This fund is now closed.
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (AFCFT) has announced the launch of a £3M emergency programme – the Veterans Should Not Be Forgotten Programme (VSNBF) – as part of their Covid-19 response. All Members should have received an email announcing this on Tuesday 7 April from Caroline Wood, Head of Membership & Finance.
The programme is funded by HM Treasury from the new £10M Veterans Fund announced in the March Budget, and the AFCFT website carries some further details (including current and future funding programmes) at: https://www.covenantfund.org.uk/covid-19-response/
Cobseo has been appointed as one of three trusted partners in the delivery of the VSNBF emergency programme, which has been targeted specifically at small / local organisations providing direct support to vulnerable veterans in their local area (larger organisations will not be eligible to apply to this particular programme).
In summary, grants will be issued for up to £20,000 for a six-month project focused on supporting veterans who are isolated and unable to access services or have limited social contact during the period of self-isolation and restrictions relating to the pandemic. Eligible Cobseo Members who deliver local support projects to beneficiaries, and who have seen an increase in demand for services, or small organisations who are working to move current services provided online as an example, are encouraged to consider applying to the programme. We would be grateful if larger members who are not eligible for the funding could alert any smaller Members who deliver services locally and would be eligible to the programme details. Additional information can be downloaded using the following links:
- VSNBF – guidance (contains assessment guidance)
- VSNBF – overview
Applications will have to be submitted by 30 April and grants will be awarded by the end of May. We would like to provide as much help as we can to anyone who is thinking of applying – especially as so many of our Members have so much additional work at the moment – so if you think you could qualify for this funding, please get in touch with our Positive Pathways Programme Coordinator, Rachel Price here, or Natalie Chambers here, who will be able to guide through the application process. Whilst the final decision on funding will be made by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, we want to help as many Members to apply as we can so please get in touch for dedicated help from Rachel for your application.
