.We know that people out there are eagerly awaiting the new Covenant Fund and wondering what it is all about. It is currently in development, but we are able to give you a preview of what is to come.
The Covenant Fund will have 4 broad funding themes now and in future years. They are: removing barriers to family life; extra support after service for those that need help; measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the armed forces community to participate as citizens; and non-core healthcare services for veterans.
The themes will shape the fund, and annual priorities will ensure that it stays focussed and current. For 2015/16 these priorities will be projects that support:
•local armed forces community integration projects
•the coordination and delivery of support to the armed forces community
•veterans in the criminal justice system.
To address the priorities, we will make funding available for:
1.small grants up to £20,000, primarily for community integration projects, which will be launched and open to applications in mid August, with a deadline in mid September. The deadline for the second round will be before the end of 2015
2.large grants up to £500,000, for more strategic, higher impact projects (one round this year) which will launch in mid August with a deadline in late September
Decisions on both small and large grants will be made by a national panel based on the recommendations of regional panels.
We have learnt from previous schemes and have made improvements. The new Covenant Fund will be more strategic and more closely targeted at areas of need. It will have new aims, new rules and a new application process.
We know there is demand out there for this funding, so we understand it’s important to get the Covenant Fund running first and foremost, and then to keep consulting, listening, reviewing and improving it month on month and year on year. It is, after all, an annual £10 million which is available in perpetuity.
More information on criteria and eligibility will be publicised in late July, ahead of the launch of the formal application process in mid August.
Watch this space!
More information is at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covenant-fund/the-covenant-fund-is-coming
Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
