Support Landscape
Perhaps due to the influence of a military culture where there has historically been a reluctance to seek help, the military bereaved community may not come forward to access support. It is therefore important that they are encouraged to do so if and when the time is right and – when they do – that the support available meets their needs. We know that those needs may change over time and will be specific to every individual and family. Grieving is not a linear process and the range of emotional, practical and financial challenges can manifest in different ways.
There is a range of support organisations that members of the bereaved veteran community (in common with the civilian community) can access across Scotland for emotional and practical help. These include Cruse Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland, and Social Security Scotland. For many, this will provide them with what they need. Some of these organisations will draw on armed forces experience from within their staff or volunteer cohorts, for example when using assessment processes to match client needs to counsellor skills levels and expertise.
There are also examples of bereavement organisations who have recognised the specific needs of the military community. Widowed and Young is an example of this. It is a support organisation for widows and widowers who lost their spouse / partner when aged under 50 and they operate across the UK (including Scotland). While not military specific, there is a peer support sub-group for members with a military connection.
For others, the support provided by armed forces charities can be the preferred route and they, in particular the benevolent trusts and funds, play a vital role here. The bereaved community is included within their beneficiary group and have access to financial support (including funeral costs, access to pensions, benefits advice), and emotional support (such as grief counselling and peer support networks).
The SSAFA branch network provides bereavement support through casework, referrals and collaboration with other organisations and authorities. They advise that most commonly they help with funding to cover funeral costs and on occasion to help with funeral arrangements. This (sometimes substantial) financial assistance, alongside onward referrals to other support services and providers, can make a significant difference in how well the bereaved family is able to recover from the death of a loved one.
SSAFA caseworkers, some of whom have lived experience of bereavement, may also follow up informally where there have been concerns about the beneficiary being alone and/or not coping well. This could be by telephone or visits to stay connected with the family. SSAFA also provide specific bereavement support via their “Support for Bereaved Families” support groups.
There are examples of invaluable specific support for children and young people, including Forces Children Scotland and Scotty’s Little Soldiers, and some military charities – such as BLESMA – have specific groups to facilitate peer support for adults.
It is very clear that there is a willingness to provide support across the third sector, and for organisations to do so collaboratively. They are swift to respond when contacted, whether that is delivering financial, pastoral or peer support. Peer support is identified by many stakeholders, researchers and the bereaved community themselves, as one of the most important ways of supporting those who have lost a loved one.
There are also some statutory processes that are effective in reducing the stress and bureaucracy associated with a death, for example the ‘Tell us Once’ service that allows someone to report a death to most government organisations in one go. This includes notification to Veterans UK, which is necessary for members of the military bereaved community. This service goes some way to reducing the distress caused by having to repeat the detail and circumstances of a death to multiple organisations.
The Defence Bereaved Families Group meets twice a year. It is made up of Associations, charities, affiliated organisations, and MOD representatives. The group aims to improve and address the unique challenges faced by military bereaved families, by providing lived experience feedback that both challenges and influences current policy.
Less positively, in Scottish Local Authorities, even if support for the veteran community is covered in public-facing information (and that is not the case for all) the bereaved community tends not to be referenced. This should be addressed to ensure the covenant is being upheld.
Having reviewed a range of websites and online resources, there can be a lack of accessible and clear information for the bereaved military community. In conversation with expert stakeholders such as Beyond the Wire it is apparent that access to advice and support has historically been piecemeal at best. The launch of their interactive bereavement hub later in the year will provide a comprehensive and much needed resource to help address this issue.
It is also important to recognise and appreciate the huge contribution of the staff and volunteers who provide support to the bereaved community. It is essential to ensure that they are equipped with the skills, tools and knowledge to do so effectively but also to consider the emotional toll it may take on them and to provide appropriate resources for their own wellbeing.
There are too many support organisations and services for it to be practical to list them all. However, to provide an overview of the range of available assistance, a selection has been included in Appendix 1. This is intended as an indication of current provision rather than an exhaustive list.
