Looking after the Welfare & Wellbeing of our shipmates is at the very core of why the Royal Naval Association exists. The Royal Navy has evolved significantly since the RNA was founded over 75 years ago, and the Association continues to adapt to stay relevant and supportive to today’s serving personnel and veterans. Support from the RNA comes in many forms — from a friendly chat over a cuppa, to local branch wellbeing events, signposting to specialist services, and practical help when it’s needed.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Welfare & Wellbeing Support Co-ordinator, Shipmate John Everett at: rnaarea4welfare@gmail.com
This page also hosts a sub menu with guidance and information on our Objectives & Core Values, Privacy Policy and Safeguarding requirements. As Welfare & Wellbeing becomes more developed in line with today’s requirements and availability of services, more information will be posted. WTS.
Area 4 Welfare & Wellbeing Report – May 2026
1. Overview: Area 4 demonstrates strong and sustained Welfare & Wellbeing activity, with submissions received from multiple branches throughout the reporting period. Area 4 consists of 29 branches in total, of which 11 branches submitted Welfare & Wellbeing returns, representing approximately 38% reporting coverage. This continued improvement in participation strengthens the reliability of the data and provides a broader, more representative view of welfare delivery across the Area. The breadth and consistency of reporting highlight an Area delivering both routine welfare support and complex, ongoing casework, with repeated engagement in befriending, transport assistance, bereavement support and financial or advocacy-based interventions.
2. Beneficiary Profile Supported groups reported within Area 4 included:
• RN Veterans aged 67+ – the primary beneficiary group across all reporting branches;
• Working-age veterans – supported regularly, particularly in cases involving welfare complexity;
• Family / Dependants (Adults) – frequently supported alongside veterans;
• Family / Dependants (Children) – supported on a limited number of occasions;
• Still serving personnel – minimal reporting during this period Key observation.
Support within Area 4 is predominantly focused on older RN veterans, with additional engagement involving working-age veterans and dependants. This reflects both demographic need and the evolving nature of welfare support, particularly where health, bereavement or financial pressures are present.
3. Nature of Support Provided Area 4 branches reported delivering a diverse and responsive
range of Welfare & Wellbeing interventions. Core support types included:
• Befriending and family support – the most consistently reported activity;
• Transport support – including hospital appointments, essential journeys and social contact;
• Bereavement support – recurring across multiple branches, often requiring sustained
involvement;
• Financial and general welfare support – including advocacy, guidance and problem-solving;
• Early-stage intervention – preventing escalation of welfare issues Many branches reported providing multiple support types within the same reporting period, demonstrating flexibility and a person-centered approach tailored to individual circumstances.
4. Contact & Engagement Activity Engagement data from Area 4 indicates a high level of direct, hands-on involvement by volunteers. Reported engagement methods included:
• Telephone contact – used routinely to maintain continuity and reassurance;
• Email and text communication – often reported in the 6–15, 16–25 and 25+ ranges;
• Home visits – regularly undertaken, particularly in welfare and bereavement cases;
• Transport journeys – delivered where health, mobility or isolation were significant factors.
This pattern highlights a relationship-based approach, prioritising ongoing contact rather than one-off interventions.
5. Time Commitment Time spent on support (per response):
Welfare support:
• Frequently recorded at 1–5 hours, with numerous instances of 6–15 hours and 16–25+ hours.
Wellbeing support:
• Regularly aligned with welfare hours, particularly where bereavement or emotional support was required Key point: Area 4 includes some of the highest volunteer time commitments recorded nationally, indicating the presence of complex and ongoing cases requiring sustained attention and follow-up.
6. Charity & Agency Signposting Area 4 branches demonstrated strong awareness of, and
engagement with, external support networks, including:
• SSAFA
• Royal Naval Benevolent Trust (RNBT)
• Royal British Legion (RBL)
• Op Courage
• Local authorities and housing departments
• RNA Central Office Signposting activity consistently complemented direct support, ensuring
beneficiaries were connected with appropriate specialist and statutory services.
7. Branch-Level Highlights:
Chard – Reported consistent welfare activity across multiple months, with a focus on transport support and bereavement care for older RN veterans. Engagement levels indicate steady contact, appropriate signposting, and sustained volunteer involvement.
Liskeard – Recorded high volumes of contact, complex welfare engagement and some of the largest time commitments, including financial and advocacy-based support.
Dorchester – Demonstrated regular involvement in transport and bereavement support, often alongside wider welfare engagement.
Frome & Portland – Provided consistent support across multiple months, including transport, bereavement care and ongoing welfare contact.
Brixham, Weymouth, Torpoint & Rame, Bodmin & Plymouth – Delivered reliable welfare activity, particularly focused on older RN veterans, supported by regular contact and appropriate signposting.
8. Overall Assessment Strengths:
• High level of reporting participation across multiple branches;
• Broad range of Welfare & Wellbeing support delivered;
• Strong emphasis on bereavement and complex welfare cases;
• Significant volunteer time commitment;
• Effective use of charity and statutory signposting Supportive Opportunities;
• Continue encouraging consistent monthly reporting across the Area;
• Share good practice from high-engagement branches;
• Support volunteers managing sustained or high-intensity cases.
Final Summary – Area 4 is delivering high-quality, person-centered Welfare & Wellbeing support, underpinned by strong reporting engagement and significant volunteer commitment. The data demonstrates a clear willingness to support shipmates through both practical and emotional challenges, often over extended periods. The range and depth of activity recorded across Area 4 highlights a mature and effective welfare structure, with continued reporting ensuring that volunteer effort is recognised and appropriately supported at Area and National level. Thank you to all Welfare & Wellbeing volunteers across the Area for the time, care and commitment you give in supporting shipmates and their families. Welfare & wellbeing reporting is not mandatory; however, where information is shared, it is genuinely helpful. It allows the collective impact of volunteer support to be better understood and enables meaningful, evidence-based feedback to be provided to the Royal Naval and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC), supporting wider awareness of welfare needs and outcomes. All welfare activity, whether formally reported or not, is valued and appreciated as part of the crucial volunteer contribution that underpins the Royal Naval Association’s work.