Aims/priorities: The funding is for projects supporting serving personnel and their partners or children; veterans, reservists, and their families.
Projects must work to address one or more of the following main programme outcomes:
- Victim-survivors from armed forces communities have clear routes to access support, including the ability to recognise and report domestic abuse.
- Perpetrators of domestic abuse within armed forces communities recognise and are accountable for their harmful behaviour and engage with opportunities for meaningful change.
- Incidences of domestic abuse within armed forces communities are prevented through measures which address emerging and current challenges.
- Sustainable improvements and adaptations are made to service provision to meet the evolving support needs of victim-survivors from armed forces communities.
There are two additional, optional outcomes and proposals are welcome which address one or both of the following:
- People in the armed forces community facing additional barriers, stigma or marginalisation can access bespoke interventions which meet their needs and increase their safety and wellbeing.
- Organisations work collaboratively through formal partnerships, using shared or complementary expertise to improve project quality, reach, and effectiveness. Projects must support veterans who are at risk of experiencing homelessness, currently homeless, or are being supported by transitional housing services.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from
- UK‑based charities which have been registered for a minimum of three years
- Local authorities
- Combined authorities
Applications should be led by specialist charities or local authorities with relevant expertise in domestic abuse as these organisations are considered to be the best placed to meet the programme's requirements around governance, safeguarding and risk management.
To be eligible:
- Registered charities must have strong and recent experience of working on domestic abuse and be able to prove this experience. Ideally, this work should also be reflected in the charity's governing document. (Charities without experience of working with the armed forces community can still apply. However, they must work with one or more organisations that do have clear experience of supporting members of the armed forces community.)
- Local authorities or combined authorities who are the lead applicant must show how they will work with specialist organisations. These partners must bring strong knowledge of domestic abuse and understand how it affects the armed forces community. Local authorities and combined authorities must also show that the project is additional to the work they already have a legal duty to do, including under the Covenant Legal Duty.
Applicants will need to show:
- They have the skills and experience necessary to carry out their project.
- How their project complements or builds on other work (duplicate projects will not be funded).
- How the people that will be supported have helped to shape the project and the way it will be delivered by using their lived experience.
Grant amount: Between £100,000 and £250,000 are available to support projects being delivered for two years.
Application process: The programme guidance, FAQs, application questions and online application portal can be found on the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust website.
Contact the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for further information.
Deadline: Wednesday, 23 September 2026 (12 noon). Notification of decisions by the end of December 2026.
Contact information: Email: info@covenantfund.org.uk
Website: Free From Fear programme - Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust