BLESMA - British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association

185-187 High Road
Chadwell Heath
Romford
Essex
RM6 6NA

Tel: 020 8590 1124
Fax: 020 8599 2932
Web: www.blesma.org
Best time to telephone: 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday (answerphone at other times)

BLESMA is a national charity for limbless ex-service men and women. The Association also accepts responsibility for the dependants of its members and, in particular their widows. It also accepts responsibilities for those who have suffered the loss of use of a limb in service.

The objects of the Association are to promote the welfare of all those of either sex who have lost a limb or limbs, or one or both eyes, or the use of limbs as a result of service in any branch of Her Majesty's Forces or auxiliary forces and to assist needy dependants of such service limbless. It will also help those ex-service men and women who lose a limb for whatever reason after service.

BLESMA also provides:

• Permanent residential and convalescent respite accommodation through its two nursing and residential homes at Blackpool and Crieff in Perthshire.
• Counselling service to individuals pre and post amputations.
• Advice on pensions, allowances, makes representation to government departments on individual entitlements and, where necessary, represents members and their dependants at pensions appeal tribunals.
• Financial assistance to members and widows in the form of grants.
• Plans and organises rehabilitation programmes for the members.
• Assists in finding suitable employment for members.
• Limited funding for research and development into artificial limbs and in the training of prosthetists and orthotists.
• Acts as a consumer watchdog in respect of the provision of artificial limbs, wheelchairs and appliances.

The association is supported entirely by voluntary subscription.