Forces in Mind Trust has awarded £357,574 to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, for a new project examining the impact of casework support across the Armed Forces community.
SSAFA will work with the University of Stirling on the 30-month evaluation, using data from the charity’s Armed Forces Casework Service to build a clearer picture of beneficiary needs and the value of the support provided.
Casework provides tailored welfare and wellbeing support to thousands of members of the Armed Forces community each year and is often combined with financial assistance from military charities and benevolent funds.
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SSAFA said the needs of people seeking help are becoming more complex. In 2025, the average financial value of a case increased by almost 18% compared with the previous year.
The project will examine the economic and social value of casework and identify how services can respond to changing demand.
Researchers will analyse information from SSAFA’s Armed Forces Casework Service, which is delivered in partnership with other military charities, benevolent funds and organisations.
The collaborative model allows funding to be pooled and is intended to help people receive the support most suited to their circumstances.
The evaluation will also use demographic data from the 2021 and 2022 censuses and the Ministry of Defence to develop evidence that can be used across the Armed Forces charity sector.
Researchers will conduct semi-structured interviews with beneficiaries to understand the personal impact of casework support.
Casework staff and volunteers will also be interviewed to identify which parts of the service have the greatest effect.
The findings will assess risks and opportunities affecting the casework service, recommend ways to reduce those risks and examine the service’s readiness and resilience as demand changes.
Julie McCarthy, director of welfare operations at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said: “The military charity sector, supported by colleagues across numerous civilian grant making organisations, distributes millions of pounds in financial support to the Armed Forces Community every year. SSAFA are very proud to play a pivotal role in that and this grant from FiMT will enable us to show the true impact of that collaborative working on both individuals but also for society as a whole.”
Dr Steve Rolfe, senior lecturer in social policy at the University of Stirling, said: “The Armed Forces community is becoming more diverse and the needs of those who require support are changing over time. Understanding the ways in which SSAFA’s casework service can address these needs and enhance quality of life for different members of the Armed Forces community is vital to ensure that support is delivered efficiently and effectively. This research will provide evidence of impact which should be of value across the Armed Forces Charity sector and beyond.”
Michelle Alston, chief executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said: “Whilst most of the Armed Forces community transition successfully there are some who need specific support and understanding often provided through casework. This project is an opportunity to better understand the changing nature and needs of the Armed Forces community. It will enable services to be tailored to provide the most impact and encourage a system-wide approach to tackling future needs.”
