Volunteering for Military Charities

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Military charities are focussed on attending to the needs of servicemen and women, both past and present. The charities run services that will support the physical and mental wellbeing of returning veterans, current military individuals and their families. There is help available in areas such as housing, children, health and social care and volunteers are needed across them all.

If you’re passionate about giving back to the brave service people that have protected our country and its civil liberties, then browse the opportunities below to find the role that best suits you. Military volunteering opportunities range from fundraising in supermarkets to helping families create keepsakes that can be sent to serving men and women.

Roles that involve working directly with military personnel and their families usually require a minimum commitment of a few hours on a regular basis to ensure continuity of care.

What sort of roles are available?

Caseworker

Voluntary Caseworkers typically work with former servicemen to assess their needs and ensure they have access to the correct services, for example counselling. You will work one-on-one with clients in a rewarding role where you get to see first hand the positive impact you are having on their lives. You will also assess clients’ overall situation e.g. their living conditions, and decide whether they need extra support in these areas. For example, a charity might offer to pay for a fresh coat of paint in a clients’ home to help lift their morale.

SSAFA (The Armed Forces Charity) recruit voluntary Caseworkers frequently.

Information Volunteer

Some charities such as The Royal British Legion, offer centres for military personnel and their families to get information, support and advice. The centres take on Information Volunteers to meet and greet people from all social backgrounds, providing information and directing them to the appropriate services. You will also be the first friendly face that people see when people enter the centre, so your role will be to make them feel welcome and reassured that they made the right decision to seek help.

Befriender/Carer

Many war veterans experience social isolation. By volunteering your time as a befriender, you could change one (or many lives) for the better. The role may involve visiting the veteran at home to find out how they would like to go about getting the most out of life and helping them integrate into community groups where they can meet like-minded people and make new friends. You may also help out with odd jobs such as gardening or admin. The Royal Air Forces Association frequently appeal for befrienders across the country.

Fundraising

If you don’t want to make a long-term volunteering commitment, you could still support a military charity of your choice by doing some fundraising. One of the most popular ways to raise money is through The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal which runs in November every year. Why not volunteer as a street collector, where you will encourage as many people as possible to wear a poppy in exchange for a small donation?

Additional roles supporting military charities

For more information on supporting the military in ‘behind the scenes’ roles, please click through to our Charity Shop Work, Office & Admin and Fundraising pages, or explore the range of charities below.

What charities can I volunteer for?

Ssafa, The Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes, Royal Air Forces Association

Why volunteer later in life?

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