As ABF The Soldiers’ Charity enters its 75th year, it has provided a £7 million grant to the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) located on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate to fund the provision of a world-class neurological wing, amongst other things. The grant is the largest single award ever made by the charity and demonstrates its continued commitment to providing the very best possible help and support for soldiers. Working together, the Army Central Fund has contributed a further £1 million.
The DNRC combines neurological and complex trauma treatment with a full suite of rehabilitative facilities on one site, bringing benefits that make it unique in the world.
Clinical rehabilitation is about getting people back to fitness, back to mobility and back to work after serious trauma injury. The DNRC is committed to providing the very best possible care for members of the Armed Forces who have been injured while serving their country. Through the DNRC, soldiers will be supported back to service in the Army or to a new life as a civilian.
In addition to the £7 million grant, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is also supporting essential welfare activities and providing funding for the SSAFA-led Norton House, which accommodates families visiting patients at DNRC.
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity grants programme is unaltered by this substantial commitment. Over 2018/19, it also provided £10.3 million to fund 92 delivery charities and made direct grants to some 4,500 individuals in need and it will make a similar commitment this year.
Commenting on the grant, Major General (Ret’d) Martin Rutledge, Chief Executive of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity said:
“As the national charity of the British Army, it is appropriate that ABF The Soldiers’ Charity makes a significant contribution to this world-class facility where wounded, injured and sick soldiers can be provided with the best possible care.
“We are especially delighted to be awarding the grant at this point in our history. 75 years ago, the Army Benevolent Fund was created to provide support to soldiers returning home from the Second World War. This grant continues the commitment made by our founders to help soldiers who have served their country and their immediate families to live with independence and dignity.”
Chair of Trustees, Lieutenant General Philip Jones CB CBE DL added:
“I am pleased that the Trustees concluded that making a significant contribution to the DNRC reflected the aims and objectives of the charity and was in keeping with our founding principles. Over the past 75 years, the type of support offered by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity has evolved to keep pace with changes in society, changes in welfare, new technology and the impact of military service on individuals and families. This grant reflects the charities tradition of supporting advancement in technology and maximising the benefit for our soldiers.”
For more information contact: Katie Burns, PR & Media Manager for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity on 020 7901 8919 or [email protected]