Aims/Priorities: This is a collaborative programme which requires that projects involve partnership between armed forces organisations and specialist non-armed forces organisations.
The focused is on improving access to appropriate mental health and wellbeing support for underrepresented groups within the armed forces community through tailored interventions that respond to identified barriers, needs and experiences. The funder is seeking projects that understand the barriers people face and have designed their support around those barriers, needs and experiences.
There is particular interest in projects supporting specific cohorts within the following groups:
- Female personnel
- Neurodivergent personnel
- LGBTQ+ personnel
- Ethnic minority and non-UK personnel
- Service children with SEND and their parents
- Serving and ex-serving personnel (or their partners) with caring responsibilities
- Bereaved service families
- Early service leavers and those experiencing unexpected or abrupt transition.
Projects must contribute to the following two outcomes in a way that is proportionate to the strand being applied to:
- Underrepresented groups in the armed forces community are more able to access mental health and wellbeing support, because the project has removed or responded to previously unmet need.
- Learning and understanding of the barriers, needs and experiences of underrepresented groups within the armed forces community is increased, shared and applied to improve support, practice and collaboration.
There are two strands:
- Strand 1: Test and Develop Grants are for organisations that want to test, develop or refine ways to improve access to mental health and wellbeing support for a specific underrepresented group or cohort within the armed forces community. This route is for projects that need space to understand what is getting in the way, test ideas and learn from delivery. Strand 1 projects must clearly address Outcome 1.
- Strand 2: Scale and Strengthen Grants are for larger projects that are ready to grow, improve or strengthen an approach that has already been tested or developed. This is suited to projects that already have learning, evidence or delivery experience behind it. Strand 2 projects must address both programme outcomes.
Who can apply: Applications will be accepted from:
- UK‑based registered charities which have been registered with one or more of the charity commissions for England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, for at least three years at the time of application.
- Community Interest Companies (CICs) which at the time of applications, have been incorporated in the UK for more than three years, have a minimum of three unrelated directors, and Articles of Association that include a named asset lock beneficiary organisation.
- Local authorities.
Applicants must plan to work in partnership with other organisations. The partnerships should help the project achieve better outcomes for the people it supports. For example, this could include a specialist charity working with an armed forces organisation, or an armed forces organisation working with a specialist charity or local authority.
Organisations may submit more than one application, as long as each application is for a clearly different project and the projects do not overlap.
Grant amount: Grants of between £20,000 and £300,000 are available through two different strands:
- Strand 1: Test and Develop Grants of £20,000 to £40,000 for two-year projects.
- Strand 2: Scale and Strengthen Grants of £150,000 to £300,000 for projects lasting two to three years.
Application process: Guidance notes and other useful documents as well as the online application portal are available on the Armed Forces Covenant Trust website.
Deadline: 28 October 2026 (12 noon).
Contact info: info@covenantfund.org.uk
Website: Reveal and Respond programme - Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust