£563,016 to 33 Local Projects through the Armed Forces Covenant Local Grants Programme
33 Projects are celebrating grants worth over £500,000. The projects, based throughout the UK, will support Armed Forces Communities through activities that will meet local needs, or boost strong links between Armed Forces and civilian communities. Read about the full list of projects awarded grants here
One project supporting local needs is Age UK in Portsmouth. They received £19,875 for Heroes at Home; designed to boost confidence and independence for older veterans. providing community support, information and advice for older veterans being discharged from Queen Alexandra Hospital. Home Assistant Heroes will support veterans with up to 6 weeks of domestic chores, prescription collection, shopping and signposting to help build resilience and independence in the veteran’s own home.
In Scotland, the Skylark IX Recovery Project received £18,000 to continue their project to restore a Dunkirk Little Ship, giving veterans with needs and local civilians the chance to work together to restore her, developing new skills along the way.
Anne Dyer, from the project explained
“We started our plan to rescue a Dunkirk Little Ship almost five years ago when she was submerged in Loch Lomond.
Skylark IX lay battered and bruised and a terrible state of play mirroring many displaced individuals in our local community.
We took up the challenge and set up a Trust to save her and just like her past she has shown us the way of courage and determination.
Our main goal is to complete her full restoration programme by working side by side with a professional boatbuilding team at Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine and Dumbarton and bring together local people, veterans and recovery clients alike giving them focus and skills as they work as a team to bring her back to life”
Another project that is boosting good community links between Armed Forces and civilian communities Larkhill Community Hub Café, in South West England.
The Army Welfare Service have received £12,000 to support the establishment of a Community Hub Café in Larkhill, coordinated by volunteers and supported by AWS Community Support. The project explained that
“The grant received from Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust will create a vibrant, educational and enjoyable Community Hub & Café. It will help improve local amenities within the Larkhill area, create opportunities for service and civilian families living locally and develop community spirit in area that will be changing dramatically in the near future. With the imminent arrival of service families to Larkhill and the surrounding areas due to the Army Rebasing Programme, the welfare provision available to service and civilian families will be more diverse, more accessible and more relevant, helping make this transition, for all involved, as issue free as possible”.
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Local Grants Programme makes awards of up to £20,000 for local projects, and is open for applications. To find out more, please visit the programme pages.