What happens when former servicemen fall on hard times? There is at least one organisation they can turn to, as Nick Morrison discovers.

WHEN William Kirkup started to have problems with his sight, the deterioration was swift. Within weeks of his degenerative eye condition being diagnosed, he was registered blind, unable to read newspapers or even watch the television.

While the hospital was able to supply the 85-year-old with a device to enable him to watch television, it still left the problem of reading, a problem that seemed destined to be unsolved, until the former Royal Signalman was put in touch with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA).

After obtaining his army records, SSAFA was able to supply Mr Kirkup with a viewer, which magnifies newspapers, pictures or books onto a large computer screen.

"I'm not totally blind - I can see to get about - but I can't recognise print or look at photographs without this machine," he says. "I can enlarge snapshots and there's a tray so I can move newspapers about. It is a wonderful machine and it's made a big difference.

"I had never needed any help before but my eyes deteriorated so quickly and SSAFA were wonderful. I wasn't really aware of them before, but they really helped me."

Mr Kirkup spent 12 years with the Royal Signals, from Gibraltar during the tail-end of the Spanish Civil War, to the Normandy landings, through France and Belgium, ending up in Munster in Germany. Now living in Framwellgate Moor, near Durham City, he is one of hundreds of former servicemen and their families helped every year by SSAFA's Durham branch.

Durham branch secretary Les Hutchison says SSAFA does not hand out money itself, but instead is able to get in touch with different funds on behalf of those in need.

"If somebody has been in the Army, for example, we will contact his unit and the Army Benevolent Fund, and see what help they're prepared to give," he says.

For Mr Kirkup, that saw the £2,000 cost of the viewer was met by the Royal Signals Association, the Rowland Hill Fund, for former Post Office workers, and the Civil Service Benevolent Fund.

The charity was set up in 1885 amid concern at the position of Army wives, who at best could expect a shilling a day and threepence for each child. The first president was the Princess of Wales, and the Royal Link continues with present president the Duke of Kent.

Last year SSAFA helped around 75,000 people nationally, to the tune of around £12m, and in Durham dealt with around 1,000 cases involving £180,000. But it is not all about getting financial help, according to Mr Hutchison.

"We also go along if they want someone to talk to or give them advice. Primarily people come forward because they have problems with debt - it is amazing the amounts of money people have run up in debt," he says.

"We also provide wheelchairs and stair lifts, and we provide holidays if they haven't had one for some time or if their kids have never been away.

"Unfortunately there are more and more families breaking up, and if they're in Army accommodation that can mean the wife has nowhere to stay. They can go into SSAFA's stepping stone homes until they get sorted out."

SSAFA sends out a case worker - always a volunteer - in response to requests for help, who will then assess the situation and decide if it is justified. Difficult cases can be referred to the Citizen's Advice Bureau.

All former servicemen are eligible for SSAFA's help, as well as their close relatives and dependants, merchant seamen and members of the nursing services.

"We think there are an awful lot of people who would qualify for help from us but don't approach us. Often it is because they don't know that help is available, but some older people are very proud and don't want to ask for help," Mr Hutchison says.

"But there is money there. There are a great number of ex-service charities and it is a question of getting the money to the people who need it."

SSAFA's Durham branch can be contacted on (0191) 383 9452 or nationally on (0207) 403 8783.