A Stirling veteran has thanked an advice service that helped him more than 50 years after an injury ended his service career.
Peter Duff, 78, is one of thousands of current and former servicemen and women helped by the Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP), a service that has received significant funding from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and is run by Citizens Advice Scotland on behalf of a funding partnership led by Poppyscotland.
The service provides specialist advice and support to the Armed Forces community throughout Scotland, ranging from finances and employment to housing issues.
Thanks to the backing of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and other funders, advisors secured more than £2 million for clients between October 2020 and September 2021, supporting over 2,000 people. They gave more than 11,000 pieces of advice, helping each one with more than five issues on average.
Mr Duff, a former Royal Engineer, was delighted when an advisor found he was eligible for the War Pension Scheme, which he said made a huge difference to his and his wife’s standard of living. The successful claim followed months of work tracking down and translating his health records from Germany in the 1960s, as well as asking for specialist reports.
One of the last generation of Scots to be called up for National Service, Mr Duff joined up in 1961 at the age of 18. He initially loved the lifestyle, especially the chance to travel and play sports.
But while posted to Germany in 1965, he sustained a serious hand injury during a tug o’war game with comrades. This developed into severe dermatitis, and he was eventually demobbed several months later with a small payout.
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Mr Duff lived with his German wife in Berlin for many years before the couple decided to move back to Scotland. After retiring with a small pension, they were devastated to lose most of their savings in an investment scam.
He got in touch with ASAP after hearing about the service from a family member.
He said: “I was very surprised and delighted to get the pension. It has made a huge difference – it pays my council tax and helps with the cost of living.
“I don’t know where we would be without ASAP. The advisor was wonderful, and I really appreciated the phone calls and meetings. Whenever I was starting to feel a bit low, he was always there for me.
“My health isn’t great now, and I need a lot of help from my wife and son. But I try not to dwell on it and just get on with life.”
Gary Gray, Poppyscotland’s Head of Welfare, said: “We’re very grateful to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for their support in delivering this vital service, which has made a huge difference to thousands of members of the Armed Forces community. Thanks to them and other funders, ASAP is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when we work together.
“No one should be disadvantaged after serving their country. But too many former servicemen and women and their families across Scotland are struggling in silence, often unaware of the help that they are entitled to.
“ASAP’s specialist advisors can put them in touch with the right support or financial assistance, as well as offering a listening ear.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief of Staff at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, added: “The Armed Services Advice Project has been running for well over a decade and has made a positive impact on many beneficiaries such as Peter and his family. Supporting and enhancing veterans’ wellbeing and quality of life goes to the heart of our charity’s work.”
ASAP provides advice on benefits, housing rights, employment and more through regional offices throughout Scotland. People can get in touch through their local Citizens Advice Bureau or by calling the helpline on 0800 028 1456.
