Useful information

A list of contact details for useful organisations is given below. Please let us know of any other organisations you have found useful.

RAF Benevolent Fund

The RAF Benevolent Fund help members of the RAF Family deal with a wide range of issues: from childcare to injury and disability, and from financial hardship and debt to illness and bereavement.

  • Address: 67 Portland Place, London W1B 1AR
  • Telephone: 020 7580 8343
  • Email: mail@rafbf.org.uk

National Council of Women

An umbrella organisation for many women's groups. Also holds local meetings. NCW respond to all proposed changes of legislation on behalf of women.

  • Address: Administrative Office, 81 Bondgate, Darlington, Co. Durham, DL3 7JT
  • Telephone: 001325 367375
  • Email: info@ncwgb.org
  • Website: www.ncwgb.org

RAF Pensions

Pay and pensions enquiry service

Pay Master General's Office (PGO Crawley)

For specific enquiries about the payment of your Forces Family Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme benefits. If you are remarrying you need to write to both Norcross, regarding the War Widow Pension, and Glasgow, regarding the Forces Family Pension.

  • Address: Sutherland House, Russell Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1UH
  • Telephone: 0845 121 2514

Veterans Welfare Service

In April 2007, the MOD officially launched the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency, aimed at improving personnel, pensions, welfare and support services to members of the Armed Forces and veterans. When contacting, please have your National Insurance number to hand.

The Forces Children's Trust

The Forces Pension Society

"We exist to ensure that serving and retired members of the Armed Forces, their widows, widowers, surviving partners, civil partners and dependents receive the pension to which they are entitled and which they deserve."

Please note that you need to be a member before they can help you. Find out more about the Forces Pensions Society here.

Service Children Support Network

    Samaritans

    SSAFA

    SSAFA provide practical, emotional, and financial support to the Armed Forces community. Our teams of volunteers and employees help those currently serving (including reserves), veterans, and their families to retain their independence and dignity. www.ssafa.org.uk.

    • Contact Forcesline, our help desk for any member of the Armed Forces community, on 0800 260 6767; www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/forcesline
    • Our London office address: SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, Queen Elizabeth House, 4 St. Dunstan's Hill, London, EC3R 8AD
    • Our London office telephone: 020 7463 920
    • Email: Our email addresses: www.ssafa.org.uk/contact-us

    Scotty's Little Soldiers

    Scotty's Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people (0 to 25 years) who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. The charity provides assistance to hundreds of bereaved Forces children and young people around the UK and beyond and services offered include guidance to parents and carers, access to professional child bereavement support, personal education and learning assistance (including grants) and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events. These are all designed to remind the children and young people supported by Scotty’s that they are not alone.

    Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA)

    The headquarters can put you in touch with your nearest RAFA Welfare Officer. Their war pensions Welfare Officer can advise on war pension matters.

    • Address: Atlas House, 41 Wembley Road, Leicester, LE3 1UT
    • Telephone: 0800 018 2361
    • Website: www.rafa.org.uk

    The Big White Wall

    Big White Wall is an online early intervention service for people in psychological distress. It is provided in partnership with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Big White Wall combines social networking principles with a choice of clinically informed interventions to improve mental wellbeing. It can be accessed 24/7 and has staff (Wall Guides) who ensure the full engagement, safety and anonymity of all members.

    Big White Wall is a community of people who are experiencing common mental health problems who are supported to self-manage their own mental health. According to members, one of the most important elements of the service is the ability to talk freely, whilst remaining completely anonymous.

      Citizens Advice Bureau

      The Compassionate Friends (TCF)

      TCF is a charitable organsiation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents who have suffered the death of a child.

      • Address: Kilburn Grange, Priory Park Road, London NW6 7UJ
      • Telephone: 0345 120 3785 (9.30 - 4.30 Mon to Fri) (National Office)
      • Telephone: 0345 123 2304 (Helpline)
      • Email: info@tcf.org.uk
      • Website: www.tcf.org.uk

      Counselling Directory

      The purpose of the site is ultimately to provide the UK with a huge counselling support network, enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs. This is a free, confidential service that will hopefully encourage those in distress to seek help.

      Cruse Bereavement Care

      “Cruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. Services are free to bereaved people. The organisation provides support and offers information, advice, education and training services.”

      • Address: PO Box 800, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1RG
      • Telephone: 0808 808 1677 (Helpline)
      • Website: www.cruse.org.uk

      Royal British Legion

      • Address: 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA
      • Telephone: 0203 207 2100
      • Telephone: 0808 802 8080 (general enquiries)
      • Telephone:  0207 973 7331 (pensions)
      • Website: www.britishlegion.org.uk

      Defence Discount Card

      The Defence Service was launched by our Prime Minister David Cameron and will be valid until Feb 2015 and allows members of the Armed Forces, their families and Veterans to make savings both online and on the high street.

      For further information and to apply for the card go to www.defencediscountservice.co.uk.

        Child Benefit helpline

        • Telephone: 0845 302 1444

        Home-Start

        Home-Start helps families with young children deal with whatever life throws at them. They support parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children.

        War Widows Association

        Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide

        Road Peace

        Providing support for victims of road crashes and campaigning for justice, road safety and road danger reduction.

        National Association of Bereavement Services

        • Address: 2nd Floor, 4 Pinchin Street, London E1 6DB
        • Telephone:  0207 709 9090 (Helpline 10am-4pm)
        • Website: www.stjohnshospice.org.uk

        Royal Navy Royal Marines Widows' Association

        'The Royal Navy Royal Marines Widows' Association recently formed with the aim of bringing friendship, support, guidance and comfort to those who have experienced the trauma of bereavement. We have created this website, both as a place to bring together information which we hope you will find useful and to offer our services to you at this difficult time.

        Army Widows Association

        The Army Widows Association was formed by widows in 2004. Our aim is to offer comfort, support and friendship to the widows and widowers of service men and women and help them resolve some of the difficulties they may face after the death of their spouse.

        Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

        The Veterans-UK brand has been launched with a new helpline number: 0300 1234 123 which is hoped will encourage veterans who need help or advice to contact the SPVA

        The Royal School Hampstead Trust

        The School is a registered charity. Its main object is to support children and young people under the age of 25 who are, or have been, dependants of serving or former members of the Armed Services and who would not achieve their educational potential without extra financial support.  

        Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, Scotland

        Queen Victoria School is fully funded by the Ministry of Defence to provide the continuity and stability which boarding education offers, for the children of UK Armed Forces personnel who are Scottish, have served in Scotland or are/were part of a Scottish Regiment.

        QVS is a fully boarding school, coeducational and tri-service. All necessary expenses for each pupil are met by the Ministry of Defence, and we have a particular mission to care for those families who could not otherwise afford boarding education.

        WAY Widowed and Young

        WAY Widowed and Young is a UK charity that offers a peer-to-peer support network for anyone who's lost a partner before their 51st birthday – married or not, with or without children, whatever their sexual orientation.

        • Address: WAY Widowed and Young, Suite 14, College Business Centre, Uttoxeter New Road, Derby DE22 3WZ
        • Website: www.widowedandyoung.org.uk

        Winston's Wish

        Winston's Wish is a charity offering support and guidance to bereaved children, families and professionals.

        Further information

        Read our frequently asked questions for more information on the support we offer.