AFCFT continues support for SSAFA’s domestic abuse services 

27 April 2026

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been awarded a grant of nearly £25,000 by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund (AFCFT) for the provision of counselling for those in the military community experiencing domestic abuse.

The 1:1 counselling is a lifeline for those whose confidence, autonomy, and sense of safety may have been eroded because of domestic abuse.

Many seeking help face complex circumstances, including living within service accommodation, being dispersed from family support network, frequent movements, or without the right to remain in UK, which can heighten stress and create significant barriers when accessing support.

SSAFA’s service for residential and outreach (remote) beneficiaries is holistic and tailored to each individual’s circumstances by the highly trained SSAFA staff.

Alongside direct support afforded by this grant, SSAFA aims to increase awareness and understanding of domestic abuse and the mental health impacts of trauma, both within the organisation and across partner networks.

This grant has been awarded by AFCFT under the “Ensuring the Armed Forces are not disadvantaged” theme of its funding, addressing the unique needs of seldom-heard cohorts and their access to defined mental health and wellbeing support. 

It marks a significant step in strengthening trauma informed practice, improving accessibility to specialist support, and ensuring survivors or those experiencing domestic abuse receive the compassionate, professional support they need. 

Lynne Doherty, SSAFA’s Director of Social Care Operations, said: “This award from AFCFT is a welcome contribution to our raft of services, services that are, as we’ve all seen in recent media stories, sadly all too necessary. 

“As demand for SSAFA’s support grows, and the complexity of each cases increases, funding such as this from AFCFT means we can reach more people to give the right support at the right time how and where it’s most needed.

“And so, we’re very grateful to the AFCFT for its continued support of and trust in our work with the Armed Forces community.”