Our welfare work continues to expand and diversify as the welfare needs of the population evolve. The current number of potential veneficiaries is estimaed at 9.5 million.

In 2008, the Pensions and Benefits team handled 3,826 War Dsablement Pension claims and queries resulting in lifetime awards totalling more thatn £2.17 million.

We also handled over 520 Armed Forces Compensation Scheme claims achieving awards amounting to more than £0.3 million.

Our Legal Compensation service helped some 250 claimants to achieve awards totalling inexcess of £1.7 million.

The Disability team handled 162 new cases, achieving benefit awards of £1.7 million. Ths services has a 95% success rate when conducting tribunals - exceptionally high for this type of activity.

DAVE HART 32



Dave Hart was serving as a Lance Corporal in the Territorial Army when in 2004 he and several of his colleagues in his battalion, The Rifle Volunteers, were involved in a suicide car bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Too ill to make it as far as Britain, Dave eventually woke up from a coma a few weeks later in Germany, where his family was at his bedside.

Because of Dave’s injuries, he was unable to return to his civvy job so we stepped in to help him with a vocational assessment course, which spurred him on to sit his A-levels and attend Exeter University; where he is now in his final year of reading International Relations and History.
 

"I'm incredibly grateful to the Legion who stepped in to help out at a time of great uncertainty and financial worry for me and my family. Having had first hand knowledge of how the Legion helps Service people from current, as well as past conflicts, I know the very real difference it can, and does, make to people's lives."

We were able to provide his family with fi nancial help so they could stay with him abroad during his recovery.

Arun, Sanita and Subhod Rai



Arun Rai is a former Gurkha Transport Regiment Corporal who saw operational Service in Bosnia and Gulf War One. His father also won the Military Medal serving with 7th Gurkha Rifles in Malaya.

His youngest son, Subhod, was born in the British Military Hospital in Hong Kong, but suffered complications at birth and now suffers from cerebral palsy. Soon after leaving the Gurkhas, Arun came to the UK to earn money as a driver to support Sanita and Subhod, who remained in Nepal. In 2006, Subhod was becoming too difficult for Sanita to manage on her own and Arun brought them to the UK under the Indefinite Leave of Entry Scheme.

We heard they were living in one room, and arranged for better accommodation, providing essential items to make it habitable such as beds, chairs and a washing machine. We also helped Subhod get into a special school, and provided him with specialist equipment to help him communicate with others. They are now in a Local Authority ground floor flat with the correct adaptations needed to meet Subhod’s disabilities.

“We wouldn’t have been able to start a new life as a family without the help of the Legion. The county office are always there for help and advice and are more than a service, we’ve become great friends.”

Archie Barton, 3


Archie Barton was less than 18 months old when he was struck down with meningitis B and rushed to hospital. Through this and complications of septicaemia, Archie lost both his legs, fingers, part of an ear and the tip of his nose. He also now has severe visual impairment.

Archie’s father Murray, a former Machine Engineer Mechanic in the Royal Navy, contacted the Legion to see how they could help his son. We have provided a touch screen monitor as well as a laptop and software to enable Archie to develop his sensory skills at this important age.

"As a family we are so grateful to the Legion for supplying Archie with his touch screen. It has made such a difference to his progress and his eyesight has improved."