The Support Pillar

The Support Pillar of Veterans Scotland is led by Poppyscotland and seeks to provide funding and research support for all Veterans Scotland member organisations. It also covers areas of activity not falling clearly within the remits of the Housing, Care and Membership pillars. The membership of the Support Pillar comes in the main from those charities whose primary role is to enable other service-providing organisations.

Recent research (available on http://www.poppyscotland.org.uk/need.htm ) identified four categories of provision which the Support Pillar focuses on.

1. Benevolence

Many organisations provide grants to veterans and their dependants to ease financial distress. Before such a grant can be awarded it is necessary for the person in need to meet with a caseworker who will consider what assistance is required. In Scotland, the bulk of caseworking is done by SSAFA Forces Help. Your local branch of SSAFA Forces Help can be found at (http://www.ssafa.org.uk/contactUs.asp) or by calling 0845 1300 975.

2. Advice

Many of the Support Pillar charities focus on the provision of advice on a wide range of issues affecting former Servicemen and women and their dependants. For example, veterans who have been injured in the course of duty may be eligible to receive a war pension. The Royal British Legion Scotland helps many ex-Service men and women with their war pension claims and also provides free representation at appeal cases. If you need advice on war pensions then you should call 0131 557 2782 and ask for the Pensions Advisory Service. Assistance is also provided to war widows and on compensation claims. Support Pillar charities including Poppyscotland, the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Maritime Charities Group fund an advice partnership with the Scottish Citizens' Advice Service and veterans can access this by contacting or visiting their local Citizens' Advice bureau. The helpline number is 0845 231 0300. Similar services are available from Veterans First Point who provide a wide range of advice and support to veterans in the Lothians from their drop in centre in Charlotte Street, Edinbugh tel 0131 220 9920. Support Pillar charities also have strong functional links with local authority and other government advisory services, such as Glasgow City Council's Helping Heroes initiative, tel 0141 427 2804.

3. Support

Support to other organisations. Many Support Pillar organisations provide grants to other charities delivering specific, hands-on support to Veterans in Scotland. Examples of beneficiaries include:

• Combat Stress - £50K towards their national welfare outreach service
• Scottish Veterans' Residences - £100K towards their capital project in Glasgow.
• Erskine - £30K towards supporting the dementia care of ex-Seafaring veterans
• Gardening leave - £39K towards staff costs as they expand their operation
• Scottish Veterans Garden City Association - £75K towards their refurbishment programme in Dundee. 
• Citizens Advice Bureau in Moray - £2.5K towards the provision of advice to members of the RAF family.

These grants represent just some of the support grants made by a wide range of Support Pillar charities.

4. Supported Employment

In Scotland, there are currently two providers of supported employment for disabled ex-Service men and women. Recent research suggests that much more could be done to meet the need in this area and the Support Pillar charities are working hard to address this. If you would like more information about vacancies at the two main current providers please contact:

a. Erskine - 0800 085 7191 or (http://www.erskine.org.uk/)
b. Lady Haig's Poppy Factory - 0131 550 1573/4 or (http://www.ladyhaigpoppyfactory.org.uk/)

Contact Information

Below is a list of the principal Support Pillar benevolent organisations and points of contact.

Poppyscotland - Contact Details for Benevolence

Head of Charitable Services
Paul Hayllor

Telephone: 0131 550 1593
E-mail: p.hayllor@poppyscotland.org.uk

Postal Address

Poppyscotland (The Earl Haig Fund Scotland),
New Haig House,
Logie Green Road,
Edinburgh
EHJ7 4HR

Other Useful Information

Main Switchboard: 0131 557 2782
Fax: 0131 557 5819
Website: http://www.poppyscotland.org.uk

Royal Naval Benevolent Trust

Postal Address

Castaway House
311 Twyford Avenue
Portsmouth
PO2 8RN

Other Useful Information

 Telephone: Grants Team - 023 9266 0296
Fax: 023 9266 0852
E-mail: rnbt@rnbt.org.uk
Website: www.rnbt.org.uk

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A B F - The Soldiers' Charity

Postal Address

Mountbarrow House
6 - 20 Elizabeth Street
London
SW1 W9RB

Other Useful Information

Telephone: 0845 241 4820
Fax: 0845241 4820
E-mail: welfare@armybenevolentfund.com
Website: www.armybenfund.org

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Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Postal Address

67 Portland Place
London
W1B 1AB

Other Useful Information

Telephone: 020 7580 8343/7
Fax: 020 7636 7005
Email: info@rafbf.org.uk
Website: www.rafbf.org.uk