On a Mission

  • 22,000 beneficiaries supported
  • 2,700 in acute need
  • 41 assisted into employment
  • Saved taxpayer over £1.4M in benefits
  • Contributed £6.7M in social and economic value to society

An Everest guide in Nepal; two tree surgeons and the owner of a new estate and lettings agency are just four of the 41 vulnerable Royal Marines Commandos who, having had to leave the Corps, were last year assisted into completely different yet very rewarding careers by RMA – The Royal Marines Charity – and it also  advised another 647 about the many opportunities available for those transitioning into a very different way of life on ‘civvie street’.

Such support in assisting those discharged through injury or illness into work is estimated to have saved the taxpayer over £1.4M in benefits.

There has never been more demand for the through-life services the Charity provides to Royal Marines and their dependants. Last year, more than 22,000 individuals turned to them for help of one kind or another – that’s equivalent to the entire population of a medium sized town such as Dorchester or Kenilworth. Of these, almost 2,700 were in acute need, a similar number to those living in a small town like Woodstock or Loswithiel.

Be it training for career transitioning, funding some of the very best prosthetics and vehicle adaptation available, providing mental health therapy, addiction support, funding funerals and bereavement counselling or simply attending to the little things that make such a huge difference to the quality of life for some of the many veterans who have served their country and now find themselves in need, the Charity pledges to always be there for them.

Overall, the services provided by RMA – The Royal Marines Charity in 2022 contributed the equivalent of more than £6.7M in social and local economic value to society, translating every £1 donated to the Charity into £2.22 of value delivered.

“There has never been a greater need for a strong Royal Navy to defend our nation’s interests near and far. The Royal Marines are their leading element,” says Sir Gordon Messenger, KCB DSO* OBE DL, Constable of HM Tower of London, Rear Admiral of The United Kingdom and Patron, RMA – The Royal Marines Charity in his introduction to the Charity’s 2023/24 Impact Report.

“As the UK’s hardest trained regular troops, they provide 47% of UK Special Forces despite only forming less than 4% of our whole defence forces, meaning they will always be at the sharp end.

The consequences of this is increased exposure to death and injury, with increased stresses on family life.”

“RMA – The Royal Marines Charity is an inseparable part of the Corps Family.”

Charity President General Gwyn Jenkins CB OBE ADC, Vice Chief of The Defence Staff Commandant General Royal Marines, adds: “RMA – The Royal Marines Charity is an inseparable part of the Corps Family. Its delivery through 2022, when charitable income was squeezed by a harsh economic climate that led to increased demands for support, demonstrated clearly that the Charity is there for the Corps Family when needed most. We must never take that for granted.”