SSAFA secures funding to reveal the impact of Armed Forces casework

05 November 2026

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has been awarded £357,574 by Forces in Mind Trust to lead a major evaluation - in partnership with the University of Stirling - of how casework changes lives across the Armed Forces community.

The needs addressed by SSAFA are becoming increasingly complex. In 2025, the average financial value of a case rose by nearly 18%* compared with the previous year, underlining the growing level of support that people need.

This project will help SSAFA understand and demonstrate the difference its casework makes, as well as its wider economic and social value. The findings are expected to enable SSAFA to strengthen its services around people’s changing needs and share valuable learning with partners that will help build a stronger Armed Forces charity sector.

At the heart of the evaluation will be evidence from SSAFA’s Casework Service, building a clearer picture of the people who turn to SSAFA, the support they receive, and the partnerships that help make it possible. This evidence should provide a unique insight into the needs of the Armed Forces community and the collective effort required to meet them.

The research will also bring together demographic data from Census 2021/22 and the Ministry of Defence, giving SSAFA and organisations across the sector a stronger evidence base from which to plan future support.

People who have received support will be invited to share, through semi-structured interviews, the difference SSAFA’s casework has made to their lives. Interviews with SSAFA’s casework colleagues will also help identify the parts of the service that make the greatest difference.

The findings will help SSAFA identify risks and opportunities for its casework service, take practical steps to address those risks, and ensure the service remains responsive, ready for change and, crucially, resilient for an uncertain future.

Over 30 months, the project will build robust evidence to guide the continued development of SSAFA’s casework, helping the charity remain there for the Armed Forces community with effective support when, where, and how it is needed.

Jonathan Sandall, Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at SSAFA, said: “Each year, organisations across the military and civilian charity sectors work together to provide millions of pounds of practical and financial support to serving personnel and veterans and their families. SSAFA is proud to play a central role in that partnership. 

“We’re also extremely grateful for this funding from Forces in Mind Trust, which will help us demonstrate the difference that collaborative casework makes not only for the people and families we support, but also for the wider services and communities around them. It will give the sector stronger evidence to shape support around changing need and ensure help is available where and when it matters most.”

Dr Steve Rolfe, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Stirling, commented: “The Armed Forces community is becoming more diverse and the needs of those who require support are changing over time. Understanding the ways in which SSAFA’s casework service can address these needs and enhance quality of life for different members of the Armed Forces community is vital to ensure that support is delivered efficiently and effectively. This research will provide evidence of impact which should be of value across the Armed Forces Charity sector and beyond.”

Michelle Alston, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust, added: “While most of the Armed Forces community transition successfully there are some who need specific support and understanding often provided through casework. This project is an opportunity to better understand the changing nature and needs of the Armed Forces community. It will enable services to be tailored to provide the most impact and encourage a system-wide approach to tackling future needs.”