This is a specialist programme designed to offer support to Veterans who may have particularly complex needs.  

Under this programme, charities and CICs which do not have substantial recent experience of working with the Armed Forces community can apply. We recognise that some Veterans who have had adverse experiences during their Service would prefer to access support from non-Armed Forces organisations. However, applicants must be able to demonstrate significant knowledge of the Armed Forces community, or the proposed project must be delivered in partnership with another organisation (or organisations) which have substantial recent experience of working with Armed Forces communities or which are Armed Forces-specific. 

There is more information in the programme guidance.  

It depends on the size of grant and project length that you are applying for. If you are applying for a grant of £50k-£100k for a project of between one year and 18 months in duration, your project will only need to focus on one outcome.  

For larger applications of up to £300k towards projects lasting three to four years, applicants must address all the programme outcomes. Please see the application guidance for further information about the programme outcomes.  

A strong application will have a clear link between needs identified in robust published research or reviews and the activities within the project that you are seeking funding for. In the application form we will ask you to tell us about the evidence you have looked at and provide links.

Our assessment process will include a review of this evidence in conjunction with your planned project to consider how close the correlation is between the evidence and your proposal and to see if the planned project activities would be an effective response to the current beneficiary needs identified in the research or equivalent evidence.

There is more information in the programme guidance document about the types of evidence we can accept under this programme.  

If a Veteran’s needs can be addressed by the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) such as medical treatment, financial compensation, or services directly connected to a Service-related injury or illness, those should be addressed through the AFCS, not this grant programme. 

The projects funded under this programme will offer additional services or fill gaps not covered by the AFCS. If your project deals with issues already covered by the AFCS, it would be more appropriate to direct those individuals to seek help through that scheme. More information about the work of the AFCS can be found here: Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Projects that focus on issues handled by the Service Complaints Ombudsman such as investigating complaints, offering legal advice on Service conditions, or representing Service members in the complaints process are not eligible for funding under this grant programme.  

If your project addresses issues that the Ombudsman would typically handle, those concerns should be addressed under the established Service Complaints process. More information about the work of the Service Complaints Ombudsman can be found here: Welcome to the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces | Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (scoaf.org.uk) 

All the information you need to apply is included in the programme guidance and application resources published on our website. This will help you to decide whether to apply to this programme. To ensure that all applicants are treated fairly, we are unable to provide additional, individualised advice.

If there are any aspects of the guidance that are not clear, please contact us at info@covenantfund.org.uk