SSAFA wins contract with RAF to continue providing welfare service

29 November 2023

SSAFA is delighted to announce that it was successful in its bid to continue its RAF Personal Support and Social Work Service (RAF PS&SWS). The contract, which is for an initial five-year period, with the option for a two-year extension by mutual agreement, amounts to more than £20 million over the seven-year period, and has sat with SSAFA since 1990 when it was first introduced.

The RAF PS&SWS team provides comprehensive and confidential support, with a special focus on services for adults, but includes children, young people and their families. It can offer support with issues such as mental ill-health, difficult relationships, domestic abuse, financial and cost-of-living concerns, resettlement, housing, childcare, equality issues, bereavement, military discharge or deployments. This is a Service User focused confidential service that operates outside of the normal RAF chain of command.

SSAFA stands by to be innovative in its delivery of personal support and social work services and will provide a digital solution that meets the needs of a modern RAF. It will deliver an efficient, accessible, and intuitive welfare service that enhances local provision and offers both face-to-face and virtual support options.

Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity says: “For more than three decades SSAFA has worked in partnership with the Royal Air Force to deliver personal support and social work to Service personnel and their families. We are extremely honoured to be given the opportunity to continue our work which has been essential in ensuring that RAF’s military personnel can fulfil their roles. SSAFA staff have worked tirelessly to meet this remit, adapting as necessary, and we will continue to do so.”