Almost £3M to support systemic change in Armed Forces communities
The
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has awarded almost £3
million to nine transformative projects in this year’s round of the
Covenant Fund Transformational Grants programme.
Continuing the
trend from last year’s awards, the Trust has selected projects which aim
to deliver systemic change within the Armed Forces community in a
variety of different ways.
Each of the funded projects has a
different focus, from supporting older Veterans, to tackling stigma
amongst female Veterans. Mental health and wellbeing outcomes are an
important element of many of the projects, though the ways of taking on
these challenges vary from sports to e-learning, and training to
inclusive programmes of activity and new and improved ways of delivering
services.
Empowering Veterans
Partnering
with the CASEVAC Club of wounded Veterans, the Scar Free Foundation
have been awarded £300,000 to understand and alleviate the impact of
conflict-related genital scarring and loss-of-function. They will
develop evidence-based interventions to diminish the shame, stigma and
embarrassment surrounding these injuries and empower current and future
Veterans to forge fulfilling intimate relationships post-injury.
Lieutenant
General Richard Nugee, Chief Executive, The Scar Free Foundation, said:
“Veterans returning home with life-changing injuries deserve the utmost
in care. Beyond physical wounds, the invisible scars of war
significantly impact mental and emotional health.
With the
generous support of the AFCFT, we are tackling the neglected issue of
conflict-related genital injuries through pioneering, collaborative
research. Our goal is to create tailored psychological support tools to
meet the unique challenges faced by Veterans with genital scarring.
Together,
we are committed to improving the wellbeing of Veterans and supporting
their journey towards healing, recovery and fulfilment.”
Levelling up provision
Burnley
FC in the Community have been awarded £300,000 to expand their Armed
Forces Sports Club Champion programme to share best practice, level up
existing provision, mentor and guide the sports charity sector in
delivering quality projects for the Armed Forces community throughout
the UK. This programme builds on the success of the organisation's work
under the Veterans’ Places, Pathways & People programme, including
the creation of a toolkit to assist in how the Sports Club Champions can
effectively engage the Armed Forces community in activities.
Helen
Gurman, Chief Executive Burnley FC, said: “We're absolutely thrilled to
have secured funding from the Transformation Grant Programme. This
funding will have a significant impact, not only on our own programmes
but also in our ability to mentor and inspire others in the sports
charity sector, sharing our best practices nationwide. We take great
pride in the work we've accomplished and the positive impact we've had
through our Veterans Programme. As we eagerly anticipate the future,
we're excited about the ways we can continue changing lives for the
better!”
Transformative work
Anna Wright, Chief
Executive of the Trust added: “We’re excited to be supporting so many
great projects. This programme seeks to make transformative, systemic
change within the Armed Forces community; we believe each of the nine
projects awarded funding in this latest round has the potential to do
that. We can’t wait to see the positive impact they will have.”
Find out more
The full list of awards made can be found on the Trust’s website www.covenantfund.org.uk
For
the latest updates and announcements on Trust 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.uk
Background:
The
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is a charity and an MOD sponsored NDPB
that manages the grant programmes funded by the Covenant Fund. They
also run wider funding programmes that support the Armed Forces
community.
The Trust makes grants that have an impact on the
lives of Armed Forces communities, including serving personnel, Armed
Forces families, the bereaved, Veterans, and their families.
The
Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who
serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are
treated fairly.
All the grants that we award support the values of the Covenant.
For more information on the Armed Forces Covenant, visit the Covenant website www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk
