Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Empowering Bereaved Military Families Programme

Overview

• Single grant of up to £1.8M available
• Project length: Up to four years
• Expressions of Interest in by 2 April 2025
• Achieving long term, transformational change in the non-statutory support provided to bereaved military families.

This programme will offer a single portfolio grant of up to £1.8 million, to achieve long term, transformational change in the non-statutory support provided to bereaved military families.

Eligibility

They welcome applications from registered charities.

Charities that do not have substantial recent experience working with the Armed Forces, but who may be experts in supporting bereaved communities, are welcome to apply. They’re looking for organisations that have expertise on the issue of supporting the bereaved community.

In addition, they expect the successful organisation to have the necessary skills to coordinate the expertise each delivery partner will bring. This will include expertise from both military and non-military organisations, as well as those supporting different types of bereavement, to ensure the portfolio can fully meet the varied needs of the bereaved military community.

See Guidance for further details.

What’s available

You can apply for a grant of up to £1.8 million towards a project being delivered over a period of up to four years.

They anticipate that elements of the project will run at varied paces and timeframes during the duration of the grant.

Themes and priorities

They are expecting this project to deliver systemic change, demonstrating an intent for long term transformation, which extends much further than the initial beneficiaries and the organisation receiving the grant.

Projects will be expected to meet all of the following outcomes, which have been designed based on the recommendations raised within the research report.

• Bereaved military families, including wider family members, feel it’s straightforward to access mental health support throughout the stages of grief.  
• Bereaved military families feel that support is equitable, inclusive and holistic, regardless of the nature of bereavement.  
• Bereaved military families feel a sense of connection to the community, should they wish to retain that.  
• Strong collaboration between organisations working to support bereaved military families, and commitment to this as a sustainable way of working together.  
• Better access to holistic packages of support, combining peer-led and professional support.  

They will expect projects to provide support across the UK.