ARMY FAMILIES ADVICE BUREAU

Fact Sheet 7/5

OTHER ACTIVITIES OF SSAFA FORCES HELP

1. THE LORD ROBERTS WORKSHOPS. Provides facilities for training and employment of disabled ex-servicemen at their workshops in Edinburgh. They produce hand-made Brushware and wood lathe-turned items for the furniture industry. The disablement need not be as a result of their service in the Forces. Further information may be obtained by contacting General Manager, The Lord Roberts Workshops, 6 Western Corner, Saughtonhall, Edinburgh, EH12 5PY. Tel: 0131 337 6951.  E-mail:

2. RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME. The Association maintains a Residential Care Home for disabled and/or frail elderly ex-service men and women and widows of ex-servicemen - at Ryde, on the Isle of Wight. The Home can also occasionally provide a short respite break for anyone needing rest and recuperation after an illness or whose carer needs a break. Applications for residency should be made direct to:

3. HOLIDAY APARTMENTS FOR THE DISABLED THEIR CARERS AND OTHERS. Short stay purpose-built holiday complex for the disabled and their carers in the grounds of the Isle of Wight home providing all year round convalescent, recuperation and respite holidays. For bookings, contact St Vincents Home (see para 2 for address and telephone number).

4. BUNGALOW & COTTAGE HOMES FOR THE DISABLED. The Society has 44 purpose-built cottage homes for disabled ex-servicemen and their wives, 36 of which are bungalows in Blackpool, Barnsley, Wantage & Ryde for the severely disabled who need such accommodation. Applications for residency should be made to: Housing Officer (Homes & Cottages), SSAFA Forces Help, 19 Queen Elizabeth Street, London, SE1 2LP. Tel: 020 7463 9287. STEPPING STONE HOMES. These homes have been established in Tyne & Wear and NW London to provide a ‘Stepping Stone’ for separated families between irregular occupancy of families quarters and permanent accommodation. Applications are to be made to the Housing Officer (Stepping Stone Homes), (see para 4 for address and telephone number).

6. HOUSING ADVISORY SERVICE. Provides advice on housing matters and holds a data base of over eighteen thousand providers of accommodation, supplemented by details of organisations providing housing exclusively to the ex-Service community. Further information may be obtained by contacting the Housing Officer (Information), c/o JSHAO, HQ LAND, Wilton, Salisbury, SP2 0AG. Tel: 01722 436400, or from the Housing Department (see para 4 for address and telephone number).

 7. THE ROYAL HOMES FOR OFFICER’S WIDOWS AND DAUGHTERS. Queen Alexandra’s Court has 75 self-contained flats for the widows and unmarried daughters of deceased officers of the Armed Services. Divorced wives may also qualify. Entry is normally between the ages of 60 and 75. Further information may be obtained by contacting: The Manager, Queen Alexandra’s Court,, St Mary’s Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 7DE. Tel: 020 8946 5182. E-mail

8. ABBEYFIELD/SSAFA FORCES HELP HOUSES. There are two houses in Hereford & Anglesey which offer sheltered accommodation for elderly people. Those who have a Service background are given priority but those without Service connections are considered. Further details may be obtained by contacting: Housing Officer, (see para 4 for address and telephone number).

See also AFAB Fact Sheet 7/3.

AFAB fact sheet index

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