SSAFA Forces Help

Families of Injured Service Personnel (FISP)

Welcome to the Support group for families of injured service personnel (FISP) case studies page.

Each year, we provide direct, practical assistance to those who serve and those who used to serve. Each year we help more than 50,000 different people. Here are some of their stories.

FISP Stories

Frances's Story: Frances Shine's son Stephen was serving with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment in Iraq in 2007 when a knock on her door at 2am brought the news that he had been critically injured. . . . read more
Our son Simon: It has been roller-coaster of emotions watching our son regain his independence . . . read more
Louise Shine talks about the injury of her brother: "My brother is always going to be injured and their will always be things that he needs extra support with" . . . read more
Ada's Story: My husband Gerald, a serving flight sergeant in the RAF, sustained a brain injury following Encephalitis... . . . read more
Lisa's Story: Lisa´s husband, Paul, was seriously injured in Afghanistan whilst serving with 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. . . . read more
Sandra's Story: Sandra Birchall's son, Lance Corporal William Woodgates, was seriously injured in Afghanistan in November last year. . . . read more

Louise Shine talks about the injury of her brother

Louise Shine now aged 22. Her brother Stephen lost his leg in April 2007 when his tank struck a landmine in Iraq. Although Stephen has since made a good recovery, Louise is still coming to terms with her own losses.

"I really wanted to go to Sell Oak and see my brother but I had to look after my younger brother at home in London. Mum spent two months in Birmingham and during that time I had to run the home. The pressure meant that I had to drop out of my college course in Beauty Therapy and a change in the way the courses are funded means I can not afford to rejoin the course and I have taken a job as receptionist. I used to have many friends but many of them have fallen away as I couldn't go out as often as i would have liked as the more responsibility i had to take on gave me less time to go out.

"My brother is always going to be injured and their will always be things that he needs extra support with. This is a great opportunity to meet with others in a similar position who made me realise that I was not alone."