Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

Charity Number: 1177627

Annual Expenditure: £10.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £10 million
  • Success Rate: Competitive (oversubscribed programmes)
  • Decision Time: 2-4 months (varies by programme)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £1,800,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide

Contact Details

  • Website: https://covenantfund.org.uk
  • Email: info@covenantfund.org.uk
  • Phone: 020 7154 1725
  • Address: 3rd Floor, 3 Wellington Place, Leeds LS1 4AP
  • Pre-application support: Online eligibility checker available

Overview

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust was established in May 2015 as a charity and non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. With £10 million annual funding from LIBOR funds, the Trust delivers the nation's covenant promise to Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and their families. Operating under a new £30 million three-year funding framework (2024-2027), the Trust focuses on four key themes: non-core healthcare services for veterans, removing barriers to family life, providing extra support for those needing help, and integrating military and civilian communities. The Trust is led by Chair Hans Pung and Chief Executive Anna Wright, with an experienced Board of Trustees making funding decisions based on rigorous assessment processes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Armed Forces Families Fund Early Years: £5,000 - £80,000 (enhancing early childhood education for military families)
  • Service-Related Separation Support: £5,000 - £50,000 (mitigating impact of family separation)
  • Relocation Support Programme: Up to £50,000 (supporting newly relocated service families)
  • Major Capital Grants: £75,000 - £500,000 (veteran housing refurbishment and new builds)
  • Fulfilling Futures Programme: £50,000 - £300,000 (veteran wellbeing and support)
  • Bereavement Support: Up to £1.8 million (single portfolio grant for bereaved military families)

All programmes operate through specific deadlines with online applications via grants portal.

Priority Areas

  • Mental health and wellbeing support for Armed Forces community
  • Family support services addressing separation and relocation challenges
  • Housing solutions for veterans with complex needs
  • Early years education and childcare for military families
  • Integration support for military and civilian communities
  • Bereavement and trauma support services

What They Don't Fund

  • Core statutory services that should be provided by other agencies
  • Projects not specifically benefiting the Armed Forces community
  • Retrospective funding for completed projects
  • Individual grants to service personnel or veterans
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Governance and Leadership

The Trust operates with a skilled Board of Trustees including Chair Hans Pung and Chief Executive Anna Wright. The Board includes trustees with diverse expertise including Helen Helliwell (Chair), Victoria Wilson (Deputy Chair and Audit & Risk Committee Chair), and Wendy Cartwright. The Trust actively recruits additional independent trustees to strengthen governance. Decision-making follows a rigorous process where the experienced grants team assesses all applications, with assessments moderated before Board review to ensure balanced evaluation and standard approach to funding decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Begin with online eligibility checker before applying
  • Select appropriate programme from current open offerings
  • Submit applications through dedicated online grants portal
  • Each programme has specific guidance documents that must be read carefully
  • Applications assessed by grants team with Board making final decisions

Decision Timeline

  • Expressions of Interest: Typically 4-8 weeks for initial decisions
  • Full Applications: 8-12 weeks from submission to final decision
  • Notification: Email confirmation of outcomes
  • Timeline varies by programme with specific deadlines published for each funding round

Success Rates

Programmes are typically oversubscribed with limited funding available. The Trust states that "many of the Trust's funding programmes can be oversubscribed and Trustees cannot fund all good project ideas." Only the strongest applications that best meet programme criteria and demonstrate value for money are funded. Trustees use discretion to ensure good geographical spread and differentiate between fundable projects.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in future rounds of the same programme or resubmit applications with additional information. Some programmes offer opportunity to reapply with enhanced proposals addressing feedback received.

Application Success Factors

The Trust emphasizes several key factors for successful applications:

  • Beneficiary engagement: Projects must demonstrate “buy in from beneficiaries”
  • Clear alignment: Applications must clearly align with specific programme outcomes
  • Value for money: Trustees prioritize cost-effective projects with strong impact
  • Deliverability: Projects must demonstrate realistic timelines and capacity
  • Geographical consideration: Trustees ensure balanced national portfolio
  • Evidence base: Strong data supporting need and proposed approach
  • Partnership working: Collaborative approaches often favored
  • Sustainability planning: Clear plans for project continuation beyond funding period

The Trust notes that “funding is limited, so only the very best projects will be funded” and advises that “many applications in previous years would have been better served looking elsewhere for funding.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Programme alignment is critical: Carefully match project to specific programme outcomes rather than trying to fit multiple programmes
  • Use the eligibility checker: This prevents wasted effort on ineligible applications
  • Demonstrate military connection: Clear evidence of how project specifically benefits Armed Forces community
  • Show beneficiary involvement: Evidence of community engagement and buy-in from those who will benefit
  • Competitive landscape: Expect strong competition with only strongest applications funded
  • Geographic spread matters: Trustees consider national portfolio balance in decision-making
  • Value for money focus: Cost-effectiveness and impact measurement are key evaluation criteria

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