Our Journey
We are very proud of our rich history and are determined to make the most of the
opportunities ahead of us, building on the last 66 years of success and support.
The Soldiers’ Charity began as the Army Benevolent Fund in 1944. The demobilisation of soldiers after the two World Wars had put an enormous strain on Regimental and Corps charitable funds and highlighted the need for a national charity to give practical help to our soldiers and veterans. Our first patron was His Majesty King George VI.
Today, the conflicts may be different, but the pressures on our soldiers remain.
As we are all too aware from the news, the Army is bearing the strain of the current conflicts. Hundreds of soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq with many more injured both mentally and physically.
That is why in 2007 the charity launched the Current Operations Fund, to support soldiers, former soldiers and their families affected by these conflicts.
The human costs of these conflicts are still to be seen. Psychological injuries, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for example, can take up to 13 years to manifest themselves.
We need to be prepared for a lifetime of support.
We knew that to do this and to continue to be the principal soldiers’ charity we needed to evolve and February 2010 marked the start of an exciting new chapter for the charity.
Welcome to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.
Challenging and exciting times lie ahead.