ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the Army’s national charity - it's here for soldiers, past and present, and their families for life.

The charity stands at the forefront of support for the Army family, last year supporting 65,000 people in 48 countries around the world. As one of the largest funders in the sector, its awards grants to individuals and families, and funds leading organisations which support soldiers, former soldiers, and their families. When hearing of a person or family in need, it aims to respond within 48 hours. From helping wounded soldiers to adapt to life after service, to assisting elderly veterans to keep their independence, ABF The Soldier's Charity offers support in six key areas: independent living, elderly care, education and employability, mental fitness, families and housing.

ABF The Soldiers' Charity was established as The Army Benevolent Fund on 15th August 1944, with HM King George VI as Patron and Field Marshal Lord Cavan as President. A £1.5m gift enabled it to begin providing a lifetime of support to soldiers, veterans and their families, to repay the debt owed for their service and sacrifice during World War Two. Almost 80 years later, the charity remains true to that founding purpose.

Highlights from the 2021-2022 financial year include:

• Total charitable expenditure was £8.4 million, ensuring a complete spectrum of support to more than 65,000 members of the Army family in 48 countries all over the world
• The youngest person supported was 7 months old, and the eldest was 103
• Funding for 66 other charities and organisations which are providing specialist support to the Army family, including:
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Looking ahead, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity has shifted to a rolling four-year plan which has the delivery of benevolence as the binding purpose behind all the charity's activities. This will enable it to take take a more holistic and long-term approach to supporting its beneficiaries, both by attending rapidly to immediate need, and also through seeking to address underlying causation. All this helps to achieve the charity's vision that all serving soldiers, veterans and their immediate families should have the opportunity to avoid hardship and enjoy independence and dignity.

You can read ABF The Soldier's Charity Annual Report Annual Review 2021-22 here.

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board is ultimately responsible for the charity’s strategic direction, supported by its committees. 

The Board delegates responsibility for the day-to-day running of the charity through the Chief Executive to the Senior Management Board. Trustees formulate and regularly review the charity’s vision, values, policies and long-term strategy. They hold the charity in trust for current and future generations of beneficiaries. They ensure that the charity complies with regulatory and statutory reporting requirements and exercise overall control, assisted by the Chief Executive and other professional advisers as necessary.

With the arrival of a new CEO at the end of 2021 and the appointment of a new Chair in January of this year, now is an exciting time to join the charity' engaged and energetic Board.

To complement the current skillsets on the Board, ABF The Soldiers' Charity is looking for a new Trustee with experience of overseeing or leading charity fundraising strategies.

Candidates will be able to provide oversight and guidance on the charity's fundraising activities. They may bring senior-level strategic fundraising experience as an executive, or potentially have advised on fundraising as a charity non-executive. Applicants may have worked with / for charities of a similar or larger revenue, and should understand how best to engage with funders including corporates, foundation or HNW individuals, as well as generating income from legacies and event programmes.

Above all, the successful candidate will be enthused by, and committed to, the mission of ABF The Soldier's Charity. They will be keen to actively contribute both in Board meetings as well as provide input as needed on an ad hoc basis.

General Sir James Everard KCB CBE, President

Simon Heale, Chair
Mary Fagan, Vice Chair
Sarah Booth
Warrant Officer Class One Paul Carney
Rowena Fell
Major General Paul Griffiths
Major General (Ret’d) Chris Hughes
David London
Amanda Metcalfe
James Rous
Anthony Scott

You can find out more about the Board here.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. There are three main, in-person Board meetings (in spring, summer and winter) each year, as well as an annual strategy day. This individual will also sit on the Fundraising and Marketing Committee, which meets three times per year. Trustees are encouraged to attend / join occasional events during the year which help promote the charity and its goals. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed twice at the discretion of the Board.

This organisation is based in London and meetings will take place in person. Candidates will therefore be UK-based.