The Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum (FANDF) is a tri-service group for serving personnel, reservists and their families who have a child or adult immediate family member with an additional need or disability.
Supported by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, FANDF held its first hybrid conference this week at the Victory Services Club in London, attracting nearly 150 delegates from members of the forum to sector professionals, as well as SSAFA staff.
The conference theme was 35 Years Strong: Championing Families, Shaping Change and the day featured powerful stories and insights, such as navigating education systems and understanding entitlements to the realities of being a carer in the Forces community, and was a chance for delegates to share inspiring testimonies of resilience, advocacy, and the strength found in connection. Those attending took the opportunity to share the success of FANDF’s recent win as the Celebrating Forces Families Advocate of the Year.
Other highlights of the day included:
- The opening address from Air Commodore Wendy Rothery Head of Diversity and Inclusion MOD – sharing the MOD’s evolving support for families and embedding family needs into policy
- Dr Claire Lee sharing heartfelt lived experiences of Forces families with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) gathered through recent art workshops
- Helen Cooper giving an overview of the support available through Defence Children Services’ Education Advisory Team
- Kenneth Lawton from the DWP’s Disability Advocacy Team offered practical guidance on the transition from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), and highlighted additional support available to Armed Forces families
- SSAFA CEO Air Marshal Steve Shell reaffirming SSAFA’s commitment to supporting families with additional needs and disabilities
- Rebecca Beevor concluded the conference underlining the MOD’s offer for serving personnel with caring responsibilities
Speaking later, Lynne Doherty, SSAFA’s Director of Social Care Operations, said:
“It was an inspiring day, a day to celebrate successes, but also a day to reflect that too often we still hear people say that they don’t know where to go for help.
“They struggle to care for the additional needs of their loved ones and would benefit from knowing what support is available to them, and FANDF is one of the amazing resources available because – backed by SSAFA – we stand ready to help and we do this because no-one should battle alone.”
Lynne noted that the theme of Carers’ Week 2025 – Caring about Equality – aligns closely with FANDF’s vision, adding:
“Like FANDF, it’s to ensure all Forces families with additional needs and disabilities receive the support they need, and we continue to work with MOD teams to uphold the Armed Forces Covenant duty, ensuring equality in education and health services.”
Serving families, including those in the Reserves, with family members living with disabilities or additional needs looking for support, advice, and an understanding ear can learn more about FANDF and join the forum here or search for “SSAFA FANDF”.
Carers Week 2025 runs from June 9 to 15, and further details can be found here.
