SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has been awarded a £5,000 grant from Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price’s “SWAP Fund” to launch its new initiative Beyond the Walls. SSAFA’s project is designed to support the families of veterans of any age currently serving time in Cheshire’s three prisons.
The £5,000 will go towards SSAFA’s Beyond the Walls project, providing an invaluable resource pack – online and print – to help families navigate the emotional and practical challenges of having a loved one who is a veteran in the criminal justice system (VCJS).
SSAFA’s UK-wide VCJS scheme is open to all members of the Armed Forces community, including serving and former personnel, Regulars and Reservists, National Service veterans, and their families. VCJS staff and volunteers address key areas of help, such as practical and emotional support, signposting to services, financial and travel support, and direct help for families.
SWAP stands for Safety, Working together, Action, Prevention, and between September 2024 and March 2025, 58 projects across Cheshire were awarded monies to help them run projects which made a difference to their communities.
The grants do not come from the public purse, but are from some £200,000 set aside by Mr Price from assets seized from criminals under the Proceeds Of Crime Act (POCA) for the SWAP scheme.
Funds enable residents and communities to address the issues which matter most to them, enabling ideas to be brought to life, giving the community the opportunity to be part of the solution.
Jodie Hopkins, the VCJS Manager for SSAFA, said:
“While funding such as this is extremely important help to further SSAFA’s work, what’s as significant is that it demonstrates recognition of the work we do for men and women who are in prison, and the impact that having a family member in prison can have.
“We know that by equipping families with the tools and knowledge they need, the project not only strengthens family bonds but also contributes to safer communities through sustained support for prisoners.
“So, we’re incredibly grateful to Cheshire PCC Dan Price and his team for their invaluable support in making this resource a reality.”
To learn more, or to access help, search for “SSAFA VCJS”. To more about the Cheshire PCC’s SWAP Fund, click here.
