TAPS, SSAFA Team Up to Bring Hope and Healing to UK, US Military Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 20, 2023
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a US-based nonprofit, and the Soldiers', Sailors' & Airmen's Families Association (SSAFA), the Armed Forces Charity of the UK, have joined forces in a poignant endeavor to honor and support the surviving families of fallen military service members. This transatlantic collaboration, sealed in a newly renewed memorandum of understanding, seeks to bridge the gap between the grieving families of these allied nations and cultivate a sense of unity through shared experiences.
"Our partnership with SSAFA represents a profound commitment to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of freedom," stated Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder. "With Sir Andrew Gregory and his team by our side, we will offer a strong support network for surviving families in the US and the UK Together, we'll harness our shared experiences and resources to promote healing, connection, and solidarity."
This partnership will expand collaborative efforts between TAPS and SSAFA, unlocking an array of opportunities including peer mentorship, suicide prevention and postvention programming, and broader outreach initiatives for survivor support. A key element in this partnership is the development of a unique sports program in the UK, modeled after TAPS' successful teams4taps initiative. The teams4taps program, under the leadership of Sport's & Entertainment Vice President Diana Hosford, creates transformative experiences for survivors. Using sport as a platform for healing, it cultivates environments where survivors can honor their fallen loved ones in a deeply meaningful way.
“Sport can be a catalyst for unity, connection, and engagement,” Hosford explained. “It can foster hope and create lasting memories that provide survivors a common bond beyond their loss. We’ve already witnessed this powerful impact through events such as the NFL London Series and Liverpool FC’s charity match. Together with SSAFA, we will continue to leverage sport as a beacon of hope and connection.”
Commenting on the signing, SSAFA Controller Sir Andrew said: “Meeting with Bonnie and Diana has been inspiring; the energy they have created within TAPS is extraordinary. That energy is wholly there for the loved ones – ‘the survivors’, of those who died while serving their nation; it is unconditional on how that loss occurred. While life has changed forever for these families, their courage and their feeling of being a part of a new family – TAPS, is both humbling and deeply moving.
"I am delighted SSAFA and TAPS have formalised our partnership; we share the same values, we both have military families at the heart of our charities and we will grow our relationship as we continue to be their trusted source of support in their time of need."
Through their shared vision and relentless commitment, TAPS and SSAFA aim to create a beacon of hope for those grieving the loss of a military loved one. Their collective efforts promise to provide invaluable support to the survivors in their care, reflecting the enduring bond between the United States and the United Kingdom.
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ABOUT TAPS
TAPS is the leading national organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America's fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to all those grieving the death of a military loved one through peer-based emotional support, connections with grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, casework assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups, and the 24/7 National Military Survivor Helpline, all at no cost to surviving families. For more information, please visit TAPS.org or call 202-588-TAPS (8277).
ABOUT SSAFA
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community and their families since 1885. Year on year, our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 60,000 people, from Second World War veterans to young men and women who have served in more recent conflicts, and their families. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person — any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.