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

Sandra's Story

Sandra Birchall's son, Lance Corporal William Woodgates, was seriously injured in Afghanistan in November last year. William, 30, of First Battalion Grenadier Guards, spent seven weeks in the critical care unit at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, and is now being treated at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court.

Sandra, who spent two months at Selly Oak with her son, has joined the SSAFA Forces Help Support Group for the Families of Injured Service Personnel.

"When I went to the first support group meeting I thought I was so in control, but I wasn't. It's not only for William that I was being strong but for the extended family - for my parents, his girlfriend, William's Dad. You feel you have to be strong for everybody but that can leave you with no-one to talk to yourself.

"Sometimes it's difficult for people to understand what you have gone through but at the support group there are people who not only understand but can also talk to you about the practicalities and exchange information."