Since 2010 SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has been supported by MDBA, one of its Corporate Partners, with grants and other funding totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.
MDBA’s 2026 grant to SSAFA will be split between SSAFA’s Transitional Mentoring Programme and its Short Breaks Scheme.
Short Breaks are organised by SSAFA’s Additional Needs and Disability Team and are run for serving families with children living with a range of additional needs and disabilities including children with neurodivergent needs, as well as communication and interaction difficulties.
Provided free for the families that attend a Short Break – held at Calvert Trust sites on Exmoor and in the Lake District – the support of Corporate Partners such as MDBA is vital.
One family that went on a Short Break reported:
“We did things we didn’t think were manageable. Thanks to the brilliant team, our daughter was able to try everything and even managed to push herself out of her comfort zone, I’m so grateful. The little things she achieved this weekend were a huge deal to her and us.”
Another said:
“It’s not often we find places where [our children] fit in and can completely be their true selves. What you are giving families is amazing. It’s a chance for them to fit in, an environment where our kids can thrive.”
One child simply said:
“I made loads of friends.”
Ellen Chard, SSAFA’s additional Needs and Disability Advisor said:
“Short Breaks are always a highlight of my year, with each one bringing new joy for families and children as we watch them grow in confidence and see families come together.”
“And so, on behalf of the beneficiaries, volunteers, and staff of SSAFA, I am extremely grateful to MDBA for its very generous contribution to our work in 2026.
“Its continuing support is driving positive, meaningful, and lasting change that benefits every member of the military family in their time of need making sure that no veteran, no serving soldier, sailor, or aviator – or their families – ever battles alone.”
This sentiment was echoed by Paula Campbell of MDBA’s Customer Relations team, who added:
“Serving families already juggle a huge amount just day to day and for children with additional needs it is harder than it is for most families to be able to have a break where there is equal balance of family time for everyone.
“We’re delighted to play a small part in supporting our serving community families in this way through the dedicated team at SSAFA.”
To get help from SSAFA, search for “SSAFA near me” or visit ssafa.org.uk.
