Over £280,000 of targeted funding awarded in latest round of Force for Change programme
We are delighted to have awarded over £281,000 to 30 projects in the latest round of our popular Force for Change programme.
These fantastic projects target specific needs and gaps in provision within the Armed Forces community; and we can’t wait to see the positive changes they will bring!
This latest round features projects that are both diverse and impact driven. They range from helping veterans access hearing related advice and support in Scotland; to enabling veterans and their families to rebuild their lives following contact with the criminal justice system in Wales. In Northern Ireland, veterans in custody have been supported, and in England, funding will help to support veterans and family members coping with a cancer diagnosis.
Person-centred support
We once again received a very high number of applications to the programme, which meant making tough decisions and ensuring the projects we did support will have the most impact on the Forces communities they target.
Headway Lincolnshire were awarded £10,000 to support Armed Forces communities who have been affected by a life changing brain injury. Their project, Making Headway, will support local Armed Forces communities to access support, advice, signposting and friendship through a range of regular and accessible sessions to support mental health/wellbeing.
Ann-Marie Smith, Co-ordinator and Development Officer, Headway Lincolnshire, said: “We are acutely aware that in our local community there are many serving personnel, veterans and families that are affected by life changing brain injury. Our aim is to provide tailored and person-centred support where required. The Force for Change funding will significantly help us achieve this.”
Specialist support
Lancashire North, Force for Good is a project delivered by Red Rose Recovery; utilising lived experience. They also offer one-to-one support for veterans in North Lancashire who are struggling with addiction, mental illness, housing or isolation.
Sarah O’Mara, Team Leader North, explains how funding will help them to provide specialist support to Armed Forces communities in their local area.
“The appointment of a dedicated Armed Forces Champion who has experienced similar challenges to those faced by our beneficiaries will allow us to provide specialist support to a community that has given so much”.
Find out more
We’ve awarded more than half a million pounds so far this financial year under the Force for Change programme, with a further round of awards still to be made.
For a full list of awards made under the Force for Change programme in the latest and previous rounds, check out our Force for Change programme page.