With more than 650 awards over the past five years, the Armed Forces Covenant: Local Grants programme will end after the final round of awards are made this month.
At our recent Breakfast Seminar event to look at the Trust now and in the future, Trust Grants Officer Ian Leckie spoke about the truly local nature of this programme…
I’ve been fortunate to have met so many of those who’ve benefited from Local Grants funding; the after-school clubs, the boxing sessions, the horticultural workshops.
From Serving personnel and their families, to veterans, Service children and those working with and supporting them – though a total funding pot of more than £10.8 million seems enormous, it’s the individual £20,000, or less, awards that show the true impact of this programme; the true test of what can be achieved in support of our community.
Positive impact across the UK
Last summer, I visited an archaeological project in Lincoln where I saw their £20,000 award manifest into new friendships, new skills and knowledge and a hands-on approach to bringing people from the RAF and wider community together, to unearth the remains of ancient dwellings.
Projects with this awesome, positive impact are taking place across the UK thanks to Local Grants funding. Local communities are being positively impacted by this financial support and we’re proud, at the Trust, to say that we do see the names and faces behind the forms.
Equestrian sessions in Northern Ireland, healthy living workshops for veterans and their families in north west England, messy play children’s sessions on the east coast, reading and scrapbooking opportunities in Wales for those with a serving person away from home.
Considering the needs of the Armed Forces community
Now, as the final round of awards approaches, the demand for this funding is as high as ever. It’s never been a better time for us to take stock and consider what the needs of this unique community are today.
Who should we focus on? What local needs are emerging? And above all, how best can we defend those who defend us all?
Our open consultation to discover what a great, new Local Grants programme will look like, for at least the next two years, is currently live.
Help us shape a great new, local programme
We’re urging the Armed Forces community, and those who support them, to take part and tell us what you’d like to see from your local Covenant funding programme.
The more feedback we receive, the more successful we can be in shaping a future Local Grants programme that can continue to support, develop and strengthen the Armed Forces community we’re all so proud of.
