Supporting today’s widows
The Army Widows’ Association was formed by widows in 2004. We are a volunteer run Organisation and Charity. Our aim is to offer comfort, support and friendship to the widows and widowers of service men and women.
We aim to offer help on your terms when they need it. We know that despite all the love and support from family and friends, widows/widowers can feel very alone. All the members have lost their husbands, wives or partners, under a variety of different circumstances, and are able to offer support and sympathy to those who have been recently widowed.
The Association is totally independent, and run by our members, although it does work closely with the MOD and the Army Welfare Policy Branch.
We have received support from the Army Benevolent Fund, and are in contact with many other service-related charities.
Objectives.
To provide widows and their dependant children with relief from the effects of bereavement or loss and the impact on their personal circumstances and well-being by providing;
a) Comfort, support, hope and a special understanding
b) Information, guidance and assistance on financial matters and other benefits
c) Professional counselling.
We help members with information about pensions, savings and tax issues, through signposting. When required, we direct widows to support agencies such as SSAFA, RBL and Regimental Associations, and we have a thriving private Facebook page where information and support is available. There are usually members who can answer questions because they have faced similar issues in the past, and are willing to pass on helpful information and experience.
Twice a year we host respite weekends. Members have the opportunity to join us for a subsidised weekend, in a hotel, or, at Amport House, courtesy of the Army Chaplain’s Department; we have a drinks reception and a ‘dress up’ dinner in the evening, because members tell us they miss putting on the ‘Glad Rags’. These respite weekends are attached to the AGM and the annual visit to the National Memorial Arboretum.
We spend a third weekend, Remembrance, in London and we attend the Festival of Remembrance on the Saturday. On the Sunday we join with the Navy, Air Force and War Widows to march past the Cenotaph where we lay a wreath in memory of our late husbands.
Many of our members tell us they were unsure about joining our association, but once they had done so, were glad that they had taken the step. Making new friends, having some ‘me time’, having fun and having a supportive network in times of need. It is a very difficult concept to welcome members to an association that no-one wants to be eligible to join, but, we welcome everyone for the’ Friendship and Support’ which we can all give.
