A SLAITHWAITE woman is urging others to take advantage of help on offer from forces organisation SSAFA.
Freda Hansom received financial help and a much-needed break in Bridlington though SSAFA – the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.
The organisation, which has a branch in Huddersfield, has case workers who liaise with forces charities to secure funding to help ex-personnel and their dependents in need. They can offer assistance with a range of problems, from financial issues to care needs.
To qualify for help, you simply need to have done a day’s paid service in the armed forces or be the dependent of someone who has.
Freda was referred to SSAFA by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau when she needed financial help.
She qualified for help because her husband Gordon, 76, served two years’ National Service with the Army’s Royal Signals from 1953 to 1955.
Gordon suffers from Huntington’s disease, a hereditary genetic disorder which affects the brain and causes problems with movement, speech and swallowing.
Freda looks after him, with the help of home carers, so SSAFA helped organise respite care for Gordon so she could have a much-needed holiday.
They found funding from the Royal British Legion for Freda and a friend to stay at a hotel run by the organisation in Bridlington for a week in February.
Freda said the break had been wonderful.
She said: “It was a lovely place, the staff were wonderful and couldn’t do enough for you. I had heard of the British Legion, but I had never realised they did things like this.
“More people should know there is help out there.”
Mike Dowling, of the SSAFA, said many people were unaware of the help they could receive.
He said: “People don’t know whether they qualify or what’s available. If you have received one day’s pay in the forces, you qualify. The age span of people we help is from people in their 80s to 17-year-olds.”
For details of support for ex-service personnel, ring SSAFA on 01484 425472.
