We are delighted to award a £20,000 grant to Age in Spain to provide welfare support for Army veterans and their families living in Spain.
Age In Spain is the first national charity in Spain devoted to the welfare of English-speaking older people and aims to empower them to lead full and independent lives. Many residents need practical help and advice about life planning, accessing Spanish health and social services, benefits and pensions, taxation and other welfare related issues.
Military veterans represent 63% of Age in Spain’s intensive casework support. Last year, the charity’s online information guides were accessed by 40,000 people, 10% of whom had a military connection. This year, its service model will also include Infoline, a new virtual call centre staffed by volunteers providing personal support about all aspects of managing life in Spain.
Age in Spain trustee, David Dransfield, who had a long military career and now leads on the charity’s support for veterans, said:
“We are extremely grateful for this grant from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. Helping veterans who have retired to Spain continues to be a significant part of our work, and I know from my own volunteering experience with Age in Spain that we have made life easier for many ex-service men and women – and their families.
“With continued support from military charities over the years, Age in Spain has built up real expertise in this area. We can signpost veterans to resources that are available to them and, in many cases, help them to access the help they need. This grant will also enable us to expand our capacity to help veterans.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief of Staff at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, added:
“We are very pleased to support Age in Spain’s impressive welfare support services to retired military veterans, many of them elderly and vulnerable, and their families. Everyone who has served their country deserves to lead a full and independent life and have a comfortable, peaceful retirement.”
Age in Spain was originally founded in the 1980s and its casework support service for military veterans and their families has operated across Spain since 1993. Read more about its work here: https://www.ageinspain.org/about