Targeted support from 38 new awards under the Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme
Latest awards made under the Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme.
The Trust is delighted to announce that we have awarded a further £3.4 million to targeted projects to deliver real change within Armed Forces communities.
The second round of grants under The Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities Programme has made 38 awards, across the UK. Over two rounds, the programme has so far awarded over £6 million, across 65 diverse projects. Each project can last up to three years and will deliver significant changes and/or improvements in Armed Forces communities, where there are hidden or compelling needs.
Improved life chances and emotional wellbeing
Inspire’s project, ‘Road Map to Recovery’ will provide a structured and facilitated network of Mutual Aid Partnership (MAP) groups across Northern Ireland offering veterans impacted by addictive behaviours and/or mental ill health the opportunity to work together as peers to make positive changes to achieve recovery, along with support for family members.
Individuals who engage in this Road Map to Recovery project will be supported to maintain improved emotional wellbeing, reduce substance use and be offered new opportunities for volunteering, education and employment.
Alex Bunting, (Acting) Group Director of Therapeutic and Wellbeing Services, and Group Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services, stated: “We are delighted that our Inspire Wellbeing application to the Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities Fund has been successful. Individuals who engage in this Road Map to Recovery project will be supported to maintain improved emotional wellbeing, reduce substance use and be offered new opportunities for volunteering, education and employment.”
Facilitated family support
Homestart Horizon’s project, ‘Armed Forces Family Peer Support’, will provide a weekly, on-base, facilitated family support group in conjunction with one-to-one home-visiting support at Kendrew Barracks, for parents with a child under 5, and veteran communities.
Stuart Sullivan, Chief Executive of Home-Start Horizons told us: “Home-Start Horizons is pleased to again be funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to provide sustainable, long-term support for Forces families in Rutland and give children the best start in life. These families face considerable challenges with young children coping with frequent relocation, parents away as well as parents coping with social isolation, challenges accessing services and mental health issues. Our group and focused family support for families has been crucial in helping Forces parents and children navigate the challenges, build local support networks and support children’s journey into reception and primary school. Families have told us how crucial our services are and the difference they make. Therefore, this important grant from The Covenant Fund will enable Home-Start Horizons to continue supporting families, planning services for incoming families, and making a difference for many more families lives for the next few years.”
One-to-one support
In Scotland, Homestart Lomond will use funding for a Military Families Support Worker to support Armed Forces families in the Lomond area of Argyll by ensuring children have the best start to life. The Support Worker will offer one-to-one, tailored befriending opportunities; practical help & emotional support; bespoke activities; signposting; advocacy and inclusion work.
Laura Eales, Manager at Homestart Lomond said: “With HMNB Clyde on our doorstep, many of our families have a serving parent with no local family support network, while facing long deployments with no contact. This extra challenge can leave families struggling to cope. With the funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, we can recruit a full-time support worker for these families, to provide emotional support and practical assistance to reduce the risk of long-term impacts of ‘life in a blue suit’.”
Find out more
Did you know this fantastic programme opens again for new applications in summer 2023?
We’ll be looking for projects that are specific and targeted. This could include addressing hidden, compelling and complex needs, for specific and identified beneficiaries, in a meaningful way.
Your application should be really clear about the evidence of why your project is needed, and how the impact of your project will continue after the grant has ended.
More details will be available on our website in due course.
In the meantime, check out the full list of awards made in this latest round of funding, here.