a line of soldiers, one smiling at a veteran wearing medals who is leaning in to talk.

Durham

We can Help

Support for the armed forces in Durham

We help veterans and service personnel, and their families, in the local community and we rely on public donations to continue our work. Our commitment is to provide support with experienced, non-judgemental and friendly advice, as well as a variety of practical services which cover a range of social, family and financial issues.

Get in touch

Local branch contact details

Opening times

Our Durham office is manned Monday and Thursday 09.30-12.30 Hrs. We also run a Veterans Drop in Centre 12.00 - 17.30 on the third Wednesday of each month at: Durham Veterans Contact Point, Shakespeare Hall, North Road, DH1 4SQ.

Contact Details

Email: Durham@ssafa.org.uk

Phone: 0191 383 9452

Do you need help or welfare support

Call us

Phone: 0191 383 9452

Ask us a question

Latest

  • 2016 was the first time for 20 years that a small Service of remembrance had been conducted at the memorial in South Church, Bishop Auckland on Saturday 11th November. This year the service will be conducted by the Reverend Dr Stephen Ridley, Chaplain to SSAFA Volunteers Durham. The Memorial is dedicated to those who made the supreme sacrifice in World War 1 and bears their names. As the only major Military Charity during the Great War, being established in 1885 it is particularly poignant that SSAFA is the charity involved at St Andrews Church. After observing the two minutes silence a piper from the Bishop Auckland Pipes and Drums Band will play a lament as wreathed are laid.

  • Join the fight - Loneliness

    Help us fight the invisible enemy

    This month, SSAFA is highlighting one area of Veteran’s realities that do not always get acknowledged; Loneliness and isolation - the invisible enemy faced by many veterans every day. With over 41% British Armed Forces veterans surveyed saying they have felt lonely or isolated at some point since leaving the military, and over a quarter admitting to having suicidal thoughts after finishing their military service.

    Find out more and donate at www.ssafa.org.uk/fight to help SSAFA reach more veterans who have served this Nation; they have sacrificed a great deal and deserve our support.

  • SSAFA and Age UK

    SSAFA and Age UK believe that by working jointly and pooling resources,

    SSAFA and Age UK have joined forces in a ground-breaking local initiative to vastly improve the lives of veterans and their families born before 1950.
    Following two years of planning and months of presentations to fund-holders, the two charities announced their plans to work together for the good of the growing number of elderly people in the local area. We are one of 12 SSAFA branches across the UK who have been asked to take part and are thrilled to be involved.
    We believe that by working jointly and pooling resources, we can build on each other’s expertise and create a county where elderly veterans are well looked after and get the help and support they deserve.
    Though both charities have specific aims to help make the lives of the elderly more comfortable and less stressful, there is not a lot of overlap in the specific assistance and support they provide.
    Rob Fountain of Age UK said; “We have found that the work done by both of our teams is more complementary than competitive. With our long-term experience of helping and supporting the elderly in the community and SSAFA’s 132 years of assisting members of the forces and their families, we believe we will now have a much stronger team of volunteers, with greatly enhanced experience. Together that will enable potential clients to be given the advice and assistance they need more quickly than ever.’’
    Funding for the new work is being provided through the Ministry of Defence, using money being made available by the Chancellor from fines collected from banks which were involved in the Libor interest rate controversy.
    Find out more: https://goo.gl/kVKqNL

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Volunteering for Durham SSAFA

Volunteering for SSAFA in County Durham

Our network of Durham volunteers work locally to make a big difference to the lives of people in the Armed Forces family. Apply for one of our volunteering opportunities below or contact us to find out how you can help in County Durham.
Our volunteers work in their local community within County Durham to provide support to veterans, serving personnel, and those who depend on them.

In County Durham there are 6 local Divisions in the following regional areas: North Durham, East Durham, Wear Valley & Teesdale, Darlington, Sedgefield, and Hartlepool, with a small headquarters in Durham City.

Make a difference with Durham SSAFA

Volunteers play a crucial role in delivering every aspect of Durham SSAFA's work - from getting out and visiting people to raising money in local communities and making sure that people know we are here to help. At Durham SSAFA, we recognise that it is often the little things which make the most difference but our teams need to be ready to tackle big problems too. As a Durham SSAFA volunteer, you'll be there to make sure that help and advice is always close at hand for our veterans, those serving and their families.

How you can help

There are so many ways to get involved as a Durham SSAFA volunteer. You can support our Armed Forces community and their families by giving a helping hand, being a listening ear or even helping to balance the books. Whatever your strengths, Durham SSAFA have volunteer roles to suit you.

Frontline Roles

Frontline roles are the most important in the organisation. In a frontline role, following training, you will be dealing with Armed Forces personnel, Veterans and their families at first hand, often providing the essential help and advice they need to fix their immediate problems. You will have full support and mentoring throughout the life cycle of any case. These are perhaps the most satisfying roles as you get to see the difference that Durham SSAFA makes to those that need help.

Caseworker: - Meet up with people to talk through the problems that they face - and work with them to find a solution.
Visitor: - Visit with people who SSAFA have helped and ensure their continuing well being through being a friendly ear and a chat over a cuppa ! Visits are most often made to elderly veterans.
Mentoring: - Volunteer as a mentor for service leavers who are wounded, injured or sick.
Prison In Reach Officer: - A specialist role for experienced Durham SSAFA caseworkers. We are particularly interested in volunteers with knowledge and experience of dealing with Veterans in the Criminal Justice system, perhaps such as former Police, Prison and Probation Officers.

Management opportunities

An opportunity to use your specialist skills such as in finance, administration or project management and co-ordination to make a difference to the Armed Forces family and veterans within County Durham.
Call us if you are interested in any of the following Durham SSAFA Management roles:

Assistant Branch Secretary & Divisional Secretary and Assistant Divisional Secretaries - Ask for details of vacancies.
Branch Recruitment Officer - Vacant.
Branch & Divisional Treasurer - Ask for details of vacancies.
Publicity and Awareness Officer: - Vacant - Spread the word about our work in County Durham to the people who need our help and to potential supporters.
Fundraising Officer: - Vacant - Co-ordinate the fundraising effort at Branch and Divisional Level within County Durham, working closely with the Branch and Divisional Treasurers.

If you are interested in volunteering with Durham SSAFA or would like to know more please contact us at: durham@ssafa.org.uk or on: 01913839452