Key facts
The RNBT was established under Royal Charter in 1922 to help those who are serving or have served as Warrant Officers and below in the Royal Navy & Royal Marines, and their dependants, who find themselves in need or distress. The RNBT provides advice on a wide range of welfare issues fielding hundreds of enquires every year.
Last year we helped in 2,584 cases.
The RNBT makes grants to meet a wide range of personal needs including food, clothing, rent, home repairs, medical needs, respite breaks, mobility aids and much more.
Pembroke House
The RNBT runs its own 55 bed care home, Pembroke House in Gillingham, Kent. It is the only one of its kind in the world that caters specifically for RN/RM Veterans.
John Cornwell VC
National Memorial
This six-unit alms-house in Hornchurch, Essex is also run by the RNBT.
Admiral Jellicoe House
RNBT’s centenary care home project – A new purpose built care home in Portsmouth, integrating specialist dementia care. On track to be completed in Spring 2022.
64% of grants
made were to beneficiaries aged under 60.
90 grants
totalling £67,079
were made to War Pensioners.
Assistance provided in enabling mobility and hence independent living:
28 grants
totalling £24,292
were made for riser/recliner chairs.
56 grants
totalling £64,382
were made for Electrically Propelled Vehicles.
23 grants
totalling £28,630
were made for stair-lifts.
26 grants for legal expenses
A total of 26 grants were made, mainly associated with bankruptcy.
£163,209 for medical cases
We gave grants in 160 cases, the largest slice of expenditure being for medical equipment.
£108,547 in grants to serving personnel
The total of grants given to 123 serving personnel and their dependants.
£52,470 for Falkland Veterans
53 Falkland Veterans and their dependants received grants totalling £52,470.
Operating worldwide
Our beneficiaries living in the following countries received assistance from the Trust in the financial year 2020/21:
France Germany Thailand Canada Malta Australia Spain New Zealand South Africa Zimbabwe Ireland Cyprus USA Croatia Turkey
Applications for assistance
62% of applications made were through SSAFA and 29% from the Royal British Legion, with the remainder through the Royal Navy Family & People Support (RN FPS) and the Royal Commonwealth Ex‑Services League.
Care home Top-up fees and domiciliary care £125,724
We assisted 52 people with care home Top-up fees and domiciliary care.
50 ‘Christmas Boxes’
Fifty Portsmouth-based beneficiaries received a ‘Christmas Box’ through money donated by the Montague Neville Durnford and Saint Leo Cawthan Memorial Trust, operated as a restricted fund by the Hampshire and IOW Community Foundation.
25 regular donors
There are 25 regular donors to the Trust by Direct Debit, with two new donors in the financial year 2020/21.
More always welcome!
£218,815 in
legacy income
The total received in legacies last year was £218,815.
We promote a free Will writing service for our supporters.
£218,153 in donations
The RNBT received donations totalling £218,153 last year. Every penny we receive in donations goes direct to helping our beneficiaries.
Castaway House – naval benevolence hub
Our headquarters can rightly be considered to be the ‘Home’ of the RN Charity world, with seven organisations operating here.
Co-location means swift and cost‑effective help can be provided to beneficiaries with eligibility that spans different charities.
Co-location also means common services and support can be shared resulting in the ever more cost‑effective delivery of charitable benefit.
500 thank you letters
The Trust receives about 500 ‘thank-you’ letters from beneficiaries every year.
Beneficiary Support Coordinators
A holistic approach to the long term needs of the beneficiaries. Offering a bespoke plan and signposting other forms of assistance. 412 beneficiaries were helped in 2020/21.