https://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/Find out what the Armed Forces Covenant can offer you. Here you will find useful links into Covenant web pages and regular updates on changes, offers of support from Partners and the Armed Forces Covenant Team. en-USTelligent Community 12https://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/b/announcements/posts/the-armed-forces-covenant---early-years-programmeWed, 06 May 2026 15:01:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:cf5ea0b7-a011-4ac9-af13-7140cb59dd5cRN Forum ModeratorThe Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) are offering grants of between £5,000 and £80,000 for projects that will help to enhance early childhood education and childcare settings to meet the specific needs of young children from Armed Forces families. What is the Early Years Programme all about? The Early Years programme is designed to help Armed Forces families access good quality early childhood education and childcare provision close to where they live or Serve. The programme will address specific needs that early childhood educators have identified and will award projects that will contribute to one of three outcomes. * Increased capacity at the setting to allow more Service children to attend. * Providing better learning environments for Service children. * Providing appropriate training and development of staff to support Service children. Applications close: 12:00AM on the 15th July 2026. More information and how to apply can be found: HEREhttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/b/announcements/posts/exciting-new-funding-opportunity-from-the-armed-forces-families-fundWed, 06 May 2026 15:00:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:9f637d92-099b-412d-a44a-db3dbdaf7d22RN Forum ModeratorThe Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is launching it's 2026 Service Pupil Support Programme – an MOD funded programme, part of the Armed Forces Families Fund (AF3). Specifically supporting Service pupils aged 4-18 years, this programme will focus on those pupils from currently serving families and will support them along their educational pathways. Who’s it for? Schools, academies sixth form colleges, Further Education colleges and local authorities can apply. The Trust has set up a dedicated programme page on their website featuring full eligibility details. The programme will award grants of £5,000 to £1500,000 to one-year, stand-alone, projects that meet one of three priorities. Closing the gap in attainment between Service and non-Service pupils, using data led evidence. Addressing the needs of Service pupils with additional needs through early identification and intervention using a collaborative and coordinated approach. Identifying and addressing the needs of small cohorts of Service pupils within educational settings. The Trust anticipates that most grants awarded will be around £40,000 or less, and successful applications will need to clearly show good value for money. The application deadline is 12:00PM on 30th September 2026. For more details on the programme and to apply: CLICK HEREhttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/b/announcements/posts/six-projects-with-one-goal---to-tackle-domestic-abuse-in-forces-communitiesThu, 02 Oct 2025 14:26:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:1cf31eb5-1c2f-47a4-a20b-1a1b32300e0eRN Forum ModeratorThe Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has funded another six projects under their Free from Fear programme, worth a total of more than three quarters of a million pounds, to further strengthen much-needed support to victim-survivors of domestic abuse in armed forces communities. The military context Those facing domestic abuse in armed forces communities often face additional challenges such as: economic dependence on the serving person isolation from wider family support due to posting locations non-UK partners of armed forces personnel being dependent on their partner for their immigration status perceptions around rank when raising concerns, or a worry that chain of command won’t support the victim-survivor. The Free from Fear programme prioritises understanding of the military context, ensuring any additional challenges are considered. What’s been funded? The awards encompass many forms of support, including culturally sensitive support for Nepalese families of serving personnel; work to strengthen the local authority response to domestic abuse in serving communities; an online programme for armed forces men who’ve experienced abuse and even holistic work for perpetrators to change their behaviour. A base for support “ The unique environment of serving personnel and their spouses make intervention of an already hidden crime even harder.” Following on from their award under last year’s programme, which focused on support in Herefordshire, West Mercia Women’s Aid has received funding to expand their Penelope Project to cover RAF Shawbury and RAF Cosford. Helen Richardson, Head of Client Services at West Meria Women’s Aid talks more about the trust they’ve built with the community. “ The Penelope project enables military serving personnel and their families to access confidential and independent domestic abuse advice and support from specialist workers who understand domestic abuse and who also understand the military world. A key feature of the project is building trusted relationships with key personnel in what has been an understandably guarded environment.” Support for male victim-survivors One in five men have experienced domestic abuse, amounting to 41% of all victim-survivors. However, only 4.8% of people being supported by domestic abuse services are men, according to SafeLives data. “The stigma attached to the thought of coming forward to seek help for what had happened, not just as a man, but as an experienced serviceperson, compounded the stigma and made it more difficult.” – MOD victim-survivor The ManKind Initiative charity focuses on supporting male victim-survivors through giving them a voice, and through raising awareness of their needs. Now, with funding through Free from Fear, they will deliver much-needed training and awareness courses for armed forces personnel, welfare staff, military charities and other relevant organisations, alongside an online programme. “This much welcomed funding will enable the ManKind Initiative to deliver our life changing ACORN Recovery Programme for male survivors of domestic abuse. It is essential in raising awareness, providing the survivors with a voice and a safe space to share their experiences with others. It will help them, and their children, move forward to live a life free from fear and harm.” – Marilyn Selwood, ManKind Initiative Positive steps for perpetrators “To tell somebody that you would be that angry with somebody that you would be literally three or four centimetres from their face, and a woman, […] to admit that to a third party, face-to-face, just the thought of it now scares the life out of me, quite frankly.” IPVA Perpetrator Across the East Midlands, Freeva are working to help those perpetrating domestic abuse to change. It’s a journey that requires dedication and perseverance but can positively affect victim-survivors. Their range of support helps perpetrators to better manage their emotions, strengthen relationships and move on from their abusive behaviour for good. They offer one-to-one partner support alongside, which is tailored to meet their needs and includes emotional support, safety planning and signposting to professional support. Janice Keene, from Freeva explains: “At Freeva, we understand that service life can bring unique challenges, and for those experiencing domestic abuse, reaching out for help can feel even harder. This funding gives us the means to offer specialist, confidential support to the armed forces community.” Improved paths to support Focusing on the wider pathways to support, SafeLives have been awarded a two-year grant to help victim-survivors of domestic abuse, by taking a Whole Picture approach in four local areas across England and Scotland. This means looking at the whole person and the whole family, joining up services so that survivors are safe, supported, and able to recover. Rosie May, Trusts and Grants Manager at SafeLives, explains: “With this grant, survivors will be supported to share their lived experience with local councils, Police and Crime Commissioners, Armed Forces Covenant Leads, domestic abuse services, and other professionals in family support and safeguarding roles. At SafeLives we work with agencies across the system to find what works and help it happen – so every adult and child survivor gets the right help at the right time.” Seek help If you or someone you know is a victim-survivor of domestic abuse in the armed forces community – whether physical violence, sexual abuse, economic abuse, emotional or other types of abuse – a full list of the awards made under the Free from Fear programme is available on the Trust’s website www.covenantfund.org.ukhttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/b/announcements/posts/embedding-prevention-of-veteran-suicide-programmeTue, 13 May 2025 15:20:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:36223bce-6a74-447b-8099-c2547a92bc95RN Forum ModeratorSuicide prevention is everybody’s business “Research tells us that military personnel are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety and depression as non-military civilians. A culture of self-sufficiency and not admitting ‘weakness’ still exists, which is a potential barrier to accessing support.” Ged Flynn, Chief Executive of PAPYRUS Those working on the frontline with vulnerable veterans know this challenge all too well. It’s why the Armed Forces Covenant Trust (the Trust) has made this a key priority in their Embedding Prevention of Veteran Suicide programme (EVPS), awarding over £1.5 million to 18 projects that are driving real change in veteran suicide prevention. PAPYRUS is a UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. Speaking about their EPVS funded bespoke training project, Ged explains: “Veterans may not want to engage with civilian mental health services as they feel it won’t cater for their military experiences. “We know alienation from civilian life is a large driver of suicide ideation and no veteran deserves to be alone with thoughts of taking their own life.” Over the next two years, PAPYRUS will offer bespoke CPD accredited suicide prevention training to those working with and supporting veterans. Delivered in partnership with veteran charities, resettlement centres, COBSEO members and veteran families, the training will equip participants with skills to identify warning signs, intervene effectively, and reduce stigma around mental health and suicide among veterans. Ged continues: “Suicide prevention is everybody’s business and through this training for those who work with and support veterans we will be spreading greater awareness and ultimately help to prevent the tragic loss of veteran’s lives.” Safe community spaces to promote mental wellbeing Taking a different approach, a UK-wide veterans’ sheds project from UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) is providing safe, welcoming spaces in local communities where veterans can come together to connect, create and converse. Research gathered by the UKMSA Health and Wellbeing Survey 2023 suggests 39% of Shed Leaders believe their Shed may have prevented at least one member from taking their life. UKMSA Shed communities reduce feelings of isolation, promote mental and physical wellbeing, and provide enormous benefits not only to those directly involved, but also the wider community. Many veterans already participate at men’s Sheds nationwide and have shared stories of how Sheds have changed their lives for the better. With their EPVS award, UKMSA will recruit a dedicated Armed Forces Lead into its existing Shed Development Team to focus on maximising the benefits of Sheds for veterans and those leaving the armed forces. UKMSA will work with partners, including the Royal British Legion, a volunteer network and the wider community to seed new Sheds and introduce an Armed Forces Accreditation Scheme to better support the military community in existing Sheds across the UK. Amy Robinson, UKMSA's Head of Operations and a RAF veteran said: “Men’s Sheds have long been a source of community and support for veterans, and we are proud to now be able to provide support specifically focussed on the armed forces community. This funding allows us to better inform, signpost and guide groups in the creation of new Sheds and welcoming spaces for veterans, reservists, and current military personnel soon to leave the armed forces. We know it will save lives.” A network of collaborative support across the UK These are just two of the 18 projects across the UK supported through EPVS earlier this year. Ranging from peer mentor training in Wales to an adventure-based therapy programme in Northern Ireland, from specialist housing and financial support in Scotland to a holistic wellbeing project that will use football as a catalyst in the North East of England, there is a wide range of work underway. EVPS was developed in direct response to findings from the Trust’s successful One is Too Many (OITM) programme which aimed to reduce suicide risks within vulnerable veterans in a co-ordinated and targeted way. OITM successfully improved mental health and wellbeing in veterans, with lifesaving implications. But there is always more that can be done. The programme evaluation highlighted three key areas which needed focus; addressing mental health wellbeing, help-seeking and stigma within the Armed Forces community, supporting staff and volunteers who work with vulnerable beneficiaries, addressing the needs of under-represented groups. EPVS was designed to meet all three of these needs. Working together to make a difference Collaboration is central to this programme, widening the potential reach and benefits of each project. The Trust are building connections between funded projects at round tables across the UK. These valuable events provide an opportunity for projects to connect, alongside Thrive Together leads, to understand what’s happening in their region, talk about their plans, and share best practice and resources. The first of these has already taken place, bringing together Northumberland County Council, UK Men’s Sheds Association, and DMWS (Thrive Together Lead for North East and Yorkshire) to discuss the veteran landscape in their region and ways to enhance future collaboration. More are planned across the UK in the coming months. EPVS programme lead Steven Inman said: “The high number of applications we received shows just how much awareness there is of this issue and how many organisations across the country are ready to take action. “While we could not fund every initiative, we’re encouraging all those who applied to stay connected with the Thrive Together programme. By working together, we can find lasting solutions to this complex and important challenge.” Find out more For a full list of all awardees from the Embedding Prevention of Veteran Suicide programme, visit the Trust’s website www.covenantfund.org.uk Keep up to date with funding opportunities For the latest updates and announcements on Covenant Fund programmes, and any other funding opportunities the Trust has available throughout the year, sign up to their e-newsletter via their website www.covenantfund.org.ukhttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/b/announcements/posts/support-for-families-serving-overseasThu, 01 May 2025 14:19:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:5cc536b4-eee2-4830-a7a1-4ed928cf3d44RN Forum ModeratorThe Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has awarded over £600,000 to support Families serving overseas. According to UK defence personnel statistics up to April 2024, around 5,700 armed forces personnel were stationed overseas. 4 While the majority (66%) were posted within Europe, other key regions included North America, North Africa and the Middle East, and Asia. Following the Trust’s own research and consultation, they launched the Supporting Serving Families Overseas Programme. Now, they have awarded nine projects a share of £127,642, with funding making its way to Spain, the Middle East, Cyprus, Belgium, Italy and more! The projects funded in this round represent a range of support for the whole family. From support for those who have experienced, or are at risk of, domestic violence, to emotional health support for adults and children to help strengthen relationships while overseas. A new posting can bring with it the usual upheaval: packing and moving all your belongings (drowning in moving boxes!), changing schools, changing job, leaving the dentist it took you 12 months to find. But add to that a language barrier, not being allowed to work for the next 2-3 years, having to pay for storage for all the things you can’t take with you, not to mention having to rebuy things you’ll need that won’t work in other countries, and you’ve got yourself an overseas posting! The projects the Trust has supported seek to provide targeted support for families in-location to improve wellbeing and make the transition abroad easier. Parli Italiano? They awarded the Home Away Support Initiative Italy £8,500 to enhance available welfare for families, foster a sense of community in this quite isolated destination and help integrate those living there with Italian life. Staff Sergeant David Skill, Head of lo cations for North of Italy , said: “When people see its Italy, or Spain or wherever, they make some real assumptions in terms of what you’re going to do and what life’s going to be like. People get this picturesque view that you’re going to live in a villa and be by the pool every day! There is a little bit of that in there, but that is not the day-to-day living experience (…) It’s about managing that expectation.” One of the activities they plan to offer to the families they support is Italian lessons. Emily Golding, Head of locations for Northeast Italy, adds: “It’s not a very touristy place to live, so when you go out for dinners and stuff, you do have to speak Italian. It’s just a normal human thing to be able to go to the supermarket or a restaurant and have a conversation. People are keen to develop their language skills but also, it’s a chance to get people together.” But support doesn’t stop there The Trust has also awarded £500,000 to the Army Families Federation to work in partnership with the Naval and RAF Family Federations to implement an evidence-based portfolio of support that incorporates the whole cycle of an overseas posting: from initial contact prior to relocation, to support on arrival and ongoing support during the posting, moving to support with reintegration back to the UK (or another overseas posting), and finally including post assignment learning and feedback. Following an initial externally run discovery phase to engage with families, statutory organisation, other charities and chain of command, the Family Federations will launch a range of support work including early engagement briefings; an overseas employment information hub; a tri-service digital engagement platform to provide families with key posting information and improving communication; and more. The Chief Executives from the Families Federations have released a joint comment: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this four-year grant (…) by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. During this period, we will be launching a series of projects and a research study that will help us inform and support serving personnel and families from all three Services who are going through the cycle of contemplating, serving on, or returning from an overseas assignment. This is a really exciting time for all three Families Federations, and we look forward to working closely with the Trust and the single services on this unique, transformative programme.” A full list of awards made in this latest round are available on the Trust’s website HERE. Are you on the mailing list? Did you know the Trust have a newsletter? Get the latest updates and news straight to your inbox . Sign up via their website (scroll to Application Box down the Home Page) www.covenantfund.org.ukhttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/b/announcements/posts/over-290-000-to-support-those-with-seldom-heard-needs-in-armed-forces-communitiesThu, 24 Apr 2025 19:21:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:5e11dc8c-3ad9-48a2-b1ce-796729d6ce52RN Forum ModeratorEnsuring under-represented voices in armed forces communities are heard is vital. In the latest round of their Hidden Voices programme, the Armed Forces Covenant Trust (the Trust) awarded grants totalling more than £290,000 to 15 projects delivering accessible mental health and wellbeing support for those with seldom heard needs in armed forces communities. These projects will focus on improving access to bespoke support for groups whose voices, opinions or needs are not adequately represented or who face barriers to accessing support services. Trust CEO Anna Wright said: "This programme is all about giving a voice to armed forces communities who may have been overlooked or unheard. Providing tailored, accessible mental health and wellbeing support, these projects will improve awareness and understanding of the of the unique needs of these communities, improving service provision for years to come." Tailored support from those who understand Rees Foundation is dedicated to supporting care leavers in the Armed Forces, a group often unheard and overlooked. Their project, From Care to Command, aims to amplify the voices of this group - raising awareness, providing tailored support and ensuring they can access the guidance and resources they need. Hamish is one of Rees Foundation’s clients. He is an armed forces veteran who grew up in care. “I discovered the Rees Foundation by searching the internet for support. Since connecting, I have found so many like-minded people who have spent time like me in the care system and understand the difficulties I experienced. Also having emotional support, having someone to turn to who understands even now the struggles experienced daily is a lifesaver. It is always a delight to be able to connect monthly with people and being able to talk about issues and be heard and understood freely is also a key part of life for me. “Rees has been, for me, a place I know I can trust and turn to when I have needed someone and has given me confidence to look at the next day to come and feel worthwhile as a person.” With an award of £19,767, Rees Foundation will be able to reach more people like Hamish—offering tailored support, guidance, and resources to help them live fulfilling, purposeful lives, both during and after their time in service. A community of support Meeting the mental health and wellbeing needs of older male veterans in North West England, Preston North End Community and Education Trust will focus on those in care homes who are facing challenges accessing community activity. David Abbott, Armed Forces Coordinator, explains: “Connecting Our Veterans is an early-intervention project supporting the mental health and wellbeing of older veterans in care homes who face barriers to community engagement. Through one-to-one support and group activities the project aims to build resilience, foster comradeship, and improve access to specialist services” Receiving £19,960, Connecting Our Veterans will work closely with a range of organisations to improve pathways into support, creating better mental health and wellbeing outcomes for the veterans they work with. Improving understanding and advocacy Working UK wide, LimeCulture have received £20,000 for a collaborative project which will improve the provision of community-based, accessible mental health support and advocacy for victim-survivors of military sexual violence (MSV). Enhanced training and resources for civilian ‘independent sexual violence advisers’ (ISVAs) will strengthen understanding of the unique needs of victim-survivors within the military and veteran community. In addition, LimeCulture will create a military sexual violence toolkit, co-designed with veterans with lived experience of MSV. Consisting of infographics and easy to understand guidance, the toolkit will be shared with ISVA services UK-wide to improve support for victim-survivors of MSV. Stephanie Reardon, Chief Executive at LimeCulture said: “We are really excited to be part of this critical partnership with the Centre for Military Women’s Research at Anglia Ruskin University supporting Independent Sexual Violence Advisers to provide effective support to armed forces personnel who have been impacted by sexual violence.” Find out more For a full list of all awardees from this round of the Hidden Voices programme, visit the Trust’s website www.covenantfund.org.uk Keep up to date with funding opportunities For the latest updates and announcements on each of these Covenant Fund programmes, and any other funding opportunities the Trust has available throughout the year, sign up to their e-newsletter via their website www.covenantfund.org.ukhttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/b/announcements/posts/service-pupil-support-programme-2025Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:43:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:38cc1e56-f7c8-4f6e-813e-dc4308a5abecRN Forum ModeratorThinking of applying for Service Pupil Support Programme? You have until 30 April 2025 to submit your applications. This programme will offer grants ranging from £5k and £150k for standalone projects lasting up to 2 years, aimed at supporting service children along their educational pathway. To apply, visit the dedicated programme page HEREhttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/b/announcements/posts/reducing-veteran-homelessness-programme-reopens-for-applicationsSun, 23 Feb 2025 13:17:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:d680915a-b924-4cca-95b1-97e227e08e18RN Forum ModeratorThe Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has announced a new round of funding under the Reducing Veteran Homelessness (RVH) Programme in a bid to deliver further sustainable, supported housing options for veterans in need. The Trust is delivering this important programme on behalf of the Office of Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) in support of the government’s ambition to end veteran homelessness and ensure veterans have access to the support they need, including housing. Current findings from the RVH programme Following on from the initial awards made in July 2023, the Trust commissioned Alma Economics to consult with key stakeholders in the housing sector, including those awarded funds in the first round. Key recommendations from this consultation include: A need for increased support for veterans with acute, complex or multiple support needs. Promoting a needs-based approach to support provision. Addressing bottlenecks across the lifecycle of support provision. A focus on partnership working. Both the RVH interim programme evaluation report and the summary of consultation findings are available to read on the Trust’s website. Further funding available Under this new round of the RVH programme, charities, local authorities and registered social housing providers can apply for up to £300,000 towards a project delivered for up to nine months. There is also an opportunity for organisations to apply for an enhanced award of up to a further £200,000 where that work will fill a significant level of unmet need. What applicants will need to show Projects should improve the capacity of services in supported housing to better help veterans with a range of different needs. Full details of the programme priorities are mapped out in a Programme Guidance document available on the Trust’s website. Op Fortitude Funded projects will need to work with Op Fortitude, a UK wide referral pathway supporting homeless veterans or veterans at risk of homelessness, into housing. Find out more Want to know more about applying to the RVH programme? Full details are available at: www.covenantfund.org.uk Application deadline is noon, 31 March 2025.https://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/m/resourcesWed, 09 Jun 2021 10:16:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:dd5a63e7-b384-4825-ba95-1c3271464f2bResources area for the Armed Forces Covenant Topic Areahttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/m/galleryWed, 09 Jun 2021 10:15:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:4ce6806c-fa16-4080-aa8e-095b502f82e7Gallery for the Armed Forces Covenant Topic Areahttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/b/announcementsMon, 24 May 2021 13:06:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:92a68c75-a2d8-40cb-8f43-6a65b2c702echttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/f/forumMon, 24 May 2021 13:06:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:dc3b3e03-1866-4829-816b-a2c6c72f03achttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk/topics/armed-forces-covenant/Wed, 19 May 2021 09:26:00 GMTb28a645c-0ea2-4600-866f-e043a0fddeae:9e2a5bb6-58c3-4f65-b218-62e963d10cb1Find out what the Armed Forces Covenant can offer you. Here you will find useful links into Covenant web pages and regular updates on changes, offers of support from Partners and the Armed Forces Covenant Team.