Big Lottery Fund: Forces in Mind

Overview

The BIG Lottery Fund is announcing a £35 million FORCES in MIND programme.

BIG’s Lottery good cause funding commitment is the single biggest investment of its kind.

BIG intends to establish an independent trust to provide long-term support and advocacy for those who served in conflicts including Iraq, Afghanistan and the Gulf War. The Trust will draw on the expertise and dynamism of the many charities working in this field and will provide support for those working with veterans to improve their psychological well-being.

Charities and other experts in the field are clear that where the impact of the transition from Forces to civilian life is traumatic it can lead to issues such as depression, family trauma, substance misuse, homelessness and even suicide. It will be the Trust’s challenge to help veterans tackle these issues.

BIG, the largest of the Lottery good cause funders, has been consulting with Service and ex-Service bodies to help identify where it can best meet the needs and build the capacity of organisations supporting ex-Service families. It has been estimated that around 19,000 Service personnel return to civilian life each year.

Chair of the BIG Lottery Fund, Sir Clive Booth announced the funding on 7 March 2010. The programme is one of the new funding programmes developed by BIG for 2010-2015 as part of its Strategic Framework.

Forces in Mind will enable existing organisations that support veterans and their families to improve access to appropriate and relevant services. It will also fund research, awareness raising and advocacy work.