The Royal Anglian Regiment Association

Royal Anglian Cap Badge

THE ROYAL ANGLIAN REGIMENT BENEVOLENT CHARITY IN ACTION

The Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity is registered with the Charity Commission (No 1085050). The stated object of the Charity is the relief of persons who are:

 

It has made grants totalling £105,000 over the past year alone, to over 250 cases.  Cases vary from assistance to soldiers on operations in Afghanistan to helping Old Comrades and their families.  Each case is judged on its own merits.  Casework is initially handled by a Caseworker from the Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force Association (SSAFA) or The Royal British Legion, who visit the applicant and discuss their needs and background details.  The case is then sent to Regimental Headquarters where the Benevolent Committee sits in consideration.  It is aimed to turn casework around in 24 hours as the needs are invariably urgent.

A few examples of grants given to those in need are listed below.  Although the names have not been shown, the cases are genuine:

Serving Soldiers

Pte F had served for 3 years.  He and his wife lost a young child and were struggling to meet the cost of the funeral and headstone.  The Regiment was able to help with these costs.

LCpl G had served for 6 years.  He was wounded in Iraq where he lost a leg.  This, however, was not going to stop him enjoying a full and active life.  The Regiment paid for a rehabilitation skiing trip to aid his recovery.

Pte H had joined the Army from a Commonwealth country.  His mother sadly died in his own country and The Regiment was able to pay for his flight home to pay his respects.

LCpl I developed incurable cancer whilst home on leave from active service.  Three weeks before he died, The Regiment was able to pay his airfare from the UK so that he could say goodbye to his mates in Germany.

Pte J was wounded in Afghanistan, losing a leg below the knee.  The Regiment was able to pay for driving lessons so that he could enjoy greater mobility.

Pte K was wounded in Afghanistan, suffering substantial injuries to his back.  This made sleeping in bed particularly difficult.  The Regiment was able to help by purchasing two specialist beds, one for his home and one for his barrack room.

When soldiers were wounded in Afghanistan, The Regiment was able to pay for the transport and accommodation costs of families visiting them in UK hospitals, so that they would not have to worry about such matters at a critical time.

 

Examples of benevolence granted to retired soldiers and their families are shown by county below:

Lincolnshire

Mr and Mrs X, from Lincolnshire, were aged 85 and 82 respectively.  He had served in WW2 in the desert.  He had been pushing his wife around in a wheelchair as she was no longer mobile.  The Regiment assisted with the cost of an electric powered vehicle so that they could get out together.

Mr Y, aged 52, from Lincolnshire, had served for 16 years.  His wife left him with two daughters.  He had made considerable personal sacrifices to provide for their needs, whilst ignoring his own.  He had been sleeping on a couch and doing his washing at the Launderette.  The Regiment was able to assist with the cost of beds and a washing machine.

Mr Z, aged 32, from Lincolnshire, served for 6 years.  He lost his job and in spite of looking hard was finding it difficult to get employment.  He decided to become a taxi driver and The Regiment was able to help with the cost of his licence, CRB, medical, registration and application costs.

Cambridgeshire

Mr and Mrs H were aged 59 and 44; he served for 9 years and had worked ever since leaving the Army. She had a disability and needed a walk in shower. The Social Services were unable to provide one so The Regiment was able to grant £400 towards the cost, the balance being met by The Royal British Legion.

Mr I, aged 22, served for 7 years including a tour of Iraq. He found it difficult to settle down to both job and home on leaving and had been staying with friends. Having outstayed his welcome he found a flat but lacked the money to put down a deposit on it. The Regiment was able to grant £400 towards it.

Mr J, aged 70, served for 3 years. After leaving the Army he travelled with his work. He settled down in this County but could not afford a bed, so used a mattress on the floor; he had no sofa, chairs or cooker. The Regiment was able to make a grant of £425 which was matched by The Royal British Legion to meet his needs.

Suffolk

Mr and Mrs O, were aged 79 and 73. He served for 10 years as a Regular and 6 years as TA; he had Alzheimer’s and she suffered from a stroke, reducing her mobility. She needed an electric scooter to enable her to get out to the shops. The Regiment was able to grant £400 towards the cost of the vehicle.

Mrs P aged 70. Her husband served for 4 years. After he died she found it difficult to make ends meet and got behind on her Council Tax and utility bills. The Regiment was able to grant £300 to cancel the debts.

Mr Q, aged 28, served for 4 years, where he was a great sportsman in three Battalion teams. His employer went bankrupt owing him a considerable sum in back pay. The Regiment was able to help him, with a grant of £500, to pay off his utility arrears.

Essex

Mr A, aged 64, served for 16 years. On leaving the Army he worked in Security. However, work dried up and he got behind with his rent. The Regiment was able to help out with a grant of £400.

Mrs B aged 36. Her husband served for 18 years and, on the break up of their marriage, she kept the children and the home. She was off work for 3 months with stress and therefore went into arrears with her mortgage. She has now recovered and The Regiment was able to grant £500 to pay the arrears.

Mr C, aged 28, served for 8 years in The Regiment. On leaving he found it very difficult to settle down and find employment and accommodation. The Regiment was able to help him with a grant of £400 to furnish his new flat.