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Operational Welfare Fund

Support from the general public means a great deal to Service personnel, particularly those deployed on operation. The generosity and heartfelt support of communities at home is important in keeping up morale, often in very difficult conditions.

While the Ministry of Defence already provides a Welfare Package which includes free phone calls home, free email and internet access as well free mail services for family and close friends, public support complements this and is always very gratefully received.

One of the ways that people have in the past sought to demonstrate their support for troops overseas is by sending parcels containing gifts out to Operational Theatres, such as Afghanistan. Unfortunately when people do this, although they have the best of intentions, they often don’t realise the unintended consequences of their actions.

The Enduring Families Free Mail Service, which enables families and close friends of service personnel to send packages out to theatre, can be swamped by the public’s generosity with the result that the all important personal mail becomes significantly delayed. While such ‘unsolicited’ parcels are without doubt popular with recipients, the delays they inevitably cause to the delivery of personal mail are considerably less welcome.

The delivery of goodwill parcels to forward operating bases also necessitates additional resupply flights and convoys which places Service personnel at additional and unjustifiable risk in what is already a difficult and dangerous operating environment.

It is for these reasons that MOD have asked the forces charity SSAFA Forces Help (The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Familes Association) to administer a new fund which generous members of the public can donate to as an alternative to sending parcels.

The Operational Welfare Fund is focussed on providing support direct to the front line and enables commanders on the ground to bid for those items which they deem will have the most significant impact in enhancing the morale of their personnel.

As an initial project, the Operational Welfare Fund is seeking to equip the remote Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan with high-tech equipment including:

• Solar-powered chargers
• Boxing training pads and skipping ropes
• Solar or wind-up radios
• Portable DVD players and DVDs
• Games consoles
• LED Lanterns

 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why has this fund been set up? The Operational Welfare Fund has been set up to provide direct support to those in the front line. The National Recognition Study [see "Related Pages"] highlighted that there is a public desire to support our Armed Forces and particularly those serving on operations. Unfortunately the methods by which people have traditionally sought to show their support, such as by sending parcels to operational theatre, have had unintended negative side-effects.

• What will monies raised be spent on? The parameters for what the money from the fund can be spent on are deliberately broad. The intention is that the decisions on spending should be initiated by those in theatre who have the best feel for where the need is greatest. The fund could be spent on anything from provision of decent coffee for those in transit right up to assistance with a much larger project such as provision of a welfare village. For our first project we are looking at ways of improving life for those serving in Forward Operating Bases, where there are fewer welfare facilities available than in main bases.

• Why has SSAFA Forces Help been chosen to administer this fund? The Ministry of Defence felt it was felt important to select a Tri-Service charity to facilitate this initiative. SSAFA (The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) works extensively with the MOD in other areas and it has a proven track record of delivering.

• How long will the fund operate? There is no set timeframe over which the fund will operate. When the requirement ceases the fund will be wound up.
 
• Why isn't the MOD providing this additional support? The MOD provides a comprehensive Deployment Welfare Package which includes: a free mail service, 30 minutes of telephone calls a week and internet access as well as live Combined Service Entertainment shows. Feedback indicates that our personnel believe the current package to be a good one. But that does not mean that life can not be improved in the demanding environments where service personnel are currently operating. This fund will allow the public to have a directly beneficial impact on the quality of life of those serving on the front line. 

• How can I find out how my donation is being spent? Both the MOD and SSAFA will show details of what the money from this fund is being spent on their websites, so check regularly for the latest details. The fund is also being supported by the Daily Mirror newspaper, where the latest news about the fund will be reported.

• Are the donations tax efficient? Charitable donations can be tax efficient, depending on how monies are donated. Giving using such methods as Give As You Earn / Payroll Giving can provide tax relief. All donors will be given the option to Gift Aid their donation, allowing SSAFA to reclaim the tax. For further details please contact the SSAFA Fundraising Team, who will be happy to assist.

• Who should I contact if I have a query about my donation? The SSAFA Fundraising Team will be happy to answer queries. Their details can be found on the SSAFA website - see "External links".