The provision of welfare amenities for members of H.M. Forces goes back to the days of the Crimean War (1853-1856) when public concern was shown for the well-being of the troops in that campaign and a number of religious and philanthropic organisations began to provide welfare services. Subsequently, Centres were opened in a number of garrisons and ports at home and abroad, providing support during the South African War and through World War 1 when the work of the ‘Voluntary Bodies’ developed on an extensive scale in all parts of the world.
At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 the Service Authorities faced a huge problem in providing for the needs of the rapidly expanding Forces and so the Army Council invited the voluntary bodies to form a Council through which contact could be maintained with the Service Departments. In October 1939 the Council of Voluntary War (now Welfare) Work (CVWW) was formed.
During the war years, the Council was able to coordinate welfare services at home and overseas, providing over 2000 mobile canteens/libraries and around 5300 clubs, hostels and canteens across the world. Thousands of voluntary workers gave of their service, many were killed and a number were decorated for their unselfish service to the cause. After hostilities ended in 1945 the Council and it’s member organisations continued to provide rest and refreshment facilities in support of the Armed Forces around the world, reflecting the best values of the religious and cultural life of the Nation at that time.
Since the end of the Second World War, Britain has deployed its armed forces for combat over 80 times in 47 counties and throughout that time, the member organisations of the CVWW have continued to serve the Armed Forces wherever they can be of help. Clubs, hostels and mobile services continued to operate in UK and overseas garrisons, with member organisations participating in establishing centres in the Balkans in Iraq with the European Christian Home Organisation for Servicemen (ECHOS).
In 1951, CVWW was granted a charter giving statutory support to its work with the Armed Forces and this was sponsored by MOD (then PS4 Army). Recently, this has been replaced by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June 2023 by the Head of Personnel Policy (Army) on behalf of the MOD. Recent years have seen a significant reduction in the size of the Armed Forces and the number of member organisations in CVWW has also diminished. However, those that remain continue to provide a wide range of welfare services ranging from canteen facilities provided by CESSAC and Salvation Army to Pastoral Workers and Scripture Readers working alongside chaplaincy and Unit welfare services to provide holistic support welfare to Service personnel and their families.
