skip to main content

The National Lottery Community Fund: Forces in Mind

Archived Advice services Age Aged 26 - 59 years Communities Family and parenting Miscellaneous research Social inclusion Social welfare and poverty Antrim & Newtownabbey Ards & North Down Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Belfast City Causeway Coast and Glens Derry City and Strabane England Fermanagh and Omagh Great Britain Lisburn and Castlereagh Mid and East Antrim Mid Ulster Newry, Mourne and Down Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Large (over £60,000) Medium (up to £60,000) Small (up to £10,000)

Overview

Each year approximately 15,000 people leave the UK Armed Forces and for the vast majority they transition successfully into the civilian world, their lives having been enormously enriched by their time in service. However, some need additional support, and it is these most vulnerable people that Forces in Mind Trust exists to help.

Forces in Mind aims to support the following:

Sustainable change

All their grants and commissions are intended to generate sustained change that improves the lives of ex-Service personnel and their families. They also recognize that it can be as important to know what does not work as what does, and they do not consider such precious funds wasted.

National Focus

They support work that can influence across the UK. They recognise that often it is small, regionally-based initiatives that can produce the most profound and innovative effect, and they will always work with grant and commission holders to develop their plans to ensure that the evidence generated is fully exploited.

Who can apply

They welcome applications from various organizations from small not-for-profit groups and charities to larger institutions such as universities.

What they can fund

  • A project where the proposed outcomes meet an identified need and help achieve FiMT’s Change Model.
  • A project with a clear need which is relevant to FiMT’s Change Model.
  • A project with strong potential to grow or to provide opportunities for replication.
  • A project which can bring about sustainable change.

Outcome Areas

To achieve impact for ex-Service personnel transitioning into civilian life and their families, they fund work across interconnecting outcome areas.

1. Housing: All veterans and their families are able to access good quality, affordable, secure and sustainable accommodation solutions.

2. Employment: All ex-Service personnel and their spouses achieve successful employment outcomes.

3. Health: All Veterans and their families enjoy a state of positive physical and mental health and wellbeing, enabling them to contribute to and benefit from wider society.

4. Finance: All ex-Service personnel and their families achieve an appropriately sustainable and stable financial state according to their circumstances and needs.

5. Criminal Justice: Ex-Service personnel and their families avoid adverse contact with the Criminal Justice System, with effective support being available if needed.

6. Relationships: All ex-Service personnel can access effective support to enjoy positive inter-personal relationships in family, professional and social environments.

7. Enabler: The enablement of measures to promote and support coordinated initiatives benefiting the wider ex-Service community.

For information on grants they have awarded before visit the website

View their overheads policy here