Page 7 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 56

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Army Catering Corps Benevolence Report
“To give away money is an easy matter and in any man’s power.
But to decide to whom to give it, and how large, and when, and for what purpose and how
is neither in every man’s power nor an easy matter” – Aristotle (died 322BC)
As Secretary of the Association, I am often asked
about the process of obtaining financial support
for members in who may have fallen on hard times
or find themselves in need due to age or infirmity.
In answer to the question can the ACC Association
help? the direct answer is no, as we shelter under
the protection and assistance of The Royal Logistic
Corps for all matter relating to Benevolence.
However, in answer to the question can help and
support be provided? the answer is most certainly
yes, provided the applicant meets certain criteria.
The overriding aim is to always give speedy relief in
cases of proven need, hardship, or distress.
In order to be eligible, every man or woman
who has had at least one day of full colour service
in the ACC (up to 1993) or in The RLC (from
1993) including the TA/Army Reserve (the latter
with length of service constraints) has the right to
apply to The RLC Benevolent Fund for assistance.
Dependants (wives or husbands of an eligible
or former member of the ACC) and widows or
widowers of a serving or former member may also
apply provided they have not remarried or co-habit
with another. However, eligibility would be restored
if a subsequent marriage ends in divorce (or death)
of the other spouse or the relationship ends. There
are other eligibility rules and assistance criteria, but
I would not want you to get the impression that
they are there to obstruct an application. Quite the
reverse in fact, as the rules are probably as broad
and helpful as possible.
All applications for assistance must be made
on the Common Application Form (Form A)
or equivalent and must be initiated (for Data
Protection purposes) by the applicant and submitted
by SSAFA Forces Help, the Royal British Legion or
other recognised welfare authorities. A caseworker
will be assigned by the relevant organisation,
assist with the completion of Form A, and make
a recommendation. Any application made direct
to The RLC Benevolent Fund will be referred
to an appropriate caseworker for investigation.
Application should be made having first contacted
your local welfare organisation, principally SSAFA
and the RBL, who will appoint a caseworker.
Details can be found online or by contacting the
Secretary who will always be pleased to assist.
Once a case is submitted (it may also be sub-
mitted to other charitable organisations depending
upon the need) it will be considered by The RLC
Benevolent Fund for a grant. Once every six
SECRETARY@ACCASSOCIATION.ORG | WWW.ACCASSOCIATION.ORG
months The RLC Benevolence Committee meets
to review cases during the previous period, review
the finances and make any necessary recommen-
dations. Prior to each meeting, the Secretary will
review/audit a number of cases and occasionally,
one-off applications are made and considered.
I have yet to find a case that has not been given the
most thorough consideration and financial support
where necessary.
The most recent meeting of the Committee was
held on 17th September and revealed some inter-
esting statistics. In the past year, the average request
for assistance has decreased slightly at £633 for the
ACC, grants being based purely on need. Across
all grants, the average this year was £624 compared
to last year at £662. In 2019 (to 31st August) there
were 92 ACC cases awarded a total of £60,894.
Over the same period in 2020, 49 ACC cases were
awarded £31, 047. The Committee deliberated a
significant reduction in all cases during the year to
31st August 2020. It was thought that a reduction in
the number of SSAFA and RBL caseworkers (who
tend to be retired members of the community) due
to the pandemic, may have resulted in a blockage
of applications being processed. Of course, we will
not know what the trend is until figures for the next
twelve months are available. Another factor may
be that elderly veterans in need from the forming
Corps are becoming fewer as the years go by. For
example, there were awards to 117 former members
of the RASC in 2019 and 41 in 2020. Conversely,
in the past two years, RLC cases have outnumbered
all the forming Corps put together by a significant
margin. The bottom line is that funds are available
for any eligible applicant based upon an assessment
of the need.
Editor: I have reproduced some (but not all) infor-
mation from The Royal Logistic Corps Benevolent
Fund Casework Handbook but if you have any
queries about eligibility to apply for assistance, please
contact SSAFA, the RBL or the Secretary.
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