The below information was sent, via email to all volunteers and staff across SSAFA, on 23 October 2025.
To: all volunteers, employees and trustees
Dear colleagues,
Focus: Fundraising advice and support for volunteers
As SSAFA continues to evolve through the Network Delivery Project (NDP) and other organisational changes, we want to ensure that all volunteers involved in any form of fundraising activity know what support is available. This update aims to clarify where to find information and who to contact for further support.
Why we fundraise and our approach
Our beneficiaries are at the heart of everything we do. To support them we provide a wide variety of vital services, therefore our fundraising efforts - big and small, national and local - enable the provision of these. Annually, SSAFA’s goal is to raise approximately £12 million – a substantial amount that creates a significant impact. Fundraising is about more than collecting donations - it’s about increasing awareness, building relationships and earning trust within the Armed Forces community. Branches and serving community teams have always played an important role in connecting with local communities and inspiring people to support our work. That connection continues to be central to SSAFA’s success.
When it comes to local fundraising, our approach is flexible and recognises that every community presents different opportunities. Branches and serving community teams are best placed to shape activities that reflect the priorities and relationships in their local areas. While we don’t set local fundraising targets, every contribution helps towards SSAFA’s overall goal of raising £12 million, enabling beneficiaries across the country to access our wide range of services.
This approach recognises that raising awareness of SSAFA’s work through local community engagement activities is one of the great strengths of our volunteering network.
Where to find information and tools for fundraising
Your first stop for advice, templates and ideas is the Community Engagement Support page on the Volunteer Knowledgebase. It brings together a range of useful guidance and tools to help plan and deliver your activities. From brand guidelines and ready-to-use design templates to fundraising and communications support, it brings everything together in one place to make engagement easier.
Who to contact if you have any questions
Your Community Engagement Manager (CEM) is your main point of contact for questions about community engagement or local fundraising that falls outside the guidance on the Volunteer Knowledgebase. Your CEM can help you shape your event plans and guide you to the right team in the Fundraising, Marketing and Communications Directorate if you require expert advice.
For example, did you know that there is a Statutory Grants team working across England? Additionally, Scotland has its own dedicated fundraising team working to support the region. You can also contact your Regional Marcomms Manager (RMM) for support in promoting your event and adapting SSAFA’s national campaigns for your local community.
Explore more fundraising guidance
- Why do we fundraise?
- Fundraising Code of Practice
- Fundraising Together Policy
- Local fundraising support
- National fundraising support
The fundraising guidance content across our Volunteer Knowledgebase is always evolving, so if you have suggestions for additional items or topics to include, please let us know. A new guidance will soon be available regarding the new Code of Fundraising Practice coming into effect in November 2025.
Where can I get more information?
The NDP Frequently Asked Questions document covers a range of topics addressing questions raised during and since the trials.
The Volunteer Knowledgebase is accessible to all volunteers and employees and contains detailed information on processes and procedures for all volunteer activities.
NDP Information Hub on SSAFAnet and the NDP Information Hub on the Volunteer Knowledgebase both provide a variety of information on NDP – including caseworker feedback videos, Town Hall presentations, transition guidance and copies of past updates.
If you have further questions, please contact the NDP Project team: [email protected]*.
*For GoAssemble (GA) users, please copy and paste any email addresses supplied into a GA message to send a query.
Many thanks,
Kett McAfee, Welfare Operations Project Manager