The Armed Forces Covenant Fund

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund The Covenant Fund - £10M per annum in perpetuity. It has 4 broad funding themes now and in the future. 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; Non-core healthcare services for Veterans.

The Covenant Fund so far Awarded 231 grants to date Committed funds totalling £10m in 2015/16 £1.5m so far in 2016/17 with the remainder being announced late Feb/early March Covenant in Business

The Covenant Fund so far … Organisation: The Venture Trust Project: Positive Futures Grant awarded: £315,064 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Project: The co-ordination and delivery of support to the Armed Services community Grant awarded: £391,820

The Covenant Fund Small Grants so far… The Small Grants priority (up to £20,000) has provided funding for a multitude of projects

The Covenant Fund Small Grants so far… Organisation: Army Welfare Service Northern Ireland Project: HEROS Programme (Hockey Education Reaching Out to Society) Grant awarded: £19,612 Organisation: The Regimental Charity of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. Project: The Lions of England – commemorating the past, celebrating the future. Grant Awarded: £12,000

The Covenant Fund Small Grants so far… x Organisation: Rosie Kay Dance Company Ltd Project: 5 Soldiers- The Body is The Frontline Scottish Tour and Community Engagement Programme Grant awarded: £18,000 Organisation: AF&V Launchpad Ltd Project: Transport for Veterans (Newcastle) Grant awarded: £20,000

The Covenant Fund Small Grants so far… Organisation: Royal Caledonian Education Trust Project: Forces Kids Live – But it’s Not Just Soldiers Who Go Away Grant awarded: £19,480 Organisation: MediaActive Projects/MAC Arts Centre Project: Shock and Awe Grant awarded: £18,023

The Covenant Fund awarded in the South East… 2015/2016 Small Grants Awards 23 in total including the following Gurkha projects: Organisation - Reading Ex British Gurkhas – Project - REBGA Gurkha Community Support Worker - £14,560 Organisation - Rushmoor Healthy Living – Project - We are Gurkhas! - £19,860 Organisation – Hampshire Cultural Trust – Project – Gurkha Connections - £20,000 2015/2016 Large Grants Awards 5 in total but region incorporated in a number of national bids 2016/2017 Small Grants Awards so far. Large Grants to be announced shortly 13 in total including the following Gurkha projects: Organisation - Maidstone Gurkha Nepalese CIC – Project – South Park Pavilion Community Hall - £20,000

The Covenant Fund Spread the word Improve the quality of applications Understand why applications fail So how can we make sure that great projects get funded? What Makes a Good Bid? Is this a good project? Does it fit with local priorities? (communicate with your Local Authority Armed Forces Lead Officer to confirm endorsement for your project and receive advice and guidance) Are there any risks associated with the bid? Main Criteria How well the project addresses the priority and how it will meet the specific requirements of that priority (Refer to guidance notes on the website) Evidence of the need for the project Engagement, partnership working and collaboration How well the project is likely to be delivered To what extent the project represents value for money To what extent we can have confidence that the project will have lasting impact, delivering changes that last beyond the funding period

The Covenant Fund – what next? Funding programmes for 2017/2018 Families in Stress (Round 2) – Open for applications March 2017 Strengthening Local Government Delivery of the Covenant (Round 2) – Open for applications June 2017 Armed Forces Covenant: Local Grants – Open for applications February 2017 (Small grants up to £20,000)

Measuring the impact Given the life span of the Covenant Fund, we’re looking at how we can develop systems that will enable us to explore and show the impact of the Fund over decades We want these tools to be easy for our grant holders to use, and support our grant holders to be able to show others the great work that they are delivering

The Covenant Fund – Any Questions? Further information on the Armed Forces Covenant Fund can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/covenant-fund You can email the MOD Armed Forces Covenant Fund team at: covenant-grantteammailbox@mod.uk For further information on all aspects of the Armed Forces Covenant visit: https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/