Bfbs

BFBS is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 233480).

BFBS exists to promote the efficiency of HM Armed Forces through services related to entertainment, information, education, welfare and training. It makes grants through the BFBS Welfare Fund, which supports service personnel and their families, and through the BFBS Big Salute, which is kept separate from the Welfare Fund. Total grants from the BFBS Welfare Fund were £377,000.

Priority Areas

BFBS awards grants for amenities, activities and projects that promote the efficiency of the regular and reserve Armed Forces, particularly where they do not generally attract public funds. Its Welfare Fund supports service personnel and their families through projects that improve quality of life and wellbeing, Armed Forces-level and Inter Services sport, and tri-service or major single-service adventurous training expeditions. It gives priority, when necessary, to personnel on operational deployments or living in arduous conditions. Separately, its annual charity-application scheme funds specific projects benefiting serving military personnel, families or veterans. Its giving therefore includes projects proposed through Forces units and projects pursued by eligible charities.

Themes

• Military welfare
• Armed Forces sport
• Adventurous training
• Veteran projects

For Welfare Fund grants, applications go through the applicant’s parent Command headquarters: PJHQ for operational deployments, or Fleet, Land and Air for other cases; the headquarters forwards them with recommendations and additional comments.

Deadlines: Applications are invited each year.

Who can apply:

• Sports Grants: Applications for sports grants will, in general, only be considered for competitive sports undertaken at Armed Forces level and Inter Services competitions.
• Adventurous Training Grants: Grants will be considered in support of tri-service or major single service Adventurous Training (AT) expeditions which have been formally endorsed by the relevant service AT authority.
• BFBS Big Salute Grant
  • Only registered charities with an annual income below £1 million are eligible to apply.
  • Any Charity may apply if the project is specifically funding the military community.
  • Grants will only be awarded to registered charities whose records are up to date and accessible via the charities commission website or Scottish Charity Regulator’s website.

What to send:

• An explanation of the project or activity and justification as to how it will promote the efficiency of the Armed Forces.
• A breakdown of costs, including the amount sought from the BFBS Welfare Fund.
• Confirmation that the project or activity is not an appropriate charge to public funds.
• A statement of other possible sources of non-public funds, including sponsorship.
• The numbers of personnel who will benefit directly from the project or activity.
• An indication of how it is intended to publicise the project or activity, including the range of outlets (such as radio, TV and social media) that will be used for media exploitation.
• Confirmation that the applicant has fully assessed and can, where appropriate, meet any future running and maintenance costs.
• The details of how payment should be made if the grant is approved.
• The name and contact number/email of the Project Officer to whom queries may be addressed.

Applying again: BFBS Big Salute Grant: A charity may submit one application per financial year (April–March). However, charities that have been awarded a grant may only submit one application every third financial year from the year in which the grant was awarded.

What the charity says:

• When necessary, BFBS prioritises support for personnel on operational deployments or living in arduous conditions.
• The Big Salute Committee assesses applications on merit, impact and measurable outcomes.
• A Big Salute project should provide tangible, measurable benefit, realised within a year of grant allocation.
• Big Salute grantees provide regular progress updates to the Grant Committee.
• Big Salute grantees allow the campaign to follow and promote project achievements through BFBS media platforms.