Charity Grants
SSAFA gives help to regulars and reserves in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force and their families, including anyone who has done National Service.
Their focus is on physical and emotional care. If you're a member of the Armed Forces, they can:
support serving personnel and veterans as they make the transition from life in the Forces to life as a civilian
provide welfare services to be family members of the Armed Forces community
provide a number of services for retirement age veterans, helping with both domestic and emotional needs
provide social care, advice and housing
support serving personnel, their families and veterans with anything relating to disability
help you cope with bereavement, injury and other forms of stress
SSAFA has branches throughout the UK and internationally. The website has a search function where you can find your nearest branch by typing in your postcode.
Helpline: 0800 260 6767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
The website has a Live Chat function too.
The Royal British Legion helps members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families.
Some of the services the Royal British Legion provides include:
care homes for the Armed Forces community and their families, including 5 with specialist dementia care
Admiral Nurses - a specialist service together with Dementia UK helping the Armed Forces community and their families living with dementia
recovery services supporting veterans and serving military personnel to overcome barriers and challenges as a result of injury or illness
financial support to ease the burden of financial pressures and moving back into civilian life
social support
overseas support - supporting Armed Forces wherever they are in the world
The Royal British Legion has branches throughout the UK. The website has a search function where you can find your nearest branch by typing in your postcode.
Helpline: Call 0808 802 8080 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week)
The website also has an online chat function.
Visit the Royal British Legion website
The RAF Benevolent Fund is the RAF's welfare charity that looks after all serving and former members of the RAF and their families.
The RAF Benevolent Fund gives help with:
finances
care and independent living
family and relationships
emotional wellbeing
friendships and connections
Helpline: 0300 102 1919
Email: mail@rafbf.org.uk
The website also has a web chat.
Visit the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund website
ARNO gives benefits and services, including financial help and lifelong support to officers and their dependents of the Royal Naval Service. They do it through their charity The Royal Navy Officers' Charity (RNOC).
The RNOC gives help through their partner charities. They can support in the following areas:
finance
family
housing
health and wellbeing
bereavement
Phone: 020 7402 5231 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.00pm)
Email: rnoc@arno.org.uk
Visit the Association of Royal Naval Officers website
Army Benevolent Fund is the Army's national charity. They give grants to charities as well as grants to individuals across 6 areas:
independent living
elderly care
training and education
mental wellbeing
army families
housing
Phone: 0207 901 8900
Email: info@armybenevolentfund.org
Visit the ABF The Soldiers' Charity website
Poppyscotland supports people of all ages in the Armed Forces who live in Scotland. They also help the families of ex-servicemen and women, including partners, widows, widowers and children.
Poppyscotland can help with:
general advice
financial support
mobility
housing
mental health
Helpline: 0131 550 1557
Email: Enquiries@Poppyscotland.org.uk
Visit the Poppyscotland website
Seafarers UK gives grants to maritime charities and charitable maritime projects. Although they don't fund individuals, they help serving and ex-serving seafarers and their families who need support through other organisations that they fund.
The grants of Seafarers UK aim to affect the lives of seafarers in 5 areas:
better financial resilience
better working lives at sea
improved health and well-being
safer working lives
increased social justice
Phone: 020 7932 0000
Visit the Seafarers UK website
For a complete list of charities offering grants, ask for this book in your local library:
The Guide to Major Trusts 2025/26 Ian Pembridge 18th edition Published by the Directory of Social Change, September 2024 ISBN 9781784821197
Last reviewed: 12 Feb 2025
Next review due: 12 Feb 2026
There are charities that can offer grants and information about grants to adults with cancer and their families.
There are charities that offer grants to families of children with cancer.
Working out which benefits you can apply for can be difficult. And applying for them can be time consuming. A number of organisations can help.
Cancer might affect your personal finances, such as your mortgage, pension, credit cards and insurance. A financial adviser can offer advice.
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