User:Gavin Lisburn/UDR Benevolent Fund

thumb|right|The Harp & Crown badge of the Ulster Defence Regiment

The Ulster Defence Regiment Benevolent Fund is a Northern Ireland charity (charitable organization) which distributes benefits to former UDR soldiers and families. Between the period 1970 to 1992, UDR officers and soldiers donated the equivalent of 1/2 days pay per annum at the start and 2 days pay per annum in 1988/1989 to the fund.

The Fund was established as a Charitable Trust in 1972 and its aim was to provide grants paid out immediately to bereaved families and to help serving and ex-soldiers and their families in need, primarily but not solely as a result of their UDR service. The grants started out as £200 to the widow of every soldier killed by terrorist act and £25 to each of the children.

The UDR Benevolent Fund is the first of its kind in the British Army. Existing only to provide assistance to former members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and/or their dependants. This charity is the only one which operates separately from the normal system of benefits for former soldiers and dependants e.g.: Army Benevolent Fund.

This particular fund is part of the UDR and Royal Irish Regiment "Aftercare" service which is unique to the British Army. It is thought to be the model for future development of similar funds for regiments which have a high number of casualties in modern wars.