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We are the Edinburgh & Lothians branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
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 Edinburgh & Lothians, across the UK and around the world.
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 Edinburgh & Lothians. Someone should be in contact soon.
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 09:30-17:00
Telephone number: 0141 488 8552
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We are open 09:00 - 17:00, Monday to Thursday, and 09:00 - 16:00 on Friday.
The team at SSAFA Edinburgh & Lothians 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 Edinburgh & Lothians, we have a variety of different personalities that together make our team so special.
Fergus joined SSAFA in 2024 as a Caseworker. He has had a management career in the hospitality and materials industry sectors. Commissioned in the Territorial Army, he served 10 years with 1st/51st Highland Volunteers including The London Scottish Regiment. Having grown up by Loch Lomond, he now lives in Edinburgh and is married with 3 grown up children.
David has been a Caseworker with SSAFA Edinburgh since 2018. After 25 years in the Scots Guards, David was a Caseworker for the Royal British Legion in Windsor for 5 years. Since 2021 he has also been a General Advisor for Citizens Advice Edinburgh.
Ayshu is passionate about working to support people. She studied Social Work in Mental Health and holds an MSc in Counselling, giving her a strong understanding of the challenges individuals and families may face. Ayshu chose to volunteer with SSAFA to put the skills and knowledge gained through her education into practice in a way that benefits the community. Having joined SSAFA in 2026, Ayshu is looking forward to making a positive contribution to veterans and their families by providing compassionate support and helping them access the assistance they need.
Eddie has been with SSAFA since 2023. He manages the social media channels for the branch and supports other digital requirements like multimedia and web content. He comes from a military family and has been aware for a long time of the valuable work that SSAFA does for members of the British armed forces and their dependents.
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 Edinburgh & Lothians, 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.
You can help people in need by visiting, listening and talking to them, to work out the best ways to support them.
Help your local SSAFA branch deliver a variety of activities and events with the aim of generating awareness and making a positive impact on the local community.
Assist with and organise the recruitment of SSAFA volunteers in your local area.
Fergus Hardie represented the branch at the recent event
Branch volunteers reflect on help given and future projects.
Branch meets many people from the veterans community
The ABF's grant provides important financial support to the Armed Forces community, delivered through SSAFA's caseworker volunteers.
