The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has launched the third in its series of new Covenant Fund programmes for 2024/25.

The Embedding Prevention of Veteran Suicide programme will award one-year grants up to £50,000 and two-year grants up to £100,000, for projects which draw upon the key findings from their One Is Too Many programme, and will enable systemic change and long-term, sustainable impact in supporting Armed Forces Veterans with poor mental health, their families, and those who are caring for or supporting them.

The Trust ran a public consultation in 2023, which identified that one of the key areas to focus on was ‘Help Veterans with significant mental health needs’. This Veteran-focused programme will address this aim by supporting projects that meet one or more of the following outcomes:

  • To support staff who work with vulnerable beneficiaries
  • To address mental health wellbeing, help-seeking, and stigma within the Armed Forces community
  • To address the needs of under-represented groups.

The Trust is inviting applications from UK-based registered charities and statutory organisations. Full details are available on their website.

The Trust is particularly seeking applications from organisations looking to collaborate with stakeholders and service providers, to widen the potential reach and benefits of your project and provide a common way which is safe, streamlined, Veteran-centred and holistic in nature.

Anna Wright, Chief Executive at the Trust explains: “Last year, we hosted our Suicide Prevention Conference to launch the findings from the One Is Too Many programme. Amongst the recommendations in the evaluation was the need for additional resources and research.

“The evaluation also found that more work is needed to develop strategies to reach under-represented groups and to encourage help-seeking behaviour. This new programme will take learning from the One Is Too Many programme and make further progress with Veterans in need and their families.”

The programme is now open for applications and the closing date is 12 noon on 2 October 2024.