Support for armed forces veterans in Hastings and Rother during the coronavirus crisis

A small but dedicated team of volunteers has been supporting the veteran community in Hastings and Rother during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
By Andy Hemsley
Published 7th May 2020, 14:10 BST
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Ted Williams, divisional co-ordinator for Armed Forces charity SSAFA for Hastings and Rother, said: “We want to let the community know that we are there for any veterans and their dependants during this time and to explain to the wider community what we do and maybe how they can help.”

Mr Williams added: “SSAFA the armed Forces Charity Hastings and Rother division, is the local support for this community and it needs your help to carry on providing the service it does. Especially now during this current COVID-19 crisis.

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“In 2019 the local SSAFA team made up of a small group of volunteers supported over 169 veterans and their dependant families providing nearly £87,000 in grants and funds.

Fun Run for the Forces in aid of ssafa, Alexandra Park, Hastings. Front: Bob Marden, Hastings & St Leonards Veterans Association. Back L-R: Carl Denne, Scott Pells, Charles Flisher (Veterans Association) and Harvey Baker. SUS-180503-095712001Fun Run for the Forces in aid of ssafa, Alexandra Park, Hastings. Front: Bob Marden, Hastings & St Leonards Veterans Association. Back L-R: Carl Denne, Scott Pells, Charles Flisher (Veterans Association) and Harvey Baker. SUS-180503-095712001
Fun Run for the Forces in aid of ssafa, Alexandra Park, Hastings. Front: Bob Marden, Hastings & St Leonards Veterans Association. Back L-R: Carl Denne, Scott Pells, Charles Flisher (Veterans Association) and Harvey Baker. SUS-180503-095712001

“These grants helped meet the needs of veterans such as Bob who needed support with rent, deposit and white goods in order to keep him from being homeless. This is only possible thanks to our volunteers and you, for the donations you make.

“SSAFA Hastings and Rother continue to work locally to meet the needs of veterans, where we can’t meet that need, we will work to find someone that can.

“We have close links with other local and national veterans’ organisations to ensure no veteran in need is left disadvantaged.

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“If you need SSAFA support then it’s easy to get in touch, call us on 01424 736836 (answer phone) or when things are back to normal, pop into the veterans drop in on Mondays between 10 and 3 at Central Hall community centre at Station road, Hastings.

“We also need volunteers to help us continue providing this support to those that have given us so much and asked for very little in return.

“If you would like to find out more about how you can help us support our veterans and their dependants email Ted Williams on [email protected] visit www.ssafa.org.uk or call 01424 736836(answer phone). Without you we are unable to support this silent minority, they have had our backs over many years.”

See also: 103 year old Royal Naval veteran pens message of hope

Related topics:SSAFAHastingsArmed ForcesStation Road