Call of duty

Christine Bennett, Oldham secretary of SSAFA

SSAFA AS BUSY NOW AS IN THE PAST 125 YEARS

AN organisation which supports ex-service personnel is 125-years-old this month — but the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association is in no danger of dying out.

SSAFA is busier than ever, according to Oldham branch secretary Christine Bennett.

And new conflicts in Iraq and, more recently, Afghanistan, have led to more people seeking help, especially from younger age groups.

SSAFA’s role has changed from supporting service people who fought in earlier conflicts to also helping those involved in today’s high pressure military environment.

After 125 years it still provides health and social services, as well as accessing grants and benefits, and running a confidential hotline for families and partners, and offering family holidays.

Mrs Bennett said that as the troops in Afghanistan prepare for a major offensive in April, the confidential local helpline, which worked successfully in the Iraq conflict, will be set up again.

And she added: “I hope to help set up a support group where the families can get together and share their experiences.

“We have a lot of casework locally and it is getting more and more complex, with a lot more younger people.

“An awful lot of people don’t get the benefits they are entitled to and are too proud to ask for help.

“We are getting people coming back from the services and having to move back with their parents, or becoming homeless and jobless.”

SSAFA in Oldham has helped them to access £60,000 in grants and help from other benevolent funds, as well as other benefits.

But she added: “We have an increase in mental health problems in people who have just come out of the services.

“Once they have left they no longer have the arm of the military around them, so we have helplines they can ring.”

Nationally, SSAFA helps with two Norton homes, named after Major Peter Norton who won the George Cross in Iraq but was severely injured, which help wounded personnel.

They provide a home from home where families can get together during periods in hospital.

The charity which hopes to raise £1.25 million this year was set up in 1885 to provide funds for families left behind when their husbands or fathers left for service.