– Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust makes grant of £300,000 to support wounded, injured and sick Veterans and Service Personnel taking part in Invictus UK Trials in Sheffield.
– The Invictus UK Trials (22-26 July) will be the largest gathering of UK military wounded adaptive sport competitors ever held in the UK.
– Invictus UK is delivered through a partnership of Help for Heroes, the Ministry of Defence and The Royal British Legion
– More funding available for Veterans’ projects through the Positive Pathways Programme.
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has awarded £300,000 towards staging the Invictus UK Trials Sheffield 2019. Delivered by Invictus UK, a partnership between Help for Heroes, the Ministry of Defence and The Royal British Legion, the unique event will see almost 400 wounded, injured and sick Veterans and Service Personnel take part in up to nine adaptive sports, as part of their ongoing recovery from life-changing injuries and illnesses.
The Trust makes grants that support the Armed Forces community and their grant to the Trials will benefit hundreds of wounded Veterans and Service Personnel who use sport as part of their recovery.
Melloney Poole, Chief Executive of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust said:
“We are delighted to make this important grant to support the recovery of Veterans and serving personnel through sport. Opportunities for Veterans to access a wide range of activities that can aid their recovery is vital. With the launch of the Positive Pathways Programme, these opportunities will increase, ensuring more Veterans benefit from improved mental health and wellbeing by getting out and active as part of a worthwhile project.”
Those who compete in the Trials can put themselves forward for consideration to become part of Team UK for the Invictus Games The Hague 2020. Selection in the UK is based on potential recovery benefit, attitude and commitment as well as performance. All competitors, whether selected to represent the UK at the Invictus Games or not, will be offered the opportunity to represent Team UK in different ways, at other sporting events or in local clubs.
Martin Colclough, Chef de Mission for Invictus UK and Head of Sports Recovery at Help for Heroes, said:
“We are very grateful to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for their generous grant, which enables us to support so many wounded Veterans and Service Personnel in rediscovering a sense of purpose. Through the power of sport, the Invictus UK Trials will be a life-changing experience for so many on their recovery journeys.”
In addition to the sport which is being supported by the Trust, there will be numerous other events taking place in Sheffield during the week of the Invictus UK Trials, such as performances of Soldier On, a photography exhibition, The Big Gig opening concert, a jobs fair and numerous other supporting activities. All this is designed to provide a holistic approach to recovery and to showcase the incredible potential of those who are living with complex injuries and illnesses.
The Trust runs the Positive Pathways Programme, where Armed Forces charities can access grants of up to £70,000. Part of the Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, the Positive Pathways Programme funds projects that develop and run activities that support the mental health and wellbeing of ex-Forces. Whether sports, heritage or getting outdoors, projects should be active, and activity based.
Notes to editors
About Invictus UK Trials, Sheffield 2019
The Invictus UK Trials Sheffield 2019, which is delivered through a partnership comprising Help for Heroes, the Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion, will run from 22-26 July, across Sheffield’s top sporting venues and other locations. Over four days almost 400 competitors, supported by their friends, family and carers, will take part in up to nine sports – Archery, Athletics, Cycling, Indoor Rowing, Powerlifting, Sitting Volleyball, Swimming, Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby.
As well as a packed sports schedule, a wider programme of activity will take place across the City, supported by Invictus UK’s delivery partners and Sheffield organisations.
About the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust makes grants to support the Armed Forces community. They manage the grant programmes funded by the Covenant Fund. They also run wider funding programmes that support the Armed Forces community. This includes the £10M Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, which has provided funding for the UK Invictus Games Trials.
The people who benefit from their grants include serving personnel, military families, Veterans and families of Veterans. In some of their programmes, the wider community around a base or in an area with an Armed Forces population can also benefit.
Find out more at www.covenantfund.org.uk
Media contact: Sonia Howe, Director of Policy Sonia.howe@covenantfund.org.uk
About the Positive Pathways Programme
Part of the Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is looking for applicants who have experience of working with and supporting members of the ex-Forces’ community facing a range of mental health and wellbeing issues.
This programme is open to Armed Forces charities/CICs and those with recent experience of delivering substantial projects that support Veterans. To be eligible, organisations should only or mainly support people from the Armed Forces community. Grants of up to £70,000 are available. There is more information in the programme guidance.
Projects must be activity based. This might be:
• sports
• arts/culture activities such as music or theatre
• getting outside, for example gardening activities
• heritage projects such as conservation or archaeology.
More information: http://www.covenantfund.org.uk/positive-pathways-programme/
