The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) has launched a specialist and targeted funding programme to support people who have been affected by domestic abuse within the serving Armed Forces community.

The Free from Fear programme will award a small number of targeted grants to projects that can show how they will reduce the impact of, or support initiatives that will have a long-term effect in the prevention of, domestic abuse within serving Armed Forces communities.

Applications will need to give clear evidence of the need for their project and why they are confident that their approach will lead to sustainable long-term changes that will remain after the end of their project delivery.

What will this programme focus on?

The Trust ran a public consultation in 2023, which identified that one of the key areas to focus on was ‘ensuring our Armed Forces communities are not disadvantaged’. 

This programme will address both emerging and current challenges within Armed Forces communities, aiming to remove barriers and provide clear pathways for people who have been affected by domestic abuse to access effective support.  The consultation findings are available to read on The Trust website.

The Free from Fear programme will support projects which achieve one or more of the following outcomes:

• Deliver effective, preventative, and educational measures regarding domestic abuse within Armed Forces communities, by addressing emerging and current challenges.

• Provide clear routes, or remove barriers, to enable victim-survivors to access effective support, including the ability to recognise and report domestic abuse.

• Establish long-term, sustainable improvements and adaptation of support to meet the evolving needs of victim-survivors.

Organisations can apply for a grant of between £75,000 and £150,000 in total towards a project delivered over a period of up to two years.

Who can apply?

The Trust is inviting applications from registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs) and Armed Forces bases/units. Full eligibility details are available in the programme guidance document on their website.

What type of project are The Trust looking to support?

The Trust are interested in supporting projects that either focus on preventing domestic abuse or offer effective support for people who have been affected by domestic abuse, creating long-term, sustainable improvements to address the evolving needs of this cohort.

If you apply for a grant, you will need to explain how Armed Forces communities have helped to shape this approach.

The programme is now open for applications and the closing date is 12pm on 16 October 2024. You will receive a decision before end of December 2024.

Anna Wright, Chief Executive at the Trust said:

“Our Free from Fear programme is dedicated to addressing the impact of domestic abuse while promoting long-term preventative measures. We aim to implement sustainable initiatives that can support long term change and improvement in a complex area.” 

Find out more

Full details of this new programme, including full eligibility and how to apply, can be found on the Trust’s website: www.covenantfund.org.uk

Keep up to date with funding opportunities

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