“Throughout my extensive support from the RM Charity, from counselling, support through cancer treatment and help to get some respite, the support has been awesome. Thank you and keep doing what you are doing.”
RMA – The Royal Marines Charity is your charity, and we are here to offer support for you and your family through service and beyond. While members of the Corps family can reach out to us any time of year, we recognise the winter months and the run-up to Christmas can cause a build-up of emotions, with remembrance services having just past and Christmas festivities fast approaching.
From the moment you join the Royal Marines, you are part of a family and while Royal Marines are good at looking out for one another, sometimes things can get too much. If you or an oppo is struggling, we encourage you to ‘lift the lid’ and to seek support. Seeking support isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s what cements our comradeship with one another. Whether you need a listening ear or financial support, RMA – The Royal Marines Charity is here to serve you as you serve us.
We are able to offer support and advice through our seven pillars of delivery: Grants and Benevolence, Addictive Behaviours, Veterans’ Mental Health Referral Pathway, Employment & Education, War Pensions & AFCS, Transition Support and our RMA Support Volunteers. If you think RMA – The Royal Marines can help you, please reach out using the button below code.
Grants and Benevolence
In 2023, we were able to offer more support to the Corps family than ever before. We have been able to provide benevolence support to 2,853 individuals. The Grants and Benevolence Team is the initial point of contact for all enquiries for serving and former Royal Marines as well as their families seeking charitable assistance for a range of financial and non-financial benevolence support.
Addictive Behaviours
Last year, 1,036 individuals attended alcohol briefs and a further 44 received addiction support. While we are currently updating our addictive behaviours pillar of support, we are still on hand to ensure help is provided.
Veterans’ Mental Health Pathway
Through our Veterans’ Mental Health Referral Pathway, we have been able to support 78 individuals in the last year. Our focus is on veterans and their families who have mild to complex mental health needs that have arisen as a result of traumatic experiences while serving in the military or from significant life events that have caused distress and upset.
We offer evidence-based psychological therapies using our network of clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, and EMDR Trauma Specialists to bring you the best psychological therapy.
We work closely with each veteran to make a treatment plan that fits their individual needs.
Employment & Education
Our Employment & Education team supported 53 individuals into employment in 2023. We’re able to support all Royal Marines and recruits facing compulsory discharge, as well as veterans and spouses, with career advice and guidance, employment opportunities, grants and funding, and business start-up opportunities through our network. Offering grants for specialist education and employment needs.
War Pensions and AFCS
We were able to provide support to 128 cases through our Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. Through our War Pensions and AFCS team, we provide free confidential guidance and advice, and if required, free representation at various stages of a claim, including—although not exclusively—at tribunals in conjunction with these schemes.
Both the War Pensions and Armes Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) are designed to compensate individuals for a medical condition or injury sustained while in service. The two schemes are governed by separate legislation, and our advisors are conversant in the vagrancies of each scheme.
Transition Support
Last year, our Transition Support Team supported 107 cases. Our Transition Support Officers (TSOs) work with you and your family to help make the most of the services available to achieve the best possible transition to civvy street when you are unexpectedly facing discharge.
The TSO role is a unique position within the charity and emphasises the importance the charity places on supporting those early leavers (and their families) facing discharge for administrative, disciplinary, or medical reasons, which can often happen at very short notice.
The TSO also offers help to veterans reaching back into the charity for support by carrying out a thorough assessment to better understand their needs.
While we cannot help with every circumstance, we work closely with a myriad of other organisations and will ensure a warm handover to their more specialist support.
Where to go for support
24 Hour Support:
The Samaritans – 116 123
Combat Stress- 0800 1381619
Office Hours:
RMA – The Royal Marines Charity – 0800 468 1664
Project Regain – 01206 817057
Royal Navy Family and People Support – 0800 145 6088
NHS Veterans Mental Health Services