ABF The Soldiers' Charity, formerly the Army Benevolent Fund[1] is a British charity. It is the British Army's national charity and provides financial and practical support to soldiers, former soldiers, and their families in times of need.
The Soldiers’ Charity was founded in 1944 as The Army Benevolent Fund. The demobilisation of soldiers after the two World Wars had put an enormous strain on Regimental and Corps charitable funds and highlighted the need for a national charity to give practical help to soldiers and veterans.
In January 2010, the charity rebranded as ABF The Soldiers’ Charity but continues to support the Army family by giving grants to individuals and other specialist charities that help soldiers and their families. It works with veterans from every conflict since the Second World War, including those from recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It can make grant payments within 48 hours of receipt of application, making a significant difference at a critical point in many lives.
The Soldiers' Charity works with Regimental and Corps Associations and other Service charities. They identify and investigate eligible cases in "real need", and provide them with financial support.
Dependent on voluntary donations, the Soldiers' Charity must currently raise around £5.5 million each year to continue its vital work with members of the British Army Family.
The American branch of the Soldiers' Charity, set up in 2006, is the British Army Benevolent Fund America (BABFA). BABFA aims to raise awareness of the charity's work amongst the many supporters and ex-pats in America and to raise funds.
The Charity works with regimental charities and acts when further help is need that they cannot provide.
The recent rebrand to 'ABF - The Soldiers' Charity' is in response partly due to 30% rise over the past two years in applications from soldiers who have taken part in previous and current conflicts and we currently raise £7 million a year to meet this need.
As a result of Current Operations it is anticipated that the requests for assistance will rise significantly in the coming years. It is the aim of The Soldiers’ Charity to increase fundraising to £14 million a year by 2015.