Moving to a new place can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming…
…especially for armed forces families who often relocate with little time to prepare. The latest round of awards through Serving Families: On the Move backs practical, welcoming projects that help military families find their feet quickly: from a first friendly phone call, to school transition support, to digital tools that make local life easier to navigate from day one.
What does this funding mean for families?
- Quicker access to the essentials: clear local information, signposting and tailored guidance.
- Stronger connections from the start: welcome calls, community events and group activities that reduce isolation.
- Support at key pressure points: help with school transitions and navigating local services.
- Inclusive, family-friendly resources: child-friendly materials and support in different languages, so families feel seen and included.
- Help that meets families where they are: one-to-one visits, trained volunteers and dedicated workers embedded in local communities and bases.
Programme perspective
“We’re delighted to support this latest round of funding for 11 projects—the second round in the programme’s second year. These initiatives offer a strong mix of support and levels of intensity, reaching newly arrived and relocated armed forces families from all services across the UK. Our grant holders, both new and existing, are gearing up to launch activities shaped directly by families’ experiences.
“Each project is designed to create meaningful, lasting change by responding to the wide range of needs that armed forces families have told us matter most.”
Karen, Grant Officer lead for Serving Families: On the Move
What’s changing on the ground?
Forces Children Scotland (external link) – Map My Move
What? A youth-led project helping children and young people from armed forces families navigate relocation with confidence.
Co-produced with young people, it will develop an interactive tri-service map and clear, child-friendly information so children feel prepared, connected and supported before, during and after a move.
Why it matters: When practical “everyday life” information is missing, children can arrive feeling behind from day one; this project focuses on giving them the tools to settle quicker and keep doing the activities and hobbies that matter to them.
Steven Sweeney, Chief Executive Officer of Forces Children Scotland, explains:
“Children and young people from armed forces families have told us that while their serving parent usually receives information about a new posting, this is not always passed on consistently within the family. And even when it is, it tends to focus on the base rather than everyday life.
“As a result, children often arrive in a new place without basic, practical knowledge about their community—local activities and clubs, or even simple things like which bus to catch.
“Map My Move Together’ directly responds to this gap and to what children and young people from armed forces families have asked for.
“We’re excited to help families feel welcomed, informed and connected following a move through this innovative project.”
Powys County Council (external link) – Supporting Families Through School Transitions
What? A new initiative in Powys to help military families navigate the education system, especially during key school transitions.
Powys’ Equitable Education Team will introduce a dedicated Caseworker and Family Liaison Officer to work closely with families, provide the right information at the right time, and build stronger links between schools, military units and local services.
What makes it inclusive? The project will develop clear and accessible SEND information, host welcoming community events and ensure essential resources are available in Nepali for Gurkha serving personnel and their families.
Jane Watts, Specialist Teacher – Equitable Education, School Service at Powys County Council, said:
“This grant will empower us to deliver truly transformative support for military families relocating to Powys and out of Powys. By tackling the challenges of transition and access to information, we will ensure families feel welcomed, informed, and connected.
“Through strong partnerships with schools, military units, and local services, this project will create smoother transitions for families. With sustainable resources and robust monitoring in place, this investment will deliver measurable, long-term impact for today’s military familiesand those who move here in the future.”
Bringing the support together
Together, these awards strengthen a UK-wide network of support that helps armed forces families settle sooner through clear information, warm welcomes, practical help and opportunities to connect. The projects recognise that relocation can be disruptive for everyone in the family, and they respond with help that is timely, local and shaped by lived experience.
From child-friendly relocation resources, to dedicated education casework, to one-to-one home support, each project focuses on the same outcome: helping families feel informed, connected and confident in their new area as quickly as possible.
Think of this funding round as a map made up of local ‘welcome moments’ – so whether a move takes you to a new patch, a different school, or a community you don’t know yet, there’s a pathway of support to help you settle quicker and make things less daunting.
Find out more
Looking for the full list of projects and award amounts? You can view the complete Serving Families: On The Move awards list on our website.