The RAF Association and Loughborough University have been awarded a grant worth £100,000 to deliver a programme to support the families of injured or sick serving military personnel or veterans.
The funding, awarded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s Family Focus programme, will allow the Association and Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences to deliver the Forces’ Families Resilience Programme, an intensive resilience programme for family members of serving personnel or veterans.
Through a range of wellbeing workshops, physical activities and talks, the programme will help participants build resilience, togetherness and social connections by developing effective coping strategies to navigate their circumstances, reduce loneliness and enhance wellbeing by strengthening social, physical and psychological resilience.
Dr Jamie Barker, programme lead and Reader in Applied Sport and Performance Psychology at Loughborough University said “This funding is a fantastic opportunity to extend the impact of our world-leading resilience work beyond veterans to the wider Armed Forces community. At Loughborough University, we’ve seen first-hand how our resilience programmes can transform lives – helping individuals thrive through the unique challenges of service and post-service life. We’re excited to build on that success and provide tailored support that strengthens wellbeing and social connections for forces families.”
Dr Kristen Clements, Translation Lead at Loughborough University said
“This funding is a vital step in strengthening the wellbeing of forces families. The project team are passionate about creating and delivering practical, evidence-based support that makes a real difference. This project will foster wellbeing, build resilience and ensure families have the tools to thrive and not just cope.”
Anna Wright, Chief Executive of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, said:
“For many families, quietly carrying the weight of service and sacrifice when a loved one is Wounded, Injured or Sick can feel overwhelming. Through our Family Focus programme, we’re looking forward to better connections for families, more accessible advice and support, and a chance to regain confidence that can easily be lost. The RAF Association’s resilience programme will look to provide families with the tools they need to achieve this, and we welcome the opportunity for families to come together and take part in an intensive programme of support.”
Rory O’Connor, Charity Director of the RAF Association, said:
“We’re delighted to be able to expand our resilience programme to the families of Wounded, Injured or Sick serving personnel and veterans. We know from our work that families often play a vital role in providing support to serving personnel and veterans, especially if they’re Wounded, Injured or Sick. It’s essential that we provide programmes like this to ensure forces families have the right tools to help them continue supporting their loved one.”
The Forces’ Families Resilience Programme expands on the success of the Veterans’ Resilience Programme, launched by the RAF Association and Loughborough University in 2022.
Families of Wounded, Injured or Sick serving personnel and veterans interested in taking part in the Forces’ Families Resilience Programme can register their interest by emailing veteransresilience@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk
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