What’s it really like to be the new kid on the block?
A new town, new digs, new faces: for military families this is often the reality every few years as they relocate to a new posting, leaving everything they had built behind them.
It’s more than moving boxes (though they can be stressful enough!) – it’s about having to adjust to a new life, away from friends, family, and the support networks that have made your life feel stable.
Our Serving Families On The Move programme supports projects that help service families navigate the challenges of relocation. To better handle uncertainty, overcome loneliness, and quickly build new connections.
In a nutshell
We’re talking improved access to local services, building support networks, and creating spaces where families can meet and connect in those first few weeks before larger or more complex issues have a chance to take hold.
And this support needs to stand the test of time. We want to fund projects that not only offer immediate support but also provide ongoing solutions to make the transition smoother for everyone who follows. Whether through creating long-lasting resources or fostering community ties, our aim is to prevent isolation before it happens.
Key priorities for your project
We’re looking for projects that will achieve at least one of the following outcomes:
- Help newly arrived families access the information and resources they need to settle in quickly and confidently.
- Create opportunities for families to engage with local activities, improving their emotional wellbeing and sense of community.
- Reduce the feelings of isolation experienced by many families by connecting them with local networks and support systems.
- Strengthen relationships within families by offering resources that help them manage the challenges of relocation together.
We’re not necessarily looking for new provision, it’s more important that new families are aware of and can access relevant services and activities in the area.
What we’ve funded so far
So far, we’ve funded a variety of projects that have helped military families thrive, including:
- Community groups that bring families together from day one.
- Online support networks designed to help young people in newly relocated service families connect and share experiences.
- Information hubs that provide clear pathways to local services and support.
- Mentoring programs where experienced military families guide newcomers through the relocation process.
A steady constant in a wild family life
Earlier this year we funded Make Some Noise for their delivery of Upbeat, a series of inclusive music-making sessions for families posted to the West Midlands.
Casey and her daughter Bonnie have attended Upbeat for the past year:
“This is our first military posting that we’ve moved away from our normal home for. So, it was really important for us to find something to embed ourselves into the community.
“It’s allowed a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler, and myself, to find friends, to find something that we can focus on and come to every week, something we can look forward to.
“It’s given us a steady constant in what, actually, is a wild family life!
“It’s really important for us to find connections quite quickly when we move to a new community. It’s one of my stand-out things for saying I love living here and being a part of this. It’s eased that move.”
But these projects are just the start
If your organisation has a project that will help service families feel more connected, supported, and less like the new kid on the block, we want to hear from you.
Apply now for funding of up to £50,000 and help support service families on the move!