A RALLY call has been made for caseworkers looking to step up and help serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans in Dorset.

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, is looking for caseworkers to provide active support for serving personnel, veterans and their families across the county.

As a SSAFA caseworker, which would be a voluntary role, it would see candidates work with clients to pinpoint the help and allow easy access to support they need, including financial, medical, housing, relationship, or help with career challenges.

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Terry Canham, Chair of SSAFA Dorset, said: "Our trained Dorset caseworkers are at the heart of our work.

"They’re more important now than ever as people face yet more challenges, both emotionally, physically and financially.

"You’d be making a huge difference to the welfare of the Forces family in the county and gaining enormous benefits yourself in terms of job satisfaction and experience."

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This could be anything from funds for specialist equipment for those living with disabilities, finance for a rental deposit for accommodation or adapting a property to allow a client to remain at home.

SSAFA caseworkers also signpost their clients to local specialist services for professional advice on a variety of subjects including benefits, housing, mental health and finding work.

Successful applicants would join the oldest national tri-service military charity and become part of a community of thousands of volunteers across the world all with the same aim - to support serving personnel, veterans and their families whenever and wherever they need it.

Tony Nott MBE, a caseworker in south Dorset, said: "Being a caseworker with SSAFA involves meeting with clients understanding their difficulties and establishing their needs.

"The training given by SSAFA is of high quality, enabling the caseworker to resolve issues and link welfare sources to needs.

"The professional backup from SSAFA HQ assists greatly in specialist areas such as housing problems. I have found the work immensely satisfying and consider it a privilege to serve those who have served us and their families."

Dorset has a proud military heritage - with a rich naval history - and is home to many serving personnel, veterans and their families.

SSAFA has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a SSAFA caseworker or roles in Dorset, visit www.ssafa.org.uk/volunteer and ssafa.org.uk/dorset .

Or you can phone Nicholas Bate, the SSAFA Dorset Publicity Officer, on 01202 742 934 (email Nicholas.Bate@Dorset.ssafa.org.uk) for a no-commitment chat when he’d be delighted to tell you more.

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