantic Medal Association 82 (SAMA 82), a charity promoting comradeship among all veterans of the South Atlantic campaign, and which we proudly support with annual funding.

PARTNERSHIPS AND PHILANTHROPY

THANKS TO THE LORD MAYOR’S BIG CURRY LUNCH 2022 PRINCIPAL SPONSOR: THE PHOENIX GROUP

In March 2021, the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch Committee was delighted to receive the news that the Phoenix Group would be principal sponsor for the 2021 Virtual Lord Mayor’s Big Curry. The Lunch had never before had a principal sponsor and this was thrilling information to receive. We were equally delighted that the Phoenix Group continued to support the Lunch in 2022, once again as principal sponsor.

All money raised by the Lunch will be used to support veterans in need, including two key initiatives: funding 15 veterans through the Pain Management Programme at the King Edward VII’s Hospital’s Centre for Veterans Health, and funding 65 veterans through Lifeworks programmes, which focus on employment, education and training for veterans.

We are most grateful to the Phoenix Group for its generosity in helping make this a reality. The 2022 Lunch raised a record sum of £314,000, which meant that our targets could be delivered and there was still a significant sum to pass on to the three single service charities to support other initiatives to get veterans into satisfying and sustainable employment.

Claire Hawkins, Director of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations at the Phoenix Group, said: “We were delighted to support the 2022 Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch and to help to raise funds for the Pain Management Programme at King Edward VII’s Hospital’s Centre for Veterans’ Health and for Lifeworks programmes.

“Phoenix Group’s purpose is to help people secure a life of possibilities and that’s exactly what the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch is all about, through the Pain Management Programme helping veterans manage

their pain and return to work, so they have a life that is not limited, but rather full of potential. We always look to play an active role in our communities, focusing on initiatives that support greater inclusion and social mobility.

“We have many former service personnel at Phoenix and a particularly active Armed Forces Network that is led by our employees. We see first-hand the diversity of thought and skills that former service personnel bring to our organisation, which is why we were particularly keen to support the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch.”

Michael Hockney, Co-Chairman of the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch, added: “The Lord Mayor and I are delighted that the Phoenix Group returned as principal sponsor of the 2022 Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch. In the unsettling times experienced by everyone as a result of the pandemic, we were fortunate that that uncertainty was replaced with optimism when we receive such support from the Phoenix Group, from our other commercial and Livery Company sponsors and from ticket buyers who together have provided a level of support that is greater than ever before.”

Since its inception in 2008, the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch has raised more than £2.85 million for the three single service charities – supporting the Armed Forces veteran community when in need.

2023 Lunch will take place on 30th March. Tickets available at soldierscharity.org

The

FUNDER SPOTLIGHT: NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME

We are enormously grateful to our funders for their generosity, commitment, and understanding of the complexity and diversity of the challenges facing members of the Army family. One such funder is the National Garden Scheme, which has been supporting ABF The Soldiers’ Charity since 2010. The National Garden Scheme has made an exceptional commitment to soldiers, veterans, and their immediate families by donating over £540,000 towards our horticulturalrelated activities. Through their funding, we have been able to help individuals like John*.

John served as both a reservist and a regular soldier before being medically discharged with severe mental health issues. He is now a full-time carer for his mother, and has struggled to settle into civilian life, jumping from job to job. ABF The Soldiers’ Charity was able to support John with training fees and the purchase of essential tools he needed to retrain as a gardener. Since discovering his local Veterans’ Community Hub he has become involved in various gardening and maintenance jobs, as well as helping with community projects. He is now looking forward

INFLUENCERS NETWORK

EVENT: CYBERSECURITY

The range of cybersecurity challenges facing the Army, businesses and the general public were discussed in November at one of our popular Influencers Network events, kindly hosted by Schroders Personal Wealth and attended by an audience that included cyber specialists from a range of industries.

The event included a fascinating discussion of the challenges shared by the public and private sectors, and the Army’s approach to these challenges. A key theme was the values and skills derived from service in the Army; and how those skills contributed to society in a wider sense over time, reinforced by the employment and training support provided by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. We are grateful that Schroders Personal Wealth has committed to support our work, alongside other service charities.

to using his skills to set up as a freelance gardener to supplement his income. Thanks to the National Garden Scheme’s support, veterans like John can look forward to a brighter future.

The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens across the UK, raising impressive sums for charity through admissions, teas, and cake.

To find out more about visiting their open gardens, or to find out how you can open your garden for charity, visit ngs.org.uk

*Name changed to protect the anonymity of our beneficiary

The Influencers Network brings together ex-military and civilian professionals to celebrate good leadership, share experience and learn more about how their organisations can positively impact the lives of soldiers, veterans, and their families. For more information, please contact influencersnetwork@soldierscharity.org

WE ARE HERE FOR SOLDIERS, FORMER SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR LIFE.

In the last year, as well as directly funding over 3,000 people like Elsie (pictured on page 26) via our individual grants programme, we have helped fund 66 other charities and organisations that support the whole Army family – in the round supporting some 65,000 people across 48 countries.

ELSIE’S STORY

Sergeant James Nugent’s daughter, Elsie, was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy in the early months of her life and has to use a wheelchair all the time. As she grew, James and his wife struggled to lift Elsie and suffered back injuries. We assisted with £12,000 funding towards an extension to their house, mobility equipment and a ramp, so Elsie has a safe and comfortable living space and the family can live together happily.

Sergeant James Nugent, Elsie’s father, says: “Elsie has her own space and independence and we cannot thank you enough.”

By including ABF The Soldiers’ Charity in your will, you can make sure that we are there for families like the Nugents for years to come.

www.farewill.com/abf-tsc-2.

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales (1146420) and Scotland (SC039189). Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (07974609). Registered office: Mountbarrow House, 12 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9RB

CONTACT DETAILS

HEAD OFFICE

T. 02079 018 912

E. supportercare@soldierscharity.org   W. soldierscharity.org

EAST ANGLIA

T. 01206 817 105  E. eastanglia@soldierscharity.org

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

LONDON   T. 02039 036 030  E. london@soldierscharity.org

NORTHERN IRELAND  T. 02892 678 112  E. ni@soldierscharity.org

CHARITY DETAILS

NORTH EAST

T. 01748 874 127  E. northeast@soldierscharity.org

NORTH WEST  T. 01772 260 356  E. northwest@ soldierscharity.org

SCOTLAND  T. 0131 376 4008   E. scotland@soldierscharity.org

SOUTH EAST   T. 01276 412 961 T. 07899 060 919 E. southeast@soldierscharity.org

SOUTH WEST

T. 01980 672 337 (Bulford office) T. 01392 496 412 (Exeter office)  E. southwest@soldierscharity.org

WALES  T. 02920 377 080  E. wales@soldierscharity.org

WEST MIDLANDS  T. 01952 674 369 E. westmidlands@soldierscharity.org

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity 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).

SUPPORTING THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY

Without your continued support and generosity, we wouldn’t be able to be there for our soldiers, veterans and their families when they need us.

Find out how to donate on soldierscharity.org

The Army’s National Charity