If a relative is overseas (including N Ireland):

• On a posting
• On deployment
• At sea

and a situation calls for their return on compassionate grounds (such as a death or serious crisis within the family) please contact the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre to apply for their return. The JCCC can be contacted on: +44 (0) 1452 519951. This number is manned 24 hours a day, including weekends and Bank Holidays.

Your relative’s unit cannot authorise Compassionate Travel, so please contact the JCCC directly to ensure that your case is dealt with without delay.

When you call please provide the following information:

• Name, Service Number, Rank, Home Unit and current location of the Service person.
• Full details of the relative concerned; including their location and the name of the Doctor, Hospital or any other organisation involved.

Please note that all information must be verified by the appropriate organisations before Compassionate Leave Travel can be authorised.

(NPFS & RMW) Naval Personal Family Service & Royal Marines Welfare

NPFS & RMW support Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel and their families by helping to prevent or reduce the effects of personal difficulties, especially those which arise as a result of Service life. An understanding of the complexities of Service life and its effects are central to the understanding and ethos of the agency.

NPFS & RMW is staffed by Service people and civilians from a variety of specialisations and offers advice, counselling and advocacy on a wide variety of issues including:

• Relationship problems
• Bereavement
• Debt advice
• Child care concerns
• Mental health
• Special needs
• Physical illness
• NOK Support for Deployed Personnel

NPFS & RMW have three main offices in the UK. Where the serving person’s next of kin resides determines which office to contact.

The contact details for NPFS & RMW offices are as follows:

• Eastern Area Office - HMS NELSON - Tel:  023 9272 2712  - After Hours  023 9272 6159

• Western Area Office - HMS DRAKE - Tel:  01752 555041  - After Hours  01752 555220

• Northern Area Office - Helensburgh - Tel:  01436 672798  - After Hours  01436 674321  (Ext: 4005)

Out of working hours, urgent enquiries are normally dealt with by the Officer of the Watch / Duty Naval Base Officer of the main shore establishment. They will pass your information to the Duty NPFS & RMW Staff member to action as necessary.

If you are experiencing a crisis at home and you aren’t sure who you should call, please ring the JCCC (contact details above) and they will point you in the right direction. Their telephones are manned 24 hours a day.

Confidential Support Line

The Confidential Support Line is an independent service run on behalf of the Ministry Of Defense. It provides support and advice for Service Personnel and their families. The freephone line is open from 10:30 – 22:30 (GMT) 365 days a year.
Contact Numbers:
• From the UK  - 0800 731 4880
• From Germany -  0800 1827 395
• From Cyprus - 800 91065
• From anywhere in the world (call-back) -  +44 (01)1980 63085

Samaritans

The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Contact Numbers:
• UK - 08457 90 90 90  (cost of a local call)
• Republic of Ireland - 1850 60 90 90

Armed Forces freephone link lines for the Samaritans:
• From Germany -  0800 181 0721  or  0800 181 0722
• From Holland -  0602 222 88
• From Cyprus -  0809 1122  or Military 2345
• From Gibraltar - 55666 or Military 5666

Absence Without Leave (AWOL)

Service Personnel who are absent without leave (AWOL) can speak in complete confidence to the SSAFA AWOL Support Line Worker on:  01380 738137. This service operates Monday – Friday from 09.00 - 10.00am. There is an answering machine service outside these hours.