FAQs

The rate of operational deployments and the nature of those deployments has resulted in a much higher casualty rate across the Army – fatal and non fatal, physical and mental – than has been since the Falklands Conflict. Some mental health casualties will not become apparent for many years, even decades. As an Infantry battalion, the Scots Guards are likely to find themselves among the most frequently deployed parts of the British army.

 

Immediate and short term duty of care for veterans and their dependents lies with the Ministry of Defence and thereafter with appropriate Government Departments. There are also a number of charities, such as SSAFA, the Army Benevolent Fund and Help for Heroes, that do much to support wounded soldiers and their families. However some of the necessary welfare support, both immediate and long term, will always have to be provided from our regimental charitable funds. Operational commitments will unfortunately place significantly greater demands on these already fully committed funds than they are able to meet.

The charity operates primarily by managing its investments and using the annual income to support beneficiaries. This income is augmented by subscriptions from serving members of the regiment and charitable donations from individuals.

Whilst the immediate and short-term ‘duty of care’ for wounded soldiers lies wholly with the Ministry of Defence and thereafter with appropriate Government Departments such as Health, Social Security and Employment, the Regiment will always be at the heart of the recovery of any injured Scots Guardsman and is in the greatest position to offer the best level of care and support wherever, whenever and for as long as it is needed. As a family regiment this is absolutely central to our ethos.

The Scots Guards Charity works closely with other military charities to provide support for those in need. When a benevolence case appears the charity always provides the first tier of funding before seeking assistance, if necessary, from larger specialist military charities, such as The Soldier’s Charity.

The Fund has now been merged into the larger Scots Guards Charity. The objectives of the Fund when it was set up will now be undertaken within this larger charity. These are to enable the Regiment to provide:

• Support to the families of those killed in action by promptly responding to problems of bereavement and hardship.
• Support those wounded or injured on operations, particularly those who have had to leave the Army; to assist in finding them new employment and to help them become active family and community members.
• Support the families of those seriously wounded or injured in prolonged recovery situations.

The Trustees also had wide discretion to use the proceeds of the fund to enhance the welfare of Scots Guardsmen on operations and that of their families at home and to relieve hardship or distress, either generally or individually, of serving or former members of the Regiment and to provide grants to any other charity or charitable organisation associated with the Regiment. This will continue to be the case.