Telephone Friendship Groups (TFG)
Telephone Friendship Groups (TFG)- In January 2021, the BNTVA is introducing Telephone Friendship Groups, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, and run through a partnership between the BNTVA and the Silver Line Charity (part of Age UK).
The TFGs consist of groups of six participants who are matched by nuclear tests who are able to convene for an hour on a weekly basis, to meet old friends and make new friends in order to combat social isolation, anxiety and loneliness. Topics of conversation include reminiscing about the nuclear tests, hobbies, interests and talking about their week.
The TFGs are facilitated by a trained BNTVA volunteer in conjunction with the Silver Line Charity https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/what-we-do/telephone-friendship-service/. All that’s needed is to want to talk, and have the use of a phone at the same time each week.
Please get in touch if you feel you or someone
else would like to participate on
0208 144 3080, or at
office@bntva.com
Text a Friend Service
The BNTVA runs a text-a-friend service for veterans, wives, widows and descendants, to contact our matched and trained volunteers.
If you feel you would benefit from texting and being texted back to just stay in contact, or stay in touch concerning a welfare issue, then this could be for you.
Please contact on 0208 144 3080 or office@bntva.com to benefit from this service.
NCCF Care Wellbeing
& Inclusion Fund
If you are a veteran, wife, widow or descendant, and in need of welfare assistance, then the Nuclear Community Charity Fund (NCCF) is here to help.
The NCCF was set up in 2017 by the Aged Veterans’ Fund with Libor funds, and their task is to give means-tested individual grants to the nuclear community for both physical and emotional needs. The NCCF provides an Independent Living Assessment to your property to evaluate needs, and works with the applicant to assist with:
- Adaptation and mobility needs, such as handrails, ramps, mobility scooters, and walk-in showers grants.
- Items to improve quality of life, such as funding a replacement boiler.
- Respite breaks for carer or patient.
- Assistance with psychological issues such as a course of counselling.
The link to the NCCF Care, Wellbeing and Inclusion Fund is https://thenccf.org/care/
where a grant form can be downloaded. If you require assistance with completing a form, please contact the BNTVA on 0208 144 3080. For BNTVA members, please contact us to fast track your application.
Nuclear Test Veterans Priority Claims for War Pension
After discussion with Johnny Mercer MP, and the Office of Veterans’ Affairs (OVA), the BNTVA provided evidence for the leaflet produced in July 2020. We successfully amended the eligibility criteria for the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ War Pensions applications.
The initial leaflet stated that veterans had to provide film badge readings for the tests they had attended. After the BNTVA was approached by the OVA, we provided documentation from veterans confirming that they were either not issued with a film badge, or, for those that were, that readings weren’t taken. Since submitting this evidence, the OVA has changed the wording to ask if veterans were issued with a film badge or dosimeter.
The links to the War Pensions forms are
taken from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/war-pension-scheme-wps
If you require help in completing the form, please contact 0208 144 3080 or
office@bntva.com
Coffin Drape
For those who are recently bereaved, the BNTVA offers a coffin drape with the BNTVA crest at no cost to those who require it.
The drape is sent directly from the BNTVA to the undertaker for use during the funeral, and then the undertaker returns the drape to the BNTVA as a free service.
If you require help in completing the form, please contact 0208 144 3080 or
office@bntva.com
