The below information was sent, via email, to all Branch Chairs in non-NDP areas - on 29 May 2025.

Dear Branch Chair,

Under NDP, volunteer led branches continue to play a pivotal role in the future sustainability and success of SSAFA - with a key focus on community engagement. Our branch network has always been a huge strength, creating local connections, increasing brand awareness, and ensuring our beneficiary community knows who we are and what support we can offer – whether that be directly, or via partner organisations. SSAFA are committed to improving support for this vital work, including the recruitment of Community Engagement Managers in each of our 6 regions and the introduction of a Community Engagement Strategy to provide a clear framework and associated resources.

A key element of success for branches will be the ability to recruit community engagement volunteers to support the delivery of branch vision and aims. Under NDP we have developed the role of Community Engagement Volunteer (CEV) which combines a number of previous branch roles and provides a flexible, meaningful and creative volunteer opportunity where individual skills, interests and connections can be optimised to deliver maximum impact for branches.

We recognise that some branches have an appetite to develop their community engagement plans ahead of NDP roll out, and we are keen to facilitate this where appropriate. As such, we have developed the role within SAVI and can enable the recruitment of Community Engagement Volunteers in branches still to transition to NDP – and where there is an appetite to do so. If this is something you wish to do, the first step will be to have a conversation with your Regional Manager and/or Volunteer Development Manager (list below) who will support with the development of plans. The ability to recruit to this role outside of NDP will be functional from 2^nd June.

We know that Community Engagement is not new to most branches and has always underpinned successful branch operations, but we very much look forward to seeing this critical work develop and flourish under new ways of working.

Best wishes,

Amy Bartlett