In the latest round of grants, 13 projects have received funding across the UK and overseas. The projects aim to improve understanding of Service partners and spouses; addressing their needs and the challenges they encounter as their family transitions to civilian life.

Improving access to education, training, and qualifications

Milspo Network CiC have been awarded £33,000 for their two-year project ‘Launch Accelerator Business Course’. The course has been designed and will be delivered by experienced entrepreneurs from within the military spouse community who understand the challenges faced. By the end of the course, participants will launch their own sustainable business with the support of ready built network of peers.

Director, Jessica Sands, told us:

“Milspo is so pleased to have received the support of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, which will enable us to deliver our Small Business Accelerator course to military spouses, partners, and other halves from across the Armed Forces world.

“Military families are the heart of the UK Defence community, and their support to our serving personnel should never be underestimated. However, we know that, as military partners, we face unique challenges. The bespoke, fully accessible support that this course provides will help our community to not only survive but thrive in a modern military world.”

Access to knowledge and information

Voluntary Action Leicestershire will offer employability support and volunteering opportunities to Armed Forces partners and spouses via their Supporting Partners – Education, Employment and Development (SPEED) project. This one-year initiative has secured a grant for £64,348 to facilitate positive strides towards new opportunities. The project aims to increase awareness of the skills, experiences and potential of partners and spouses among local employers and stakeholders within the Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) cluster area.

Sector Support Lead, Doctor David Arron Cliffe, said:

“Voluntary Action Leicestershire is thrilled to have been awarded funding for our Supporting Partners into Education, Employment and Development Project to support partners of Armed Forces personnel across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.

“This funding will allow us to provide direct employability support to local people who are partners of Armed Forces personnel, but also allow us to undertake some targeted work to raise awareness of some of the locals’ challenges and to explore some solutions and the possibilities for partners to be supported to realise their personal career goals. We already have a strong partnership with other local organisations but look forward to building stronger connections through this new project.”

Embedding skills and experiences to bring to the workplace

Army Families Federation (AFF) have been awarded £72,600 for their project ‘Delivering Positive Futures for Partners.’ By implementing several recommendations from the Positive Futures research report, the project aims to offer Service partners clear and easy access to effective employment support. This project will extend reach and sustainability while also establishing an evidence base and partnerships for future delivery of long-term recommendations in spousal employment support.

AFF Employment & Training Specialist Lucy Ritchie said:

“AFF is delighted to have been awarded funding for the Delivering Positive Futures for Partners project. The award will ensure that Forces Families Jobs provides the best possible support to Forces families at all stages of their career development. This project will further develop the online platform, bringing together employers committed to the Armed Forces Covenant and military partners on their journey to find employment and training opportunities that fit with Forces life.”

Sonia Howe, Director of Policy at the Trust, said:

“It is right for us to turn the focus onto the needs and challenges of military spouses and partners. Collectively, these awards will improve access to employability skills and knowledge that can make a real difference to partners, no matter what they are seeking; be it new employment, filling a skill gap, or finding opportunities that take into account the unique challenges that come with being part of the Armed Force community.”

Find out more

Check out the full list of awards made in this latest round on their website www.covenantfund.org.uk.

Keep up to date with funding opportunities.

For the latest updates and announcements on funding opportunities the Trust has available throughout the year, sign up to their e-newsletter via their website www.covenantfund.org.uk