Office For Veterans' Affairs

Charity Number: CUSTOM_0147D1CF

Annual Expenditure: £8.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £8+ million (varies by year based on specific fund launches)
  • Success Rate: Competitive selection process (specific rates not published)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (typically 2-4 months from deadline)
  • Grant Range: £100,000 - £2,031,374 (varies significantly by program)
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
  • Application Method: Competitive themed competitions (time-limited, not rolling)

Contact Details

Office for Veterans' Affairs

Ministry of Defence

Main Building

Whitehall

London SW1A 2HB

Related Contact:

Veterans UK: veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk

Tel: 08081 914 218

Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-veterans-affairs

Note: OVA funding opportunities are typically announced through competitive calls run via DASA (Defence and Security Accelerator) or the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. There is no general application email for unsolicited proposals.

Overview

The Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA) was established in 2019 within the UK Ministry of Defence to coordinate government efforts supporting veterans across different departments and agencies. While OVA is primarily a policy coordination body, it does commission research, innovation projects, and service delivery initiatives through competitive funding programs. The OVA operates differently from traditional grant-making charities: it does not accept ongoing open applications. Instead, it launches time-limited themed competitions (typically through DASA) or delivers funding programs through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. Major funding initiatives have included the £5 million Health Innovation Fund (2023), various research commissions, and housing support programs. Current leadership includes Minister for Veterans Alistair Carns (appointed July 2024) and Director Anisha Worbs (appointed February 2024). The OVA's funding model focuses on commissioning specific solutions to identified veteran needs rather than responding to unsolicited proposals.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Veterans' Health Innovation Fund (past program - £5 million total)

  • Funded 20 projects in March 2023
  • Individual grants: up to £300,000 per project
  • Focus: innovative health treatments, technologies, and research
  • 12-24 month project timelines
  • Run through DASA competitive process

Major Research Commissions

  • King's College Veterans' Cohort Study: £2,031,374
  • Multiple Imperial College London projects on amputee care and rehabilitation
  • Cardiff University PTSD treatment research
  • Swansea University smartphone app development

Specialized Support Projects

  • Fighting with Pride (LGBT memorial): £350,000
  • Veterans' Gateway: £250,000/year
  • Nuclear Test Veteran Community Fund
  • Female veteran trauma support
  • Employment and IT career support: £100,000+

Housing Programs (administered via Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust)

  • Major Capital Grants: £75,000 - £500,000 for new builds and significant refurbishment
  • Refurbishment Grants: smaller scale housing improvements
  • VALOUR Recognised Centres Development Fund: up to £1 million

Priority Areas

Health and Wellbeing

  • Physical and mental health treatment innovations
  • PTSD and trauma support
  • Blast injury rehabilitation
  • Pain management
  • Hearing and visual impairment solutions
  • Female veterans' health disparities

Research and Evidence

  • Veterans' experiences (ethnic minorities, female veterans, non-UK veterans)
  • Longitudinal cohort studies
  • Technology Readiness Levels 1-6 (early-stage innovation)
  • Translational research with NHS adoption potential

Housing and Homelessness

  • Ending veterans' homelessness
  • Affordable housing with support services
  • Capital projects for veteran accommodation

Employment and Social Support

  • IT skills and career transitions
  • Veterans' Gateway services
  • Community support services
  • Memorial and commemoration projects

What They Don't Fund

  • Ongoing operational costs without specific project outcomes
  • Projects outside the UK
  • Initiatives not specifically benefiting the veteran community
  • Duplicate services already adequately provided
  • Projects without clear innovation or evidence-building components (for research funds)
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Governance and Leadership

Minister for Veterans: Alistair Carns MP (appointed 9 July 2024)

  • Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
  • Works across government departments to coordinate veteran support

Director: Anisha Worbs (appointed 16 February 2024)

  • Leads OVA operations
  • Supports ministerial coordination efforts

Previous Leadership:

  • Johnny Mercer MP served as the UK's first Cabinet-level Minister for Veterans' Affairs (2022), and previously helped establish the OVA in 2019. Mercer stated the elevation to Cabinet level “finally aligns us with our international allies in how veterans are represented across Government.”

Funding Partners:

  • Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) - runs competitive innovation challenges
  • Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - delivers housing and community programs
  • Various university and charitable research partners

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Office for Veterans' Affairs does not accept unsolicited applications or operate rolling grant programs.

OVA commissions work through two primary mechanisms:

1. Competitive Themed Competitions (via DASA)

2. Programs via Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

  • Housing and community support grants
  • Apply through Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust website: https://covenantfund.org.uk
  • Different programs have different deadlines (often multiple rounds)
  • Contact: Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust directly

Eligibility (for competitive calls):

  • Academia (universities and research institutions)
  • Charities and non-profits
  • Micro, small, medium, and large enterprises
  • Consortium applications welcome (must designate lead organization)
  • Proposals must demonstrate clear benefit to UK veterans

Decision Timeline

DASA Competitive Calls:

  • Submission deadline: typically 2-3 months after launch
  • Assessment period: 1-2 months post-deadline
  • Decision announcement: approximately 2-4 months from deadline
  • Contract negotiation: additional 4-8 weeks
  • Projects typically run 12-24 months

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Programs:

  • Varies by specific program
  • Expression of interest phases for capital programs
  • Multi-stage assessment for larger grants
  • Typically 3-6 months from application to decision

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not published. However:

  • Veterans' Health Innovation Fund (2022): received competitive applications, funded 20 projects from £2.7 million pool
  • Assessment described as “rigorous” with steering board review
  • Projects selected based on clear assessment criteria rather than fixed percentages

Reapplication Policy

For DASA competitions:

  • Unsuccessful applicants can reapply to future themed competitions
  • No waiting period between applications to different competitions
  • Feedback may be available on unsuccessful applications (contact DASA help centre)

For Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust programs:

  • Reapplication policies vary by program
  • Generally allow reapplication after improvements
  • Some programs have multiple funding rounds within same fiscal year

Application Success Factors

DASA Competitive Calls - Assessment Criteria

Applications are assessed against five key criteria:

  1. Desirability - Does it address an identified veteran health/support need?
  2. Feasibility - Is the approach technically sound and achievable within timeline?
  3. Viability - Does the team have necessary expertise and capacity?
  4. Value for Money - Are costs justified and reasonable?
  5. Impact on Veteran Health - How many veterans will benefit and to what degree?

Specific Guidance from OVA/DASA

For Health Innovation Fund specifically:

  • “Demonstrate potential for NHS adoption” - solutions must be scalable beyond the research phase
  • “Show number of veterans who may benefit” - quantify your impact
  • Technology Readiness Level 1-6 appropriate - early-stage innovation welcomed
  • Word limits strictly enforced (750 words per section) - be concise and focused

Projects They've Recently Funded:

  • Imperial College London: amputee care innovations using advanced prosthetics
  • Cardiff University: novel PTSD treatment protocols
  • Swansea University: smartphone app targeting co-occurring gambling addiction and PTSD
  • King's College London: longitudinal cohort study tracking veteran health outcomes
  • Fighting with Pride: LGBT veterans' memorial and oral history project

Strategic Approach

Partnership and Collaboration:

The OVA values consortium approaches that bring together academic rigor, charitable sector expertise, and delivery capacity. Many successful projects involve university-charity partnerships.

Evidence Focus:

Director Jessie Owen (previous director) emphasized during site visits that the OVA seeks “evidence-based approaches that can demonstrate real-world impact.”

Innovation vs. Duplication:

OVA specifically seeks solutions to gaps in current provision rather than replicating existing services. Applications should clearly articulate what's novel about the approach.

Minority and Underserved Veterans:

The Health Innovation Fund competition document specifically states: "Welcomes bids addressing minority veterans' needs." Projects focusing on female veterans, ethnic minority veterans, LGBT+ veterans, or other underserved groups are actively encouraged.

Common Success Patterns

Based on funded projects:

  • Clear alignment with specific competition themes
  • Strong academic or research credentials for research projects
  • Demonstrated delivery capacity for service projects
  • Quantified benefits to veteran population
  • Realistic timelines (12-24 months typical)
  • Budget between £100,000-£300,000 for innovation projects
  • Partnerships between different sector organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Monitor for opportunities: OVA funding is time-limited and competitive. Register with DASA and Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to receive alerts about new competitions.
  • Competitive commissioning model: Unlike traditional grant-makers, you cannot apply anytime. Wait for themed competitions aligned with your work.
  • Partnership strengthens applications: Consortium bids bringing together universities, charities, and delivery organizations have been successful. Consider partnerships before competitions open.
  • Innovation and evidence are central: OVA seeks solutions that either innovate (new approaches) or build evidence (research to inform policy/practice). Clearly articulate what's new about your approach.
  • Demonstrate veteran-specific benefit: Generic health or social programs won't succeed. Show deep understanding of veteran-specific needs and how your project addresses them.
  • Plan for 12-24 month projects: Most funding is for time-limited initiatives, not ongoing operational support. Design projects with clear start and end points.
  • Consider Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust route: For housing, community support, or service delivery (vs. research/innovation), the Covenant Fund Trust programs may be more accessible than DASA competitions.

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