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In October 2007 the Army Benevolent Fund launched the Current Operations Fund, to support soldiers injured or families of those killed as a result of their Service during the current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Fund was set up as a direct response to the mounting numbers of serving soldiers and their families in great need who require immediate help.
Before the Current Operations Fund was launched, the ABF had already committed over £250,000 in grants to returning soldiers and their families. Grants cover everything from retraining a disabled soldier for a new career to a much needed holiday for a war widow and her young children.
Cases are expected to snowball in the coming years, as casualties from ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan increase. It frequently takes two or three years before cases are referred to the Army Benevolent Fund and in 2007 the ABF saw a significant rise in appeals for help from recent veterans of the two conflicts. The Current Operations Fund will be available to support soldiers injured during any future theatre of operation, irrespective of their location.
In December 2007 the ABF received a generous SuperGrant from the Army Central Fund, in recognition of their very close links to the ABF, and to benefit those sadly affected by the high tempo of current operations...
However, dependent on voluntary donations, the Fund must currently raise around £7 million each year to continue its vital work with members of the Army Family. With an exponential growth in cases expected, the need for public support is greater than ever.
