SSAFA Forces Help
Our priority is people and our commitment is to support them with practical and emotional help. No other Service-related charity operates on the same scale across the Service and ex- Service communities. We can offer help in the following ways: welfare services, social work service, health care, housing and special family needs.
Throughout Western Europe, SSAFA Forces Help Service Committee provide voluntary help and support to all sectors of the military community. Currently there are Service Committees to cover the following areas: JHQ, AFNORTH, Bruggen, Detmold, Hohne/Fallingbostel/Celle, Gutersloh, Hameln, Herford, Krefeld, Osnabruck/Munster/Dulmen, Paderborn, Ramstein and SHAPE. Committees identify needs within the local community and hold regular meetings to discuss applications for funding and other matters. Committees can use funds locally in several ways such as grants to single Service personnel and families in need; provide services and equipment for use in the community and support local children who have special needs.
For more information contact Volunteer Projects Office on 02161 47 3392.
The Branches of SSAFA Forces Help offer practical, emotional and financial support for ex-Service people and their families living overseas.
If you have a few hours to spare each week and would be interested in becoming a volunteer please get in touch. Our volunteers are all ages and from all walks of life. The reason they join us is that we offer a uniquely rewarding experience with plenty of challenges and plenty of choice. We need fundraisers and community volunteers for schemes such as Victim Support and Witness Service. SSAFA Forces Help is committed to providing all volunteers with the appropriate training and support to fulfil their role.
Many people are surprised when they find out just how wide-reaching the help we can offer is. We can, and do, make a real difference in people’s lives and there are very few cases in which we cannot help. You too can make a difference. Telephone 02161 47 3392 for more details. You can also visit our website on www.ssafa.org.uk
Victim Support
The Victim Support Scheme in Western Europe is operated by SSAFA Forces Help and works to support victims of crime by offering confidential support and information. The aim of the Witness Service is to assist victims, witnesses, and their families before, during and after Court Martial hearings. Volunteers throughout Western Europe primarily provide this support and are managed by a Victim Support Co-ordinator based at JHQ. Contact telephone number is 02161 472272.
Army Welfare Service (Germany)
Army Welfare Service supports and strengthens the regimental system by providing dedicated and professional personal and community welfare advice to Commanding Officers, and second line support services to both Unit Welfare Officers and other welfare agencies.
It provides professional confidential support to BFG, and a full range of personal and community welfare services including a qualified Social Work Service and Youth and Community Service.
Some examples of what we can provide help with are: Relationship Difficulties, Bereavement, Family Problems, Child Care including special needs, Adoption and Fostering, Contact House, Financial Difficulties and Domestic Crime.
AWS also provides: Youth Centres, Activities, Projects and Camps, Holiday Activity Programmes, Residential Work and Outdoor Education, Training for Volunteers, Homework Clubs, Support to the Uniformed and Voluntary Organisations, and advice on all Youth and Community matters.
There is an AWS team in each and every Garrison:
Rheindahlen 02161 - 47 - 3604
Paderborn 05252 - 10 - 1862
Gutersloh 05241 - 84 - 3321
Osnabruck 05419 - 60 - 2741
Hohne 05051 - 96 - 2890
Try us - if we can’t directly offer what you require then we will suggest appropriate alternatives and help you to make contact if required. We also need volunteers so get in touch. On leaving the UK you should let your present Health Visitor or Midwife know of your address in the UK in order that we can request your records.
Churches and Chaplains
The role of the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department is to provide spiritual, pastoral, moral and liturgical support to all ranks of the Army, and where appropriate to the civilian component and all dependants.
All garrisons in Germany are served by uniformed chaplains, and have churches that offer Christian worship according to the traditions of most major denominations. Times of service are published and all are welcome. Sunday Schools, choirs, bible studies are often part of the life of the local church.
Baptisms may be arranged by contacting your local chaplain. You will find his telephone number in your ‘Families Guide’ or can obtain it through your Chief Clerk. Alternatively, he is to be found in church at service times.
Marriages can be conducted by the chaplain for Service personnel and their dependants.
The administrative procedure for weddings is the responsibility of your unit admin office, but you should first seek the advice of your chaplain. Do so as early as possible, as the paper work involved can take some time.
The Chaplains’ Department runs a Conference Centre at Lubbecke called Church House.
This runs a variety of courses on religions and welfare related matters including one for young couples who are recently married . Details may be obtained from your chaplain, or by ringing the Warden at Church House on 05741 20384.
All Army chaplains are ordained priests and ministers of either Church of England, Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist or the United Reformed Church. You will recognise chaplains by the crosses they wear on their shirt collars.
Chaplains are here to serve you. They are trained, experienced, and prepared to help you with any spiritual, domestic or personal problem. Never feel “nobody cares”. Chaplains are here because they care. You can contact them directly by phone, or through your admin office or guardroom. You do not have to make an appointment through your unit.
Council of Voluntary Welfare Workers (CVWW)
Under the patronage of the Council of Voluntary Welfare Work the following organisations run Centres, shops and mobile services in Germany:
- Church Army
- Salvation Army
- Young Women’s Christian Association
The service varies according to the size of the garrison and building availability. All CVWW main centres sell newspapers and magazines, and usually there are canteen facilities and shops, the latter offering a comprehensive range of confectionery, gifts, games, books and souvenirs.
These centres, run by Christian organisations, sometimes have their own chapels available for services and private prayer; others house or encourage various bible study, fellowship groups and Christian and social activities including holiday play schemes for children. In all that they do, the aim is to provide a friendly and personal service to Service personnel and their families.
The Religious Sisters of the Catholic Women's League (CWL) and members of the Soldier's and Airman’s Scripture Readers Association (SASRA), also serve in BFG. They work under the patronage of CVWW but under the direction of the Chaplain’s Branch providing spiritual guidance, fellowship and pastoral support, which includes work with the SCE schools and visiting those in hospital.
WRVS
There are 24 WRVS (Woman’s Royal Voluntary Service) ladies attached to major units in BFG. These ladies, known as Services Welfare Officers, assist the Commanding Officer in maintaining morale in his unit by offering emotional and practical support to the Single Soldier. Each unit has a WRVS Club offering such recreational facilities as snooker, table tennis, TV Lounge and in some units Cyber Cafes, with plans for more of these in the future.
Relate BFG
Relate BFG is a confidential relationship counselling service for BFG entitled personnel. It offers an independent service to those who may be experiencing difficulty with their adult couple relationship and operates to UK standards laid down by Relate National.
Currently there are 9 centres across BFG which are staffed by a team of volunteer counsellors selected by Relate National in the UK. Each counsellor undertakes a two year programme of training leading to the Certificate of Marital and Couple Counselling. All adhere to the British Association of Counselling code of practice on confidentiality.
Relate BFG seeks to enhance the quality of couple relationships, help them avoid unnecessary relationship breakdown and limit any damage which might accompany any such breakdown.
All counselling appointments are made through a central appointment centre available by telephoning 181 from any military phone or 02161 47181 if using your civil phone. RELATE BFG aim to offer clients an initial one off appointment (consultation) within 10 working days of first contact with the organisation.
Home-Start BFG
Home-Start is a voluntary organisation offering confidential support, friendship and practical help to families at home, especially those with young children. Families may need help for a variety of reasons such as loneliness, depression, feelings of isolation, perhaps brought about by a new baby, new area or partner’s absence. Home-Start can provide a breathing space in any of these situations.
The Home-Start organiser recruits volunteers from all backgrounds. They are selected for their warmth, reliability and caring natures. All volunteers are appropriately approved and all attend a course of preparation before being linked with families. Volunteers visit a family once or twice a week and are supported in their work by the organiser.
The volunteer visits the family for as long as there is a need. The help varies according to the needs of each family and draws on the flexibility and life experience of the volunteer. The sharing of parenting skills is a key element.
Families may refer themselves or, with their full knowledge and agreement, be referred by SSAFA Social Workers, Health Visitors, Padres, UFO's, HIVES, doctors and many others.