WELCOME

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S WELCOME

I am delighted to write the foreword to this edition of FrontLine, especially in these rather unusual and difficult circumstances. I think it gives a really good sense of what our community is doing and the part our charity is playing in the response.

The first and most important point I should make is that you should be completely reassured that, despite the current challenges, we largely continue to operate as normal.

Since Easter, we have disbursed approaching half a million pounds to individuals in need through the Regimental and Corps charities – over 800 soldiers, veterans and their families will have received vital help in a timely manner. Thankfully, relatively few of these cases are directly COVID-related – just 25, actually – but we stand ready to help all those in need irrespective of the cause.

In parallel, over the last month we have made grants in excess of £1.3 million to 18 other charities and organisations that deliver vital support to the Army family on our behalf. None of this funding can continue without your support and we are hugely heartened by all the help and encouragement we have received. I am also delighted that, where possible, our own staff are on the ground volunteering to help their local communities. Going forward, like many charities, of course we face challenges. Our fundraising has suffered significantly, particularly given the postponement or cancellation of many events, and we certainly foresee more cases of need as the true impact of the pandemic becomes more apparent. Most of the major service charities are clear that the real impact will be felt next year.

We have well-articulated plans to return to ‘normal’ work when the time is appropriate and equally make sure we are ready for next year’s challenges. We are also very conscious that the more we can do to help the Army’s people, the more they are available to help in this national emergency.

Finally, I should make plain that the future not only holds serious risks for military charities but also some important opportunities. In many ways our sector is an exemplar amongst charities in terms of the extent of our mutual collaboration and coordination – who else has a pancharity intranet to handle collective casework? But we have to evolve into a more efficient and less fragmented sector – and we intend to be at the forefront of that effort along with our close colleagues and Cobseo.

With my very best wishes,

Major General (Ret’d) Martin Rutledge Chief Executive ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Over the last month we have made grants in excess of £1.3 million to 18 other charities and organisations that deliver vital support to the Army family on our behalf.