{"id":5715,"date":"2026-05-25T15:19:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T14:19:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/no4arearna.co.uk\/?page_id=5715"},"modified":"2026-06-11T16:13:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T15:13:04","slug":"welfare-wellbeing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/no4arearna.co.uk\/index.php\/welfare-wellbeing\/","title":{"rendered":"Welfare & Wellbeing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Looking after the Welfare & Wellbeing of our shipmates is at the very core of why the Royal Naval Association exists.  <\/span>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\u2019s serving personnel and veterans.  <\/span>Support from the RNA comes in many forms \u2014 from a friendly chat over a cuppa, to local branch wellbeing events, signposting to specialist services, and practical help when it\u2019s needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Welfare & Wellbeing Support Co-ordinator, Shipmate John Everett at:  rnaarea4welfare@gmail.com<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Area 4 Welfare & Wellbeing Report – May 2026<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

1.  Overview<\/span>: <\/strong> Area 4 demonstrates strong and sustained Welfare & Wellbeing activity, with <\/span>submissions received from multiple branches throughout the reporting period. Area 4 consists of <\/span>29 branches in total, of which 11 branches submitted Welfare & Wellbeing returns, representing <\/span>approximately 38% reporting coverage. This continued improvement in participation strengthens <\/span>the reliability of the data and provides a broader, more representative view of welfare delivery <\/span>across the Area. The breadth and consistency of reporting highlight an Area delivering both <\/span>routine welfare support and complex, ongoing casework, with repeated engagement in <\/span>befriending, transport assistance, bereavement support and financial or advocacy-based <\/span>interventions.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Beneficiary Profile Supported groups reported within Area 4 included: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 RN Veterans aged 67+ \u2013 the primary beneficiary group across all reporting branches;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Working-age veterans \u2013 supported regularly, particularly in cases involving welfare complexity;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Family \/ Dependants (Adults) \u2013 frequently supported alongside veterans;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Family \/ Dependants (Children) \u2013 supported on a limited number of occasions;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Still serving personnel \u2013 minimal reporting during this period Key observation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Support within Area 4 is predominantly focused on older RN veterans, with additional engagement <\/span>involving working-age veterans and dependants. This reflects both demographic need and the <\/span>evolving nature of welfare support, particularly where health, bereavement or financial pressures <\/span>are present.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Nature of Support Provided Area 4 branches reported delivering a diverse and responsive <\/span>
\nrange of Welfare & Wellbeing interventions. Core support types included:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Befriending and family support \u2013 the most consistently reported activity;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Transport support \u2013 including hospital appointments, essential journeys and social contact;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Bereavement support \u2013 recurring across multiple branches, often requiring sustained <\/span>
\ninvolvement;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Financial and general welfare support \u2013 including advocacy, guidance and problem-solving;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Early-stage intervention \u2013 preventing escalation of welfare issues Many branches reported <\/span>providing multiple support types within the same reporting period, demonstrating flexibility and a <\/span>person-centered approach tailored to individual circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Contact & Engagement Activity Engagement data from Area 4 indicates a high level of direct, <\/span>hands-on involvement by volunteers. Reported engagement methods included:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Telephone contact \u2013 used routinely to maintain continuity and reassurance;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Email and text communication \u2013 often reported in the 6\u201315, 16\u201325 and 25+ ranges;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Home visits \u2013 regularly undertaken, particularly in welfare and bereavement cases;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Transport journeys \u2013 delivered where health, mobility or isolation were significant factors.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>pattern highlights a relationship-based approach, prioritising ongoing contact rather than one-off <\/span>interventions.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Time Commitment Time spent on support (per response):<\/span><\/p>\n

Welfare support:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Frequently recorded at 1\u20135 hours, with numerous instances of 6\u201315 hours and 16\u201325+ hours.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wellbeing support:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Regularly aligned with welfare hours, particularly where bereavement or emotional support was <\/span>required Key point: Area 4 includes some of the highest volunteer time commitments recorded <\/span>nationally, indicating the presence of complex and ongoing cases requiring sustained attention <\/span>and follow-up. <\/span><\/p>\n

6. Charity & Agency Signposting Area 4 branches demonstrated strong awareness of, and <\/span>
\nengagement with, external support networks, including:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 SSAFA<\/span>
\n\u2022 Royal Naval Benevolent Trust (RNBT) <\/span>
\n\u2022 Royal British Legion (RBL)<\/span>
\n\u2022 Op Courage<\/span>
\n\u2022 Local authorities and housing departments<\/span>
\n\u2022 RNA Central Office Signposting activity consistently complemented direct support, ensuring <\/span>
\nbeneficiaries were connected with appropriate specialist and statutory services.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Branch-Level Highlights:<\/span><\/p>\n

Chard<\/strong><\/span> – Reported consistent welfare activity across multiple months, with a focus on transport <\/span>support and bereavement care for older RN veterans. Engagement levels indicate steady contact, <\/span>appropriate signposting, and sustained volunteer involvement. <\/span>
\nLiskeard<\/strong><\/span> – Recorded high volumes of contact, complex welfare engagement and some of the <\/span>largest time commitments, including financial and advocacy-based support. <\/span>
\nDorchester<\/strong><\/span> – Demonstrated regular involvement in transport and bereavement support, often <\/span>alongside wider welfare engagement. <\/span>
\nFrome & Portland<\/strong><\/span> – Provided consistent support across multiple months, including transport, <\/span>bereavement care and ongoing welfare contact. <\/span>
\nBrixham, Weymouth, Torpoint & Rame, Bodmin & Plymouth<\/strong><\/span> – Delivered reliable welfare <\/span>activity, particularly  focused on older RN veterans, supported by regular contact and appropriate <\/span>signposting.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Overall Assessment Strengths:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 High level of reporting participation across multiple branches;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Broad range of Welfare & Wellbeing support delivered;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Strong emphasis on bereavement and complex welfare cases;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Significant volunteer time commitment;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Effective use of charity and statutory signposting Supportive Opportunities;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Continue encouraging consistent monthly reporting across the Area;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Share good practice from high-engagement branches;<\/span>
\n\u2022 Support volunteers managing sustained or high-intensity cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Final Summary<\/strong><\/span> – Area 4 is delivering high-quality, person-centered Welfare & Wellbeing support, <\/span>underpinned by strong reporting engagement and significant volunteer commitment. The data <\/span>demonstrates a clear willingness to support shipmates through both practical and emotional <\/span>challenges, often over extended periods. The range and depth of activity recorded across Area 4 <\/span>highlights a mature and effective welfare structure, with continued reporting ensuring that <\/span>volunteer effort is recognised and appropriately supported at Area and National level. Thank you <\/span>to all Welfare & Wellbeing volunteers across the Area for the time, care and commitment you <\/span>give in supporting shipmates and their families. Welfare & wellbeing reporting is not mandatory; <\/span>however, where information is shared, it is genuinely helpful. It allows the collective impact of <\/span>volunteer support to be better understood and enables meaningful, evidence-based feedback to <\/span>be provided to the Royal Naval and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC), supporting wider awareness <\/span>of welfare needs and outcomes. All welfare activity, whether formally reported or not, is valued and <\/span>appreciated as part of the crucial volunteer contribution that underpins the Royal Naval <\/span>Association\u2019s work.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Looking after the Welfare & Wellbeing of our shipmates is at the very core of why the Royal Naval Association[…]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_mc_calendar":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5715","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P8R0mQ-1ub","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/no4arearna.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/no4arearna.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/no4arearna.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/no4arearna.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/no4arearna.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5715"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/no4arearna.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5722,"href":"https:\/\/no4arearna.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5715\/revisions\/5722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/no4arearna.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}