SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity are delighted to announce that Forces in Mind Trust has awarded £112,074 to support an external evaluation of SSAFA’s Glasgow Helping Heroes initiative over the next 18 months.

The Glasgow Helping Heroes initiative, led by SSAFA and delivered in partnership with Glasgow City Council, is a ‘one stop shop’ for the Armed Forces community in the Glasgow area. The initiative was set up in 2010 and has provided support to over 2,000 veterans and their families in need so far.

The project provides advice and information on a range of issues including, housing and homelessness, to a population of around 50,000 veterans in Glasgow. In 2018, the project supported over 270 people, helping 21 to gain employment and 39 into secured tenancies. In 2019, the project supported over 310 people, helping 19 to gain employment and 42 into secured tenancies.

The evaluation will be led by Dr Steve Rolfe at the University of Stirling and will provide valuable insight for the military charity sector on this unique approach to supporting ex-service personnel and their families.

Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity said: “We are extremely grateful for this exceptionally generous contribution from Forces in Mind Trust to help support our Glasgow Helping Heroes Project, with Glasgow City Council. Working in partnership with leading academics in this field, this grant will help us to evaluate our work in Glasgow and our support for the Armed Forces community.

“The Glasgow Helping Heroes project is a brilliant example of the sector coming together to support those who need us most. The support provided by Forces in Mind Trust will enable us to independently evidence the impact that we are having through this service and the difference that we making to the lives of so many who need our support.”

Air Vice-Marshal Ray Lock, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this project. Awarding grants to support evidence-based projects which lead to long-term solutions to the challenges faced by the Armed Forces Community lies at the very heart of FiMT’s mission and purpose. Together with SSAFA, our grant will allow for a thorough evaluation and assessment of Glasgow Helping Heroes project. This will highlight particular areas of success and opportunities for improvement similar service providers can draw upon across the UK.

“FiMT’s vision is that all ex-Service personnel and their families lead fulfilled civilian lives, and we seek to promote this through working on six particular outcomes. Two of these are employment and housing, and it is particularly pleasing to be able to support a project so focused on these areas.”

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, provides lifelong support to anyone who is currently serving or has ever served in the forces, and their families. This includes both regulars and reserves.