The below information was sent, via email, to all volunteers and staff across SSAFA on 19 March 2025.
To: all volunteers, employees, trustees
Dear colleagues,
Our vital mission to reach – and embrace – our Armed Forces family in their darkest moments isn’t easy. But today, together, we face two challenging foes: ever-greater need in an increasingly challenging landscape. We have to do more with less and recruit the next generation of volunteers when people are already stretched thin.
So, how will we secure our future for the next 140 years?
What is the NDP?
Whilst the branches have always been the centre of the SSAFA community in their areas, they have traditionally been focused primarily on delivering casework. In 2024, the trustees decided to change the way casework is delivered, moving the responsibility for the management of cases from the branches to the regional offices reducing some of the pressure on volunteers. Caseworkers will now become an integrated part of their regional casework teams, as well as having a strong connection with their local branch. This means branch leadership teams can now fully focus on community engagement efforts, which the charity desperately needs.
What will branches be doing under NDP if they are not doing casework?
Having a local SSAFA network of branches on the ground is one of our most important selling points as a charity. A community-based presence enables people to connect to our work in a meaningful way in their own areas, right at home where they live and work.
Our network of community engagement branches will will act as a magnet to the charity, drawing people towards us, and a loudspeaker for all we do.
What about casework?
Branches delivering community engagement isn’t anything new, they have always been doing it, (and doing it very well). As casework moves to an integrated employee and volunteer model, we need the branch leaders to focus primarily on community engagement efforts.
Our branches exemplify our charity vision - a society where the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families can thrive. As true ambassadors for our work and active community connectors, they are making this vision a reality in their own communities.
What will the branches actually do?
Each branch is unique, making the most of the skills and experience within their team. Branches are encouraged to design their own programme of activities, ensuring everything they do supports at least one of the three main aims of the community engagement programme.
- Branches draw people towards our services when they need our support.
- Branches connect supporters who are eager to help the armed forces community.
- Branches provide a sense of belonging in their areas for all who volunteer or work for SSAFA.
What does the roll-out look like?
Before the NDP arrives in your region, the implementation team briefs the regional chair, branch chairs, and all other volunteers and employees. The rollout occurs in two phases: the essential preparation phase, followed by the gradual transition phase, where branches move into the NDP on an agreed week-by-week basis.
During the preparation phase, there is a significant amount of administrative work for branch and divisional executives, alongside the employee team. It is a collaborative effort, with ample support and information available. Each region and branch has its own nuances for casework and community engagement, which are considered and adapted to ensure a smooth transition.
The focus then shifts to caseworkers getting to know and integrating with the regional office team – you may well know them already having interacted with them over the phone regarding your cases or have met them at face-to-face meetings occasionally. To build on this we organise drop-ins and gatherings throughout the transition process and after implementation to help volunteers and employees get acquainted.
This is a big change and a big challenge. But for 140 years, SSAFA has adapted to meet the needs of the Armed Forces community. We have always risen to the challenge to support serving personnel, veterans and military families. By standing together to meet our challenges we will become fit for another 140 years.
As an Armed Forces family, we know we can do it – together, we have the skills, ingenuity, passion and bravery. We have amazing people. We share a vital common goal. We have a well-laid plan.
NDP 2025 milestones
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As ever, if you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]. Many thanks, The Network Delivery Project team |