Over £290,000 to support those with seldom heard needs in armed forces communities
“Having someone to turn to who understands the struggles experienced daily is a lifesaver” (service user)
Ensuring under-represented voices in armed forces communities are heard is vital. In the latest round of our Hidden Voices programme, we’ve awarded grants totalling more than £290,000 to 15 projects delivering accessible mental health and wellbeing support for those with seldom heard needs in armed forces communities.
These projects will focus on improving access to bespoke support for groups whose voices, opinions or needs are not adequately represented or who face barriers to accessing support services.
Our CEO Anna Wright said: “This programme is all about giving a voice to armed forces communities who may have been overlooked or unheard. Providing tailored, accessible mental health and wellbeing support, these projects will improve awareness and understanding of the of the unique needs of these communities, improving service provision for years to come.”
Tailored support from those who understand
Rees Foundation is dedicated to supporting care leavers in the Armed Forces, a group often unheard and overlooked. Their project, From Care to Command, aims to amplify the voices of this group – raising awareness, providing tailored support and ensuring they can access the guidance and resources they need.
Hamish is one of Rees Foundation’s clients. He is an armed forces veteran who grew up in care. “I discovered the Rees Foundation by searching the internet for support. Since connecting, I have found so many like-minded people who have spent time like me in the care system and understand the difficulties I experienced. Also having emotional support, having someone to turn to who understands even now the struggles experienced daily is a lifesaver. It is always a delight to be able to connect monthly with people and being able to talk about issues and be heard and understood freely is also a key part of life for me.
“Rees has been, for me, a place I know I can trust and turn to when I have needed someone and has given me confidence to look at the next day to come and feel worthwhile as a person.”
With an award of £19,767, Rees Foundation will be able to reach more people like Hamish—offering tailored support, guidance, and resources to help them live fulfilling, purposeful lives, both during and after their time in service.
A community of support
Meeting the mental health and wellbeing needs of older male veterans in North West England, Preston North End Community and Education Trust will focus on those in care homes who are facing challenges accessing community activity.
David Abbott, Armed Forces Coordinator, told us: “Connecting Our Veterans is an early-intervention project supporting the mental health and wellbeing of older veterans in care homes who face barriers to community engagement. Through one-to-one support and group activities the project aims to build resilience, foster comradeship, and improve access to specialist services”
Receiving £19,960, Connecting Our Veterans will work closely with a range of organisations to improve pathways into support, creating better mental health and wellbeing outcomes for the veterans they work with.
Improving understanding and advocacy
Working UK wide, LimeCulture have received £20,000 for a collaborative project which will improve the provision of community-based, accessible mental health support and advocacy for victim-survivors of military sexual violence (MSV). Enhanced training and resources for civilian ‘independent sexual violence advisers’ (ISVAs) will strengthen understanding of the unique needs of victim-survivors within the military and veteran community.
In addition, LimeCulture will create a military sexual violence toolkit, co-designed with veterans with lived experience of MSV. Consisting of infographics and easy to understand guidance, the toolkit will be shared with ISVA services UK-wide to improve support for victim-survivors of MSV.
Stephanie Reardon, Chief Executive at LimeCulture told us: “We are really excited to be part of this critical partnership with the Centre for Military Women’s Research at Anglia Ruskin University supporting Independent Sexual Violence Advisers to provide effective support to armed forces personnel who have been impacted by sexual violence.”
Find out more
Click here for a full list of all awardees from this round and previous rounds of the Hidden Voices programme.