DAME AGNES WESTON'S ROYAL CHARITY FOR THE NAVAL SERVICE

The Charity’s stated object, which is for the Public Benefit, is the promotion of the efficiency of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines and the advancement of the Christian faith. The overarching vision of Aggie’s is that all beneficiaries should be able to ‘live life to its fullest measure ’ which means that they should have physical, emotional and spiritual health, and be living in strong relationships. Aggie’s works in partnership with the Naval Chaplaincy Service and other naval charities to enhance the operational capability of the Royal Navy through the provision of pastoral support to serving members of the Royal Navy (including the Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary), and their families. Royal Navy units routinely deploy for between six and nine months and the operating tempo remains consistently high. This creates a challenging environment for both the serving personnel and their families at a time when the Royal Navy’s resources for pastoral support are ever more stretched. This leads to separation and loneliness, two of the key stressing factors creating the need for the pastoral support which the charity provides in naval bases, air stations, naval training establishments, Royal Marine units and amongst Service Family Accommodation (SFA) areas. Aims and objectives Through the provision of pastoral support the charity can: a. Support personnel in training (hence reducing the numbers withdrawn from training); b. Help people who are experiencing stress (hence reducing the numbers becoming medically non[1]deployable); c. Support personnel weighed down by family, financial or practical issues (hence restoring their efficiency); d. Support families through testing times (particularly during lengthy deployments), hence reducing the numbers resigning from the Royal Navy early due to family reasons.