THIS spring, 3,300 additional troops from the British forces are to serve in Afghanistan, increasing the number in the country to 5,700.

They will leave behindthousands of loved ones who wait and pray for their safe return.

SSAFA Forces help the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association runs a confidential Support Line.

It provides a fully confidential, independent and non-judgmental service aimed at listening to people who are suffering from any type of difficulty. This includes calls from the families of the ex-Service community as well as those in the Services now.

The issues people call about include worry, loneliness, isolation, depression, bereavement, relationship breakdown and debt, to name just a few. The Support Line operates outside the military chain of command, thus ensuring full confidentiality. Benefits for callers vary from simply feeling relief from the opportunity to talk over things with an understanding outsider through to clarification of the problems. No two calls are the same and each is treated with equal respect and anonymity.

The Confidential Support Line number is free from 10.30am-10.30pm, 365 days a year. The telephone number is 0800 731 4880.

The "Support Liners" are highly skilled individuals who are committed to providing the best possible service to all callers. Their backgrounds include experience in a variety of welfare organisations and caring professions. The high standard of the line has recently been recognised with a quality accreditation by the Telephone Helpline Association, a mark of professionalism few national help lines achieve.

This is one specialist line in a wide field of endeavour on behalf of Servicemen and women engaged in present and past military conflicts. All the work of SSAFA is carried out in complete confidence by trained volunteers known as caseworkers. In our own county SSAFA works closely with The Royal British Legion who, like SSAFA, are as totally committed to the present generation of servicemen and women as they are, by tradition, to veterans of the wars of the 20th century. Caseworkers can assist people with emotional, financial and practical needs. They can also tap into SSAFA and British Legion resources, as well as other military and civil charities, to give financial support in deserving cases.

To make contact with the two organisations call Victor Heron (SSAFA) or Craig Treeby (RBL) who can be reached via the same number, 01844 218349.

We would particularly like to hear from anyone interested in becoming a voluntary caseworker, working in your own area, on a part-time basis to fit your own diary, trained for the job and provided with travel expenses.

John Lambert, Public relations officer, SSAFA Bucks