SSAFA (the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association) is a national UK-wide charity that supports serving and ex-members of the UK Armed Forces (Regular and Reserves) and their immediate family members in need, whether that is for physical, emotional, practical or financial reasons or a combination. The Forth Valley Branch of SSAFA is one of 17 branches in Scotland and seeks to provide experienced, non-judgemental and friendly assistance, support and advice through its caseworking and fundraising activities, to any in the Armed Forces community in the Forth Valley area who require it. We commit ourselves to helping our Armed Forces community members whenever they need us, for as long as they need us. All members of the Branch, which consists of caseworkers, vistors, fundraisers, supporters and a small number of office staff who manage Branch business, are volunteers. The SSAFA operating model is to respond to requests for assistance by sending a caseworker to meet the requester to gather relevant information about their circumstances and the support and help they need, then put together a package of assistance and support to meet that need,. Where appropriate and needed, SSAFA may call on and coordinate contributions from other military and non-military charities and organisations to provide suitably tailored assistance and support packages. Visitors will subsequently call or visit at intervals to check that the need has been fully met and arrange any further support that may be needed. Meanwhile fundraisers and supporters undertake a range of activities throughout the year to raise funds and maintain and promote awareness of SSAFA and the services it offers.