Starting again in a new community can be daunting. Negotiating unfamiliar surroundings, rebuilding support networks and adapting to a different way of life is a familiar challenge for many service families. Relocation is an inevitable part of military life – and it can be stressful.
That is where Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s Serving Families: On the Move programme comes in. The initiative is designed to ease the pressures of relocation and help service families settle more smoothly into their new communities.
The Trust has announced funding for a further six projects in the latest round, bringing the total to 20 projects worth more than £1.5 million. A second funding round remains open for applications, meaning more projects are likely to follow.
These initiatives aim to make relocation easier by offering accessible information and advice, building stronger community links and creating spaces where friendships can grow. The goal is to help families feel welcomed, supported and able to thrive in their new surroundings.
Peer-led support for young people in Scotland
Young people are often among the most affected by relocation. Building new social connections and adjusting to a different environment can be particularly difficult, especially when little or no information is available specifically for them.
Young Scot and Forces Children Scotland have been awarded £44,371 to co-design a tailored package of national and local information for young people from forces families in Scotland. The aim is to ensure they have accessible support when settling into unfamiliar locations.
One forum member described the experience of moving: “When you move it can feel really isolating, sometimes schools and other people don’t think about what’s happening to you.”
The project, called Finding Your Place in Scotland, will provide peer-led information on the Young Scot website, signposting discounts and opportunities to make relocation easier. Forces Children Scotland will work directly with young people representing all three services across the country to ensure their lived experiences shape the project.
New peer-led content will be shared through platforms young people already use, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Spotify and YouTube.
“Forces young people have told us they want practical, youth-led content that supports them through transition,” said Steven Sweeny of Forces Children Scotland and Kirsten Urquhart of Young Scot. “With this new project, we’ll help them settle in, feel at home and thrive within their new communities.”
Strengthening local community connections in Portsmouth
Community integration is key to feeling at home after a move. In Portsmouth, The Parenting Network (TPN) is working to support military families through its Joining Forces project.
The initiative helps families relocating to or deployed in Portsmouth by offering advice, social connection and integration into the wider community.
“We are so delighted that through this funding, The Parenting Network are able to support more forces families who are relocating or deployed in Portsmouth, offering advice, social connection, and integration into the wider community,” said Vicky Chapter, fundraising manager at TPN.
TPN’s approach is family-led, with support tailored to individual needs. The programme acts as a bridge between the forces community and civilian networks, helping families build trusted relationships and access local opportunities beyond military-specific services.
“At TPN we pride ourselves in bringing people together in safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces,” Vicky added. “We want all local families to build essential peer networks in the Portsmouth community and have access to a wealth of opportunities and services to improve their family lives and wellbeing.”
Supporting families through every move
The Serving Families: On the Move programme is one of several initiatives backed by the Trust to ensure military families are not left feeling isolated or unsupported during relocation.
By focusing on practical advice, community engagement and youth-led initiatives, the projects aim to make each move less daunting and help families feel connected from the moment they arrive.
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