Introduction Section 4: Financial Assistance for benefit of the armed forces community
29. Section 4 authorises the Secretary of State to give financial assistance, for example by way of grants, loans or otherwise, to any person - including charitable institutions and other third sector bodies, and public bodies - in support of activities that benefit any part of the armed forces community. Where the recipient of the financial assistance is not a public body, additionally the activities must be for a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purpose. The armed forces community includes serving members of the regular and reserve forces, veterans and their families. "Families" will include partners, former partners and children and can include other persons connected with serving personnel and veterans. The Secretary of State will be able to put conditions on the financial assistance he gives, for example as to the purposes for which it can be used.