Do you need our support?
Chat
We are the Ayrshire & Arran branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. We cover Arran, South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire.
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need. Founded in 1885, we’re extremely proud of our long-standing heritage and of all the work we do with inspiring people from Ayrshire, across the UK and around the world.
We run drop in sessions around Ayrshire every month. Please check out our Facebook page for updates or our list of upcoming dates on this page. Come in and meet members of the team, find out more information about the branch, learn about what SSAFA does and take away some leaflets 
If you would like to contact the branch direct, donate to the branch directly or have collection tins that need returning, please email the team at ayrshire.branch@ssafa.org.uk
If you have any mail for any of our branches in Scotland, please send to;
Scottish Regional Office,
SSAFA,
C/O Pearce Institute,
840 - 860 Govan Road,
Glasgow,
G51 3UU
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you for getting in touch with SSAFA Ayrshire. Someone should be in contact soon.
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 09:30-17:00
Telephone number: 0141 488 8552
Live Chat
We are open 09:00 - 17:00, Monday to Thursday, and 09:00 - 16:00 on Friday.
The team at SSAFA Ayrshire is dedicated to helping veterans, service personnel, and their families, in the local community. Our commitment is to provide support with experienced, non-judgemental and friendly advice, as well as a variety of practical services that cover a range of emotional, practical and financial issues. We are proud to say that we help our Armed Forces family whenever they need us, for as long as they need us. Here at SSAFA Ayrshire, we have a variety of different personalities that together make our team so special. To contact the branch directly, email us at ayrshire.branch@ssafa.org.uk
Bob has been volunteering for SSAFA for 14 years and we are incredibly grateful for his dedication to the Caseworker role and for his unwavering support. Bob has won awards for his service to volunteering and goes without saying that a huge number of serving personnel, veterans and their families in Ayrshire have been helped via SSAFA because of Bob.
David is a Veteran of The Royal Scots and has been volunteering for SSAFA for many years. David continues to be an extremely valuable member of our team and has helped countless serving personnel, veterans and their families in Ayrshire. David's military and government service, experience and knowledge helps the branch enormously.
Bill is a Royal Air Force Veteran and served as an Aircraft Engineer for 22 years.
Susan joined the WRAF when she left school and trained as an Assistant Air Traffic Controller and then spent many years as a military wife. Susan was very aware of SSAFA during this time. The company Susan worked for before she retired was a charity partner of SSAFA, and this reignited her interest in SSAFA and the great work that they do. Susan is the Branch administrator and also took on the role as Branch Treasurer. She enjoys reading, loves travelling and also enjoys listening to rock music! After retiring, Susan joined the Ayr Rock Choir.
Simon was born in 1953 in London, and after finishing secondary education he joined an RC religious order for 18 months! Simon then joined the Metropolitan Police and served as a Constable at Bethnal Green in the East End of London, before becoming a Detective Constable; he served in the Police for 7 years. Simon then joined the Royal Air Force as an Officer; training to be a pilot, but after an accident changed to an Air Traffic Controller. He was awarded an MBE by HM The Queen in 2002 and left the RAF in 2009 after 31 years. Simon then joined NHS24 as a call handler; a job he really enjoys. But as of 2 November 2025 he is changing to NHS Ayrshire and Arran in Operations Support in the Ayrshire Urgent Care Service. Simon is the Secretary of the Troon Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland, and he also drives cancer patients to appointments as a member of Ayrshire Cancer Support.
Elaine is the Community Engagement Manager for the entire Scotland region and works full-time for SSAFA. Elaine served as SSAFA Ayrshire & Arran Branch Chair for 2 years and still keeps a close bond with the branch, volunteering as a Community Engagement Volunteer attending events from time to time. For over 20 years, Elaine worked across both the public & private sector in leadership, project management and business relationship roles. She also worked in a shoe shop, as an IT Trainer, in a factory, in many many pubs and had quite a varied career!!! Elaine worked for Dell Computers for 12 + years as a Senior Project Consultant. As many people did over the COVID pandemic, Elaine re-evaluated her priorities and one of the main things she missed was working as a team to help others. So, Elaine made the decision to leave Dell in 2022, did some travelling in her motorhome, then went about finding her ideal role. She is connected to the Armed Forces through her husband who is a veteran of the Royal Air Force.
Catriona has worked as an Administrator/PA for 40+ years and is currently on a 'gap year'. Her husband was in the Royal Navy, an uncle served in the RAF and her grandpa served for a number of years and she heard many a tale from him as she was growing up. It was a no brainer to join SSAFA and utilise some of her organising skills as a Community Engagement Volunteer. She enjoys cruises and has travelled widely. She also like to run (badly!)
Arlene is a Womens Royal Army Corps Veteran who has recently joined the Ayrshire and Arran Branch as a Digital Marketing Volunteer, but has now also become a caseworker.
We love what we do. The sense of pride you get when you know you’ve helped someone get their independence and dignity back is extraordinary. Through volunteering for SSAFA Ayrshire, you’ll have the chance to meet some truly inspiring people, with stories you’ll never forget. You’ll also gain new skills and experiences, but most importantly, you’ll make a difference in the lives of those who have dedicated their lives, often at great sacrifice, to protect and serve our country. To contact the branch directly, email us at ayrshire.branch@ssafa.org.uk
Oversee all aspects of the branch, ensure the branch is running inline with SSAFA’s policies and regulations to ensure that clients and volunteers are safe, all services provided are appropriate and effective and that the branch is financially sound.
You can help people in need by visiting, listening and talking to them, to work out the best ways to support them.
A trio of Ayrshire volunteers have been recognised for their exemplary commitment to the Armed Forces community.
Thank you to everyone who made the Ride to Monte Cassino fundraising bike ride such a success!
October is Menopause Awareness Month, and here we look at how setting up a Menopause Cafe at SSAFA has helped women across the organisation manage the impact of menopause.
Jason 'Foxy' Fox added some TV (and Special Forces) glamour to Landmarc's fundraising golf day, helping raise an incredible sum in support of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
