THE QARANC ASSOCIATION BENEVOLENT FUND


Benevolence is an important function of the QARANC Association providing financial assistance to purchase specific goods, services, or facilities for serving and retired members of the Corps, or their dependents, who are in need. The following guide is to assist those who wish to apply for benevolence or want to advise those who are in need of benevolence. Please note that cases cannot be handled directly and, in all instances, must first go through a SSAFA Caseworker or the Officers Association.

On receipt of your case, it is then considered by the Association Board of Trustees. If approved, the funds will be transferred to the organisation representing you and will be administered by them. The funding can only be used for the specific purpose of the request and will not be made payable to the individual.
 

ELIGIBILITY

  • Anyone who has served as a Regular or Reserve member of the QARANC, or its predecessor organisations, with one day’s paid service or more.
  • You are in need or distress
  • You need financial assistance to help you achieve a reasonable quality of life
  • You do not need to have been a member of the Association to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

 
All cases for benevolence, both serving and retired must come through:
  • The Royal British Legion (TRBL),
  • Poppy Scotland,
  • Soldiers, Sailors Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) or
  • The Officers' Association (OA).

All cases must come to QARANC Association Benevolence via the local SSAFA Caseworker, this applies to serving and retired personnel. Officers should approach the Officers Association in the first instance and they will be advised individually. Benevolence committees are unable to consider any direct requests from individuals, in extraordinary situations they will consider direct from Unit Welfare Officers of serving personnel. If a serving individual has a temporary cash flow problem or encounters a difficulty their Unit Chain of Command should assist as this is not a benevolence matter. Long term cases in need are more complex and may require intervention and referral to other organisations.

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A SSAFA Caseworker will be allocated and will visit you at your convenience to discuss your case. They will need to take some detailed information from you in order to assess how you can best be helped. This will include financial information, housing and family circumstances which they will enter onto a Form A (this document is key and without it we are unable to proceed). It is most important that you provide as much detail as possible however difficult, as the end result is to provide you with as much assistance as possible in order for you to continue looking after yourself and your family independently. This information is confidential (only shared with those dealing with your case) and once completed it is passed to the organisation that will deal with it, this could be the Royal British Legion (TRBL) the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) or the in this situation the QARANC Association. Of note assistance may also be requested from other Corps or Service Charities for those who were also members of another Corps or Service.

The Benevolence Manager will be provided with the case and this is then placed before the committee, a combination of serving and retired officers and soldiers. The  committee meet every month and in 'emergency' situations meetings will be held out of committee to assess cases. . A decision is generally made at the meeting and if benevolence is agreed funding will be sent to the Caseworker generally within 7 days. Payments are not made payable to an individual. The case may be referred onto other organisations that will help also. In some cases more information may be required and it will be referred back to the caseworker.

If mobility equipment is required then it will be necessary in all cases to have a full Occupational Therapy assessment and supporting report. This is to ensure that the correct piece of equipment designed to meet your specific needs is purchased.

The Benevolence Committee works to a guide criteria which is flexible but it does not include the repayment of any sort of debt nor can it provide loans.

 

DO YOU NEED HELP? 


The links below will direct you to some charities that can assist you.

SSAFA
SSAFA FORCES LINEROYAL BRITISH LEGION
OFFICER ASSOCIATION
POPPY SCOTLAND
HELP FOR HEROES 
 

      SSAFA-Descriptor-BELOW-250x228         RBL Logo 2021         OABV-logo-landscape-REV-500x21       R   Help for Heroes logo


Useful Links


Op FORTITUDE - is funded by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund to deliver a centralised referral pathway into veteran supported housing. The remit of the team will be to work with individual veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, supporting them either into suitable accommodation, or supporting them to maintain their current home.

Op COMMUNITY - is a telephone line for the armed forces community (including veterans, reservists, serving personnel, families and the wider armed forces community) to offer support and guidance around navigating NHS services and advice regarding other services that can support with issues.

Op RESTORE - all veterans, service leavers, non-mobilised reservists and their family members and carers can access a range of specialist healthcare and support created to provide treatment and care for many different problems.

Op NOVA - is delivered by the Forces Employment Charity and commissioned by the NHS. It operates solely  in the East of England, North West, North East and South Yorkshire and Humberside. The service helps veterans who are in contact with the justice system by providing emotional and practical support. Veterans are able to access specialist support in areas such as health, housing and employment. The support is available pre and post custody across all of England.

Op NOVA - delivered by the Forces Employment Charity and commissioned by NHS England, provides support for veterans who are in contact with the justice system, enabling them to access the services they need.

Op COURAGE  - is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families.


Further Support Available 


Serving 

Service Leavers 
Army Welfare and Speak out Helpline
Debt advice
Forces Line
Dealing with PTSD and mental illness

Veterans

Dealing with PTSD and Military mental illness and housing advice and support for homeless veterans
Buying household goods, debt advice, help with the loss of loved ones British Legion and SSAFA
Veterans Welfare Service
Overseas Veterans

Military Families

Family Support, Joint Services Housing and HIVE Families support
Services Cotswold Centre
Stepping Stones Homes
Short Breaks and holidays for Service Families
 

Other Links

War Pension Scheme (WPS)
War Pension Scheme; other allowances
DWP Household Support Fund (until 31 March 2024)


Board Dates will be held on the following dates:

18 Jan 24
22 Feb 24
21 Mar 24
18 Apr 24
23 May 24
20 Jun 24

                                                                                         THANK YOU


Thank You - Aug 23 -  QARANC Association provided support with setting up home  - 'having the other items has most definitely improved the quality of life for me and the children. They have made a huge difference in our day to day living and functioning at home. Thank you'. 

Thank You - Sep 23 - financial assistance was provided to assist with travel costs -  'I want to take this time to thank the QA Association for generously assisting me towards the cost of travel for my dad's funeral back in Jamaica. I really appreciate it; it means a lot to get the opportunity to go pay my last respect. I can’t thank you enough'

Thank You - Dec 23 - financial assistance to assist with carpets - the caseworker thanked the Association and promised to pass on the signposting information we sent and said that the family would be delighted with our help.
 
 
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