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Unique collaboration to give Serving and ex-Serving community better financial advice

7 December 2007

logos for Poppy Support, CAB and RAF Benevolent Fund

The Royal British Legion, Citizens Advice and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, are launching a unique Benefits and Money Advice Service in order to help provide better financial advice to the Serving and ex-Serving community, and their dependants.

The three year collaboration, funded by The Royal British Legion and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is due to be rolled out in December 2007 across 18 Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales, with a view to expanding this to 20 in 2008.

The service will offer advice on a range of welfare and benefits issues, including money and debt advice. It has been set up after a recent survey among UK beneficiaries for RBL services, Legion staff and volunteer caseworkers, found that whilst The Royal British Legion offers advice nationwide through its Poppy Support service, a fully holistic service is still needed.  1 in 5 Poppy Support beneficiaries (equal to 5,500 beneficiaries) cited debt as one of the most prevalent difficulties in their lives, with those serving for between 3 and 5 years struggling the most.  

Harvey Tilley, Head of Community Services at The Royal British Legion said: “Recent research shows there is a need for more services which provide money and benefit advice to Service personnel and their families.  This new collaboration will provide much-needed additional support to all those currently serving in the Armed Forces as well as ex – Service personnel and their dependants. We’re very pleased to be working with Citizens Advice and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund in order to use our pooled resources and experience to reach more people.”

Jackie Nowell, Head of Partnership Development for Citizens Advice said: “People linked to the Armed Forces have the same problems as everyone else, such as accessing benefits and need advice with money problems.  Once people leave the Armed Forces they may not be aware of what benefits they are entitled to and may need help with housing or employment issues. We want to make sure they get all the support they need and by working with The Royal British Legion and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund we hope to do just that. “

Ernie Bohm, Director of Policy and Plans at the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, said: “At a time when serving and ex-Service people are faced with ever-increasing pressure from all sides, it is imperative that charities work together, pooling our resources and expertise, to provide the best possible services to those who have served their country.  We are, therefore, delighted to be collaborating with The Royal British Legion to provide access to Citizens Advice’s expert money management and benefits’ advice services for all members of the RAF family.”

Notes to editors

The Benefits and Money Advice project is a three-year collaboration between Citizens Advice, The Royal British Legion and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund in order to provide money and benefit advice to serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their dependants. Funded by the Legion, the project is run through a number of bureaux in England and Wales to provide a holistic benefits advice, claims and debt reduction service.  

The bureaux involved in the project are:

RegionBureaux
North EastNewcastle
Sheffield Debt Support Unit (part time)
Richmondshire
East Colchester
MidlandsNorth East Derbyshire
Sleaford
North West Carlisle
North Liverpool
Chorley
Chester
South EastPortsmouth

Eastbourne

West Oxon

South West Carrick
Kennet
Exeter
WalesCaerphilly
Denbighshire
LondonEnfield

Press enquiry contacts

The Royal British Legion protects the interests, welfare and memory of British serving and ex-Service people and their dependants.  Around 10.5 million people – of all ages – are eligible to approach the Legion for support.  Our charitable work covers a range of services including grant-making to those in need, pensions and benefits advice, vocational assessment and careers advice, home and hospital visits as well as the provision of full nursing care.  For further information about the Legion’s work please visit New windowwww.britishlegion.org.uk

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund was founded in 1919 and exists to relieve hardship caused through sickness, disability, illness or otherwise among serving and ex-serving members of the RAF family and their dependants.  Charitable activities include grant making, house purchase, care homes and educational support.   For further information about the Fund’s work, please visit New windowwww.rafbf.org.uk

Notes to editors

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality. For online advice and information see New windowwww.adviceguide.org.uk
  3. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 7.1 million problems from April 2010 to March 2011. For full 2010/2011 service statistics see: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/press_statistics
  4. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable. (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
  5. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,300 service outlets across England and Wales.