Care for Veterans receive a £148,643 grant from The Army Benevolent Fund

Care for Veterans, Worthing, are incredibly thankful for this generous grant which goes towards delivering their mixed rehabilitation services for ex-Army veterans and their families in 2024/25.

The Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) is the British Army’s national charity, supporting soldiers, former soldiers, and their families. Since 1944, it has been at the forefront of support for the Army family. It is one of the largest funders in the sector, reaching 75,000 people and funding 86 other charities and organisations last year. It supports the Army family through all of life’s challenges, including bereavement, injury, getting back to work, elderly care, and much more besides.

Marking 80 years of service, the ABF provides vital funding for organisations such as Care for Veterans, ensuring independence and dignity for the Army community. It raises funds through donations, events, corporate partnerships, and legacy giving, continuing its mission to offer a lifetime of support for soldiers, past, present and future, and their families.

Care for Veterans is a UK charity offering long-term care, rehabilitation, and support to ex-service personnel and their families. Founded in 1919, the charity helps veterans with life-changing injuries or illnesses at its Worthing, West Sussex location. Services include neuropsychological care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy, aiming to maximise independence and improve quality of life.

Supporting veterans of all ages, regardless of service branch or conflict, the charity relies on donations, fundraising, grants, and legacies. It also assists veterans’ families with guidance, respite, and emotional support. Care for Veterans strives to provide dignity, respect, and support, needing to raise £1.5 million annually to fund its services.

Amongst the Care for Veterans residents are Ron and John:

Ron is a 101-year-old World War II veteran, served as a sapper in the Royal Engineers, a rank and role crucial to the British Army’s technical and engineering operations during the conflict. His duties included clearing minefields and handling booby traps, preparing him for his deployment to Normandy following the D-Day landings. In the summer of 2021, Ron moved to Care for Veterans, seeking respite after the passing of his wife and while managing his battle with ischemic heart failure. His time at Care for Veterans has brought him a sense of community and support, where he formed a close friendship with John, an RAF veteran, along with other residents.

John is a former Staff Sergeant in the British Army. He had a distinguished 24-year military career specialising as a gun-fitter with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). His journey took him through various challenging postings, from Germany to Hong Kong, where he honed his technical skills and leadership abilities. Following his retirement from the military and a fulfilling civilian career, John’s life took a challenging turn in 2022 when an unfortunate fall resulted in a spinal injury that left him with paralysis from the chest down, known as ‘T4 complete.’ This significant change in his physical condition led John to seek specialised care, and in December 2023, he moved to Care for Veterans where he has found a supportive community and access to specialised rehabilitation services. Despite his recent arrival, he has quickly immersed himself in the activities of the Wellbeing Hub and embraced new experiences such as ‘laughing yoga’.

“Our work for disabled ex-Service personnel at Care for Veterans would not be possible without the loyal, ongoing support of The Army Benevolent Fund. Their extremely generous grant will ensure that we can continue to deliver first-class care and rehabilitation for ex-Army veterans who have given so much.” – Kate Schroder, CEO, Care for Veterans

Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, the Army Benevolent Fund, added:

“Our charity is always proud to support Care for Veterans, which does so much to improve the quality of life of disabled veterans. We were very pleased to award another grant this year towards its first-class care and rehabilitation services for former soldiers with complex neurological and other conditions.”