Military charity gives hardship warning over Wiltshire families and veterans
SSAFA says it's seen a major rise in calls for help
A charity is warning that serving military families and veterans across Wiltshire are facing an increased risk of financial hardship and food poverty.
According to SSAFA, demand for help across the UK is 15% more than it was before the pandemic struck.
CEO Sir Andrew Gregory says the organisation is also having to tackle people's challenges with "physical and mental wellbeing".
At the height of the pandemic last year, the charity’s Welfare Grants team received 1,241 requests for support. 628 people were supported, with funds totalling £231,670.
So far this year, ÂŁ39,300 has been provided towards 138 cases in times of urgent need - but the charity expects this to rise as winter weather starts to bite.
'We can bring in the assistance and help them'
Sir Andrew says he wants people who need help to put their pride aside and speak up:
"What we find is that at this time of year both serving families and veterans hunker down and don't reach out for help, and by the time they do, the problems are much worse.
"I would love people to reach out to SSAFA early, when they see the first signs of difficulty. (Then) we can bring in the assistance and help them".
Derek's story
British Army veteran, Derek Taylor, was one of those helped by the charity last year.
As he was self-employed for less than a year, when the pandemic hit the former Corporal in the Fusiliers and father of four was not able to access any of the COVID-19 support from the Government. That included the furlough scheme.
"I just didn’t know how I was going to pay for anything. I was walking around my house aimlessly, and then just sitting in my living room on the edge of my seat staring at the walls because I was lost.
"I’m a single dad who went from working 18-hour days to provide for my children, to being locked inside with nothing coming in. The whole thing has been so severe," he said.
Derek applied for Universal Credit, but was told he was not eligible because of his Armed Forces pension.
He had four children to look after, with the two youngest - aged two and five - living with him throughout the pandemic as their mother was working in a care home.
Derek began receiving support through an NHS Veteran’s Mental Health Service, when he mentioned his financial problems. A psychiatrist subsequently put him in touch with SSAFA.
He said: "I broke down, and though it was hard to admit I needed help, by that point I was willing to do anything.
"People kept saying it’s good to talk, but all I could think was talking wasn’t going to put a roof over our heads".
'Being utterly lost to knowing I could get by again'
Derek was contacted by a volunteer from his local branch in North Warwickshire, who put a case together to help with his rent, as well as food and supplies.
"It took ten days from me being utterly lost to knowing I could get by again. My rent was paid, and my caseworker also gave me ÂŁ450 for food and supplies.
"I was then able to use my pension to pay my bills and even managed to buy pyjamas for my children – that was amazing".
Signs so far show that 2021 figures have almost certainly decreased from the crisis of 2020. However, with the latest Government data suggesting food inflation is 1.4% higher than pre-pandemic levels, the worst could be yet to come.
To contact SSAFA, click here.