Funding available to support Armed Forces communities

August 3, 2020

Great news for organisations supporting Armed Forces communities…

The Trust now has three funding programmes available, each offering targeted support to projects that want to address challenges in their local communities, reach people who are particularly isolated, or work with veterans to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Working with the people that your project will support is at the heart of the funding programmes we offer, and strong applications will be able to show us:

  • how you will do this and why your project is needed
  • how you know people want to take part
  • how you are sure that your work is not duplicating other work taking place.

Funding available

Each of our programmes targets different groups or priorities.

Positive Pathways programme:

With funding from the Chancellor of the Exchequer through the Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, The Positive Pathways programme offers fixed grants of £35,000 to activity-based projects that are run by veterans, for veterans. We expect these projects to have a positive impact on veterans’ mental health and wellbeing. Now in its second year, the programme funded more than 100 projects in 2019/20, ranging from sports, crafts, outdoor pursuits and nature-based projects.

Force for Change programme:

With funding from the Covenant Fund, The Armed Forces Covenant Fund: Force for Change programme builds on the legacy of the Local Grants programme, and was shaped through a consultation, which highlighted the importance of reducing loneliness and isolation in Armed Forces communities.

With grants of up to £20,000, it will support projects that encourage Armed Forces communities to be more engaged and connected within their local communities, and for this year, will also support local projects that address needs that have arisen as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tackling Loneliness programme:

Some people from Armed Forces communities may be particularly isolated and find it hard to engage with other projects or services. Projects working with people with these needs may need more time and more resources.

This is where the Tackling Loneliness programme comes in. This Covenant Fund programme will award fixed grants of £70,000 for two-year projects that work proactively to enable people to become more engaged with their community. Projects should help those taking part to strengthen their support networks and build their confidence to access opportunities available to them.

Loneliness can affect people of all ages and from all backgrounds. The Tackling Loneliness programme will address this challenge by targeting specific groups within the Armed Forces community who are harder to reach.

Both the Force for Change and Tackling Loneliness programmes will consider projects that support serving personnel, veterans and Armed Forces families.

Infographic - choosing the right funding programme

Find out more

You can find more information on all of these programmes on our dedicated programmes pages.