Serving Community Teams

Supporting serving communities in the UK and overseas.

To be able to meet the unique needs of Armed Forces personnel and their families, SSAFA provides volunteer support to local serving communities both in UK and at British military bases overseas. 

Our volunteer-led Serving Community Teams help the serving community access financial, practical and emotional support whenever they need it.  

Separate from the chain of command, SSAFA volunteers provide a confidential service to those in the serving community, including Reservists, serving personnel and their families whether living on bases or in their own homes.

What do Serving Community Teams do?

Raising awareness and funds are important elements of the work Serving Community Teams do. Depending on your location, other types of support available could include:

  • Community Connection events - groups that bring community members together promoting connection and reducing loneliness.

  • Community Volunteer support – a listening ear, practical help with odd jobs, or signposting to other organisations.

  • Community Grants – small grants to assist services as they deliver support to the serving community.

  • Individual Grants – small one-off grants to support individuals with urgent needs that are not funded by welfare or statutory agencies.

  • Loan stores – hire equipment to help you in your home.

I want to speak to my local Serving Community Team

There is a full list of Serving Community Team locations on this page (see to the right or below).

For general enquiries, please email sct.interest@ssafa.org.uk and we will get back to you.

If you need support urgently, then please do not hesitate to contact our Forcesline help team, available by telephone, webchat or email:



How Serving Community Team volunteers helped in 2025

  • Our SCT volunteers were able to support 13,227 beneficiaries in the serving community, through financial, practical and emotional support.

  • SCTs collectively raised over £50,000 for their local SCT during 2025 through a wide range of events and activities.

  • 4,488 members of the serving community attended Community Connection activities to bring communities together to alleviate loneliness and isolation.  

  • SCTs gave out financial support to 168 members of the serving community through individual grant giving - an increase of 82% since 2024. Additionally 78 community grants were awarded in 2025 which benefited 8,416 members of the serving community. 

  • The top four areas of support for beneficiaries contacting SCTs were for signposting services, befriending/being a listening ear, practical help through lifts to appointments/ travel, support with loneliness and isolation - of that support 14% were from the Royal Navy/Marines, 27% from the British Army, 23% were from the RAF, and 43% were serving family members. 

 

If you are a member of the UK Armed Forces or a serving family member and would like to find out more about volunteering, please click here.