This new programme will provide funding for innovative and new ways of working to reduce serious stress in veterans, their carers and families by funding a small number of projects that will enable charities and health professionals to work together to develop and try new ideas that they have developed with veterans and their carers and families.
The full guidance and application questions for the programme are available on their website.
While interested organisations have until the end of the year to submit an application, with a programme closing date of 31st December 2018; the Trust has announced that through this programme they will make grants to Single Lead Organisations who will manage a portfolio. The work within this portfolio will support the beneficiaries, who are veterans that are very unwell, their carers and their families. The Trust anticipates funding only around 5 of these portfolios, 2 in England, and one each in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with grants in the region of £300,000- £700,000. The challenge for organisations at this stage is to identify others that they could work with, either within the portfolio or in developing the bid as a single lead organisation. More information is available in the guidance, and the Trust is hosting a WhatsApp group for organisations interested in this programme to network. More information about this is available on their website.
Sonia Howe, Director of Policy at the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust said;
“We are looking for good ideas from organisations that will support veterans who are very unwell. The consultation showed us that people want us to encourage good partnership working. If you are interested in applying, the important task at this stage is to read our guidance; and identify other organisations that you can work with”.
The programme will support projects where there is good evidence to suggest that the idea might produce outcomes for veterans and their carers and families that are better than current sources of support on offer, and all of the grants will be evaluated by the University of Chester. This will help to identify new ways of working which are particularly effective in supporting veterans who are very unwell, as well as their carers and families. Nearly 90 individuals and organisations contributed to the consultation; and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has published a report on the findings.
Picture: How the Tackling Serious Stress Programme will be delivered.
