The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has awarded £511,073 in their second round of the 2021/22 Armed Forces Covenant ‘Force for Change‘ programme grants. In this round, the programme has awarded individual grants of up to £10,000 for community projects. All the projects are designed to reduce isolation and promote integration; supporting post-Covid recovery in local Armed Forces communities affected by isolation.
The Trust has funded a wide range of projects under the ‘Force for Change‘ programme, each project having to fit under one of two main themes. The first theme was that a project must empower an Armed Forces community to become more engaged in their local area. The second theme, a project must provide opportunities for isolated members of the Armed Forces community to take part in activities that improve general wellbeing.
Reducing isolation; and helping Armed Forces families
Of the 54 grants that were awarded in this round, £10,000 went to Reading Force for their project ‘Making connections… Reading Force Book clubs’. This new project has been designed as a continuation of the Reading Force’s pilot project which developed relationships between socially isolated and lonely Armed Forces Communities. Through the project ‘Making connections… Reading Force Book clubs’ they will continue to promote social integration through the enjoyment of reading.
Professor Alison Baverstock, Founder and Director of Reading Force said about the funding
“We are so grateful for the financial contribution and general encouragement we receive from the Trust. Within military families, reading together can offset the impact of the many changes we live through, and help keep families safe and well-connected. The book groups you are helping to support have been very much appreciated and helped encourage a return to reading, which is widely recognised as a source of both positive mental health and general wellbeing.”
Gardening for Veterans
Another £10,000 grant was awarded to the Somme Nursing Home in Northern Ireland. The project has been designed to involve and engage veterans, both independent and residents of the home to become engaged with the gardens around the home. It will also include their families, neighbouring reservists and regular units. Participants will create flower and vegetable planter boxes and assisting produce for the home’s kitchens.
Gary Cassells, Executive Director, had this to say about his grant from the Trust’s ‘Force for Change’ programme…
“I am absolutely delighted to receive this award, from the Trust, on behalf of our veterans. This very generous award will allow this project to begin, I am very excited to see how it develops and unfolds.”
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has awarded £511,073 to 54 projects in this second round (2021/22) for the Force for Change programme. All projects are to support Armed Forces Communities in some way.
Find out more
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To view the full list of grants, click here.
