A £1,000 donation from local housebuilder Barratt Homes has helped kickstart fundraising this year at the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA). The housebuilder is currently building its Bruneval Gardens development on the former British Army Barracks in Aldershot.

Addiction, relationship breakdown, debt, homelessness, post-traumatic stress, depression and disability are all issues that can affect the members of the Armed Forces community. SSAFA provides welfare, health and support services for the UK military’s serving personnel, veterans and their families covering both regulars and reserves in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force.

The charity runs a telephone helpline, ‘Forcesline’, and has recently introduced a new live chat service to help reach out to more servicemen and women in need of support. Barratt Southern Counties’ donation will ensure these services will continue to run throughout 2022 and that local veterans are able to access these resources whenever needed.

Kimberley Benson, Sales and Marketing Director for Barratt Southern Counties, comments: “SSAFA provides incredibly important support for Serving members of the Armed Forces (regulars and reserves) in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force, and also supports veterans and their families experiencing bereavement, illness and life-changing injuries, that require long term support.

“Barratt Southern Counties is a longstanding supporter of the Armed Forces both locally and nationally, whilst our Bruneval Gardens development is also situated on a former British Army Barracks. We hope that our donation can help begin a year of successful fundraising at SSAFA to ensure the continuity and high standard of these services.”

Clive Ward, the Branch Secretary of SSAFA Hampshire, comments: “We are pleased to see fundraising is already off to a great start this year, including Barratt Southern Counties’ donation towards our work in Hampshire. All members of our Armed Forces are entitled to lifelong support from SSAFA, and we have developed wide-ranging and flexible services that are appropriate for our beneficiaries. Support from individuals and organisations is incredibly important and we are excited to begin 2022 with a generous donation from Barratt Southern Counties which will help us deliver ongoing support.”

Barratt Southern Counties has a longstanding relationship with the Armed Forces, including its dedicated Armed Forces Transition Programme, which provides support and training for veterans looking to move into the construction industry.

Barratt Southern Counties is currently building its Bruneval Gardens development in Aldershot, Hampshire, where a range of one and two-bedroom properties are available. Prices start from £219,995 for a one-bedroom apartment.