In 2011, the nation made a Covenant promise ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
2015 saw the launch of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund: £10 million each year focusing on:
- non-core healthcare services for veterans
- removing barriers to family life
- extra support, both in and after service, for those that need help
- measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the armed forces community to participate as citizens.
In 2025, we marked 10 years of the Covenant Fund – its £90 million+ contribution to more than 1,900 projects across the UK and overseas, all supporting our armed forces community.
Stories from grant partners over the last ten years
Bravehound
Paul was able to reconnect with his family and turn his life around thanks to Bravehound and his service dog, Gander. Their tailored support proved invaluable in helping him get back his confidence after a diagnosis of PTSD.
VC Gallery
Veterans are building bonds and making memories in nature thanks to VC Gallery and their wellbeing and community engagement work. From virtual brews to getting their hands dirty growing food – isolation is taking a back seat!
Make Some Noise
Feeling upbeat? Christie from Make Some Noise is helping service families to bond, build confidence and connect with others. Their music and movement sessions are helping parents and tots like Casey and daughter Bonnie get out and improve their wellbeing, and have some fun!
WRACA
Liza is proud that, thanks to WRACA’s Female Veterans Transformation Programme, more female veterans are now recognising their contribution and are calling themselves a veteran for the first time! This UK-wide initiative is reshaping the support landscape for women who have served – let Liza, Paula and Stacey inspire you with the fantastic impact this transformational project is having.
Beacon
Ian’s life has been transformed thanks to Beacon Counselling Trust’s ‘Battling the Odds’ programme. Listen to his story of gambling addiction and how, with the right support, he’s back on track and ready to help others.
The Bridge for Heroes
Hear from Fred, Ernie and Lynn about the positive impact drop-ins at the Bridge for Heroes is having on their lives. From dominoes and cards, to tea and chat, veterans and their families have found emotional support, plus a bit of healthy competition!
More stories of impact
Walking with the Wounded – Neurodiversity programme
This initiative aims to improve support for veterans with neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia. The programme focuses on identifying barriers to mental health care and employment, developing tailored psychotherapeutic pathways, and creating practical recommendations for service providers. The project seeks to build inclusive, evidence-based frameworks to better meet the needs of the armed forces community.
Scotty's Little Soldiers
Scotty’s Little Soldiers has delivered several impactful initiatives funded under the Armed Forces Covenant Fund. These include the Strides Project, which combats loneliness among bereaved military children and young adults through virtual resources and outdoor activities; the Standby Project, which equips schools with tools and training to support bereaved service children sensitively; and a pioneering Pre-Bereavement Support Programme, providing early intervention and wraparound care for families facing a parent’s terminal diagnosis.
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes has benefited from several Armed Forces Covenant Fund grants aimed at strengthening support for the military community. Through the Family Focus programme, the charity expanded its helpline and introduced a dedicated advisor for family members, ensuring tailored guidance and resilience-building. The Tackling Loneliness programme funded a Buddy Scheme in Wales, which successfully reduced isolation among veterans and is now being scaled nationally. These grants reflect a commitment to addressing emotional wellbeing, promoting connection, and empowering families and veterans across the UK.
Mesothelioma UK
Mesothelioma UK – Supporting Our Armed Forces Programme Mesothelioma UK delivered a specialist UK-wide service for serving personnel, veterans, and their families affected by asbestos-related cancer, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund. The project provided a Clinical Nurse Specialist based in Portsmouth/Southampton and a dedicated benefits advisor to assist with compensation and welfare claims. It raised awareness of mesothelioma within the military community, offered tailored information resources, and supported a peer support Facebook group. The programme also partnered with the University of Sheffield to research disease prevalence and the psychological impact on veterans and carers, addressing health, legal, emotional, and social needs specific to the armed forces community.
Reaching New Heights in Recovery
Through therapeutic mountaineering and climbing, Climb 2 Recovery creates powerful experiences and a community that reignites hope, rebuilds trust, and fosters long-term transformation.
Find out more about their inspiring project supported by our Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme.
Suffolk Family Carers
Suffolk Family Carers received a grant of £89,668 in 2023 under the Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme.
Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Carers was a two-year project designed to identify members of the Suffolk armed forces community who are family carers.
The project aimed to provide information, guidance, and emotional support to enable meaningful and lasting change. It also highlighted the often-unseen caring roles within the armed forces community and the impact these responsibilities can have on well-being, employment, and family life.
The project includes a summary of key learning and insights, shared in the hope that others will find them valuable.
Talking 10 years...
Chief Executive Anna Wright chats with Amanda Struby, Armed Forces Covenant Team Leader and Head of the Armed Forces Covenant in the MOD, about what the Covenant Fund has achieved over the past decade and what’s to come…
