Grants awarded by the Veterans’ Foundation to charities and not-for-profit organisations that support the armed forces community across the UK have topped £25 million since 2016.
The Veterans’ Foundation was initiated by retired Major General David Shaw in 2016 to help fund vital projects that assist veterans, servicemen and women, and their families, across various sectors, including mental health and suicide prevention.
The majority of funds raised by the Veterans’ Foundation come from the Veterans’ Lottery, which is played by more than 130,000 people a month, who have a chance to win a jackpot of £75,000. It is believed to be the largest single-cause lottery in the UK.
Additional funds are raised through corporate sponsorship and individual fundraising events.
Since its launch the Veterans’ Foundation has supported more than 500 organisations and 1,000 projects ranging from community hubs, sports, outdoors and wellbeing projects, physical therapy and rehabilitation, homelessness, advice and counselling, training, education and employment.
Grants have typically ranged from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands, but a major grants scheme was launched in September to support charities with growth potential with grants of £100k-£200k.
“When we launched eight years ago we could hardly have imagined that we would go on to provide £25 million to such a range of worthy causes,” said David, the Foundation’s CEO and founder.
“It is a tremendous achievement and testament to the hard work and expertise of our team, whose primary goal is to help our armed forces’ community.
“The needs of that community just grow and grow, as does the request for funds, and we are incredibly proud to be able to support.”
