Deadline: 23-Jul-25
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is seeking applications under the Serving Families: On the Move Programme to improve the quality of life for newly relocated service families impacted by relocation due to service life.
Projects may deliver help for service families moving to, or settling into, a new location, or to reduce the impact of frequent moves. Service families can experience challenges arising from relocation, including moving away from existing support networks, which may have practical and emotional implications.
They aim to support projects which seek to boost links with local communities, improve access to services, increase opportunities for integration and strengthen family relationships. Activities should offer preventative, and/or early intervention approaches, with an emphasis on health and wellbeing to reduce the impact of relocation for families unfamiliar with their new community.
Funding Information
- You can apply for a grant between £5,000 and £50,000 in total towards a project being delivered over a period of up to 12 months.
Eligible Projects
- They are looking for projects targeted on supporting newly arrived and relocated families with a clear focus on change as they settle into a new area, by addressing one or more of the following outcomes.
- Families in a new posting have more accessible information to support them to settle into a new and unfamiliar location.
- Inform newly arrived and relocated service families of existing statutory and welfare provision.
- Ensure that provision is available and accessible when they need it most to provide support on issues that matter to them.
- Newly arrived families report improved wellbeing by being introduced to and connected with activities provided in their new area.
- Engage service families effectively with a range of existing activities in their local area.
- Raise awareness of existing services, to reduce duplication and simplify access.
- Fewer newly arrived and relocated service families report feeling isolated or lonely and more service families say they have effective support networks.
- Build capacity for service families by increasing awareness of, and improving links and referrals to, existing services and complementing existing welfare provision.
- Enhance wellbeing and mental health support for families through co-produced activities, and improved access to existing support, through collaboration between armed forces and other organisations.
- Families feel more able to navigate the challenges of relocation, because their relationships are stronger.
- Provide early intervention support to prevent issues escalating and help families make informed choices.
- Could include virtual community activities that consider modern family dynamics, such as working families and families without children.
- Families in a new posting have more accessible information to support them to settle into a new and unfamiliar location.
Who is eligible to apply?
- They welcome applications from the following types of organisations:
- Charities registered with one or more of the charity commissions for England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
- Community Interest Companies (CICs)
- Local authorities
- Armed forces units/bases
- Your organisation must be based in the UK and delivery must take place in the UK only.
- The following additional eligibility requirements also apply:
- Charities
- Your organisation must have been registered in the UK (with one or more of the charity commissions for England and Wales, or Scotland or Northern Ireland for at least three years at the time of your application and able to provide published accounts for all three years if requested.
- Your organisation must have a minimum of three unrelated trustees at the time of applying, and, if successful, throughout the life of your grant. This must be verifiable at all times on the relevant charity regulator’s website.
- You must ensure that your organisation’s charitable objects are sufficiently broad enough to allow you to run all elements of your proposed project, regardless of whether you are engaging with a delivery partner or not.
- Local authorities
- Organisations that fall within this category cannot apply for statutory local government delivery work, or for work that has a core focus on the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant/Duty.
- Armed forces units/bases
- Your unit must be based in the UK.
- Your main Point of Contact will ideally be an individual who will remain within the post for the duration of the project.
- They would expect Units that apply to have engaged with, and looking to work in partnership with external organisations who can provide specific services to meet the needs of the targeted group. These do not need to be armed forces specific organisations.
- If your application is successful they will require the authorisation of your CO/OC or equivalent when you accept the grant offer. This is to ensure that they have buy in for the project and commitment to its delivery.
- CICs
- Your organisation must have been incorporated in the UK for at least three years and you must have submitted three years’ of accounts to Companies House at the time of applying.
- Your organisation must have a minimum of three unrelated directors at the time of applying, and, if successful, throughout the life of your grant, and this must be verifiable at all times on the Companies House website. Please note that Company Secretaries cannot be considered as one of your three Directors, unless they have been registered separately as a Director as well.
- Charities
Who cannot apply?
- An individual.
- A charity or CIC which is newly registered.
- A charity or CIC that is based overseas.
- Not-for-profit organisations that are not registered as either a charity or CIC.
- A private or for-profit company.
- Organisations seeking to make a profit from their project. For example, an organisation could not be awarded a grant to develop a training course which it then charges the armed forces community to attend.
- Community organisations that do not fit any of the eligibility criteria, such as a sports organisation which is not a charity or CIC.
- Schools, regardless of their charitable status.
- An Academy Trust.
- Childcare providers (including early years).
- Independent (fee-paying) schools including boarding schools, regardless of their charitable status.
- Universities and other further or higher education institutions.
For more information, visit The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
