More than £1.3m to support families of wounded, injured or sick serving personnel and veterans
“We can now reach families sooner, stand beside them earlier in their journey, and provide the compassionate, timely support they need.”
Scotty’s Little Soldiers Founder, Nikki Scott
Families are at the heart of the latest round of Covenant Fund awards we’ve made – under our Family Focus programme.
Sixteen outstanding projects have received a share of more than £1.3m to improve the lives of family members of personnel and veterans who’ve been wounded, injured or who’ve become sick.
From projects helping children understand the complex impacts of illness or injury to projects helping with debt and finances or creating opportunities for families to spend time with others facing similar challenges, a huge range of approaches have been funded. Our CEO, Anna Wright, said: “An illness, wound or injury for a member of the armed forces doesn’t just affect that individual – it can change family life forever. And that’s where this funding comes in, supporting projects for family members to build the resilience, information and skills they need to live beyond their caring role.”
Money matters
Carers of veterans often face financial pressures, and flexible jobs aren’t always easy to find. Citizens Advice Cardiff and Vale’s project will help by providing tailored, comprehensive advice on benefits, debt, welfare and housing support for families – helping them find practical solutions to their unique needs.
Jane Clay, Chief Executive, told us: “Tailored access to advice on a range of issues including welfare rights, housing matters, employment issues and managing problem debts will meaningfully enhance families’ financial wellbeing, allowing them greater control over their futures.”
Better outcomes from earlier intervention
Working UK wide, Scotty’s Little Soldiers will help military families where the veteran or serving parent has a terminal diagnosis, helping families develop the skills needed to prepare for their bereavement and navigate their grief.
Founder, Nikki Scott, said: “Last year, 29% of the children who came to us had already endured the devastating loss of a parent to a terminal illness. This statistic highlights just how vital pre-bereavement support truly is.
“For too long, we’ve carried the weight of not being able to support these brave children through the initial diagnosis, the uncertainty of hospital stays, and the heart-breaking decline of a loved one. This award changes that.
“We can now reach families sooner, stand beside them earlier in their journey, and provide the compassionate, timely support they need.”
Breaking down barriers to support
In the South West, Improving Lives Plymouth’s focus will be on family members whose role as unpaid carers has had a significant adverse impact on their lives. They will identify and reach out to those who are struggling to cope with their caring role, but feel unable or unwilling to ask for help. Improving Lives Plymouth will work to uncover the barriers they’re experiencing, so that more families are seeking support before they reach crisis point.