Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) have awarded £149,000 in grants to organisations delivering vital family and relationship support to serving personnel, veterans and their loved ones across the Naval community.
The funding will enable grant holders to provide a range of services including counselling services, family mediation, parenting support, wellbeing programmes and community-based activities that help families strengthen communication, build resilience and remain connected during difficult periods.
Strong and stable home lives are essential to the wellbeing of those who serve, yet Naval families can face a range of pressures, including deployments, periods of separation, caring responsibilities and transitions out of service. Through our Open Grants, RNRMC invests in organisations, charities, and CICs that understand these challenges and are equipped to provide practical, tailored support.
Mandy Harding, Head of Commissioned Grants at RNRMC, said:
” Families are at the heart of the Naval community, and strong relationships make a real difference to the wellbeing and resilience of serving personnel, veterans and their loved ones. We are proud to support organisations that bring people together, offering friendship, connection and practical help when it is needed most. Naval life can be rewarding, but it also comes with unique challenges. Having people to turn to can make those challenges easier to face. Through these grants, we want more Naval families to feel supported, connected and confident, helping them not only manage life’s ups and downs but truly thrive. Together, these projects will make a meaningful difference to Naval families across the UK.”
Among the funding recipients is Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS), who deliver confidential, personalised physical and mental health and wellbeing support to RNRMC beneficiaries in Plymouth. The service will help individuals and families navigate healthcare pathways while supporting positive relationships at home and within their communities.
A spokesperson from DMWS said:
“This funding will enable us to provide tailored support to Royal Navy and Royal Marines beneficiaries, helping families reduce stress, improve communication and feel more connected. By supporting individuals across healthcare pathways and back into their communities, we can help strengthen relationships and improve overall wellbeing.”
Funding has also been awarded to Southampton Families Trust (SFT) to deliver Understanding Each Other Better, a new national online support programme for couples where one or both adults have ADHD and/or autism, whether diagnosed or suspected. The programme is designed to help couples better understand how differences in communication, attention and emotional regulation can affect family life and relationships.
A spokesperson from Southampton Families Trust said:
“Understanding Each Other Better will give couples practical tools and insights to help them navigate the challenges that can arise when ADHD or autism affects family life. We hope the programme will strengthen understanding, improve communication and support healthier relationships within military families.”
Organisations receiving funding:
- Aggies (Storybook Waves Teens)
- Albatross Arts CIC (A Space to Belong: Supporting Military Families Through the Arts)
- Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS)
- Helensburgh & Lomond Carers SCIO (Forces Family Resilience)
- Southampton Families Trust (Understanding Each Other Better)
- The Warrior Programme (Naval Veterans and Families Programme)
- Turn to Starboard (Family Sailing Programme and continuation of its existing project
The grants form part of RNRMC’s ongoing commitment to supporting the people behind the uniform, recognising that strong family relationships contribute significantly to the wellbeing, resilience and long-term success of serving personnel, veterans and their families. RNRMC, Committed, Ready, Alongside.
For more information about RNRMC grants and the organisations supported, visit www.rnrmc.org.uk.
