Greenwich Hospital has awarded The White Ensign Association (WEA) a grant of £96,527 to fund the appointment of a second Compensation Advocacy and Support Officer (CASO) for the next two years. This will enable the WEA to increase its level of support to serving and former members of the Royal Navy who wish to bring claims under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) or its predecessor, the War Pension Scheme (WPS).
Diane Pitcher, a former Royal Navy Warrant Officer Medical Assistant, has now joined the WEA to fill this new post. Her role has become necessary owing to the surging demand for support provided by the WEA’s current CASO, Leigh Rhodes, whose post is funded by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
Diane and Leigh will work alongside each other to support beneficiaries who wish to bring claims under the AFCS/WPS or seek reviews and appeals of decisions made by the Ministry of Defence. Last year, the WEA helped beneficiaries to claim around £650K of compensation under the AFCS/WPS.
Jonathan Ball OBE, Director of Grants at Greenwich Hospital, said:
“Ensuring that Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel and veterans receive the compensation and expert support they are entitled to is essential. By funding this new role, we are strengthening the White Ensign Association’s ability to advocate for those navigating the complexities of the AFCS and WPS. This investment reflects Greenwich Hospital’s ongoing commitment to the wellbeing of Royal Navy personnel.”
Commodore Stuart Wright, Chief Executive Officer of the WEA, commented:
“The appointment of a second Compensation Advocacy and Support Officer (CASO) is very welcome – it allows the WEA to respond to a doubling in case volume. So we are grateful to Greenwich Hospital for funding this new role – it means that we can continue to provide high quality support in what can often be difficult circumstances for our beneficiaries.”
