Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Fulfilling Futures Programme 2024/25

Overview

Background

The Trust released its three-year Covenant Funding Framework in April 2024. Their Framework, and the subsequent programmes, were developed based on insights from our public consultation; stakeholder meetings, which included representatives from the single Services; intelligence from sector research, policy papers and the Trust’s own programme evaluations and grant monitoring.

The Trust’s Funding Framework is centred on enhancing quality of life, ensuring that Armed Forces communities are not disadvantaged, providing support to those requiring special consideration, and addressing complex needs by identifying effective solutions. Explore their 24-27 Funding Framework here.

This programme fits under the theme of ensuring Armed Forces communities are not disadvantaged. It aims to support Veterans who have experienced demonstrable and considerable challenges during their Service, with a specific cause, which has created a barrier to, or compromised their ability to have, a fulfilling Service journey.

This is a specialist, targeted programme and funding will only be granted to projects where the need has been established through a particularly robust evidence base.

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from:

• Regisitered charities
• Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Local authorities
• Statutory organisations

Charities and CICs which do not have substantial recent experience of working with the Armed Forces community can apply. They 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 do have substantial recent experience of working with Armed Forces communities or which are Armed Forcesspecific. They will ask you about this in the application form.

Local authorities and other statutory organisations will be expected to work in partnership with other relevant organisations. If you are a statutory body, it is essential that you show that all proposed activities are additional to your statutory responsibilities. Work must be over and above your existing work to meet the Armed Forces Covenant Duty. They will ask about this in the application form. If you are considering forming a partnership, please see the ‘Working with other organisations’ section below.

Additional eligibility requirements also apply: see Guidance.

What’s available

You can apply for a grant of between £50,000 and £100,000 for a project lasting 12-18 months in duration which meets at least one programme outcome

or

You can apply for a grant up to £300,000 for a project lasting three to four years in duration which meets all the programme outcomes.

Applications for £50,000-£100,000 towards projects of 12-18 months in duration will be expected to meet at least one programme outcome. These projects may also have the following characteristics.

• Targeted in a defined geographic area.
• Supporting a smaller number of beneficiaries with clearly defined needs.
• Wanting a smaller amount of money to test and pilot a new approach.
• Where the proposed project is proportionate to the size and experience of the applicant organisation.

Applications for up to £300,000 for projects which will take place over three to four years will be expected to meet all programme outcomes. These projects may also have the following characteristics.

• The ability to reach a significant proportion of the target community.
• Where the organisation has experience of managing large and complex projects.
• Where the project activities support demonstrable, long-term, sustainable change.
• Where the proposed project is proportionate to the size and experience of the applicant organisation.

Themes and priorities

They want to support pilot projects or new approaches that will support and improve the lives of specific communities of Veterans who have been negatively impacted by issues in relation to their Service.

Your project will need to achieve one or more of the following outcomes:

• Veterans’ experiences are acknowledged and understood, enabling them to positively progress on their recovery journey.
• Veterans’ isolation will be reduced and quality of life improved, through gaining access to effective support.
• Veterans can build a positive connection with the wider Armed Forces community and access support in the future, should they wish or be able to access other support mechanisms that are most relevant to them.

An example of a community with specific needs that could be supported under this programme is the LGBT+ Veteran community who served before the year 2000.

Application notes

• A strong project will be future-focused, positive and life affirming.
• Projects may include, but are not limited to, the provision of information, advice and guidance; therapeutic recreational activities; peer support, coaching and mentoring; training Veterans to become providers of coaching and mentoring; and other activities which will help beneficiaries to overcome any negative impacts associated with Service.
• The beneficiary cohort should be involved in the development and design of the project content. Involvement could be through membership of your organisation’s governing body, project steering group or focus groups and other structured consultation activities.
• Clearly show them that you have the skills and experience necessary to carry out your project. This can include working with other organisations.
• Applications will need to demonstrate that your project is needed and targeted, user-led, and has lasting impact.
• They want to fund projects with sustainable benefits. This means that they are interested in what will happen in the long term, after your funded project has ended. The application form will ask questions about sustainability which are relevant to the individual grant programme.