SERVICE Dogs UK (SDUK) has been awarded a grant of £15,000 from the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF), enabling female veterans living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to access support through assistance dogs.

For some service-leavers, PTSD is a part of everyday life, and accessing the right support can be daunting.

Since 2015, Service Dogs UK has been providing Armed Forces veterans with specially trained service dogs, enabling them to navigate the symptoms of PTSD and create lasting bonds of support and safety.

The Army Benevolent Fund has once again supported Service Dogs UK with a grant towards the continuation of its work, which this year will focus on providing specialist training sessions aimed at female veterans who may have previously experienced barriers to support.

Female veteran participation in SDUK programmes has declined significantly over the past three years. In 2026, there is only one female in training, compared with five in 2024. Female veterans also remain underrepresented overall, with just one female veteran in training compared to eight male veterans.

SDUK’s new initiative, the Female Veteran Project, will create a safe space for female veterans to engage with the charity’s support programmes, allowing them to focus on completing the training and bonding with their assistance dogs. This initiative aims to improve confidence and wellbeing for female veterans with PTSD.

Developed following consultation with female veterans and specialist organisations, the Female Veteran Project recognises that some women may feel more comfortable accessing support in female-only settings. By removing barriers to participation and creating a safe, supportive environment, the project will enable more female veterans with PTSD to benefit from the life-changing partnership of an assistance dog.

The ABF is the Army’s national charity, supporting soldiers, veterans, and their families, for life. As of the largest funders in the sector, the ABF supports the Army family through all of life’s challenges, including bereavement, injury, getting back to work, elderly care, and much more besides.

Mica Flett, Grants and Trust Fundraiser, Service Dogs UK, said: "We are grateful for the Army Benevolent Fund's consideration and decision to support us with a generous donation of £15,000. This funding will go towards a female veteran PTSD assistance dog partnership.

“At Service Dogs UK we pride ourselves on adapting to the needs of our clients and, as such, ensuring anyone who comes to us for help feels safe, listened to and supported to take that big step towards a life- changing PTSD assistance dog partnership."

Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, Army Benevolent Fund, added: “The Army Benevolent Fund is delighted to once again support Service Dogs UK with a grant of £15,000, enabling it to continue providing assistance dog training to veterans living with PTSD. The Female Veteran Project will address barriers to support faced by some women, enabling the whole Army family to benefit from improved assistance.”