We launched a programme of major grants towards the end of this financial year.
We wanted to award funds of up to £200,000 to charities undertaking projects that assist with mental health and wellbeing issues among the armed forces community.
Charities applied in the spring and by the summer we were considering grants of between £100,000 and £200,000 for eight charities across the UK, the first time we’ve donated such large sums.
Scotland-based transport support charity Fares4Free received £167,000 to help fund its Extra Mile project, part of which provides training for its team of qualified outreach support officers, to enable them to better assist beneficiaries facing significant transport barriers.
“Our outreach support officers do so much more than just transport members of the armed forces community and their dependents. They are highly trained and qualified professionals,” said Fares4Free Operations Manager, Leon Fisher.
“Whether they are taking someone to a hospital, a mental health or therapeutic appointment, to visit family, or to attend a community activity or event, our officers are fully engaged with the needs of that individual. The friendly conversations they share en route often provide essential support and help them cope with various challenges.
“It can sometimes be easier for individuals to talk to our support officers, as the interaction feels less threatening and formal than a scheduled therapy session. This approach allows them to arrive at their appointments feeling more relaxed and prepared. That is why it is crucial that our officers receive training to provide the necessary support."
The funds will also contribute towards salaries, so support officers can remain on-hand should the beneficiary needs to leave a session.
“It’s a form of reassurance,” said Leon. “Talking to a friendly person who understands can make all the difference to someone struggling to cope, so this grant will have a huge impact on the lives of our armed forces community in Scotland.”
The largest grant of £200,000 went to Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity that supports bereaved children coping with the loss of a parent.
The charity supports more than 700 children and young people from birth to 25 years old.
They will be using £100,000 a year, half of which will cover core operating costs and the other half will help to fund its Smiles initiative, which ensures its beneficiaries get one-to-one support. The charity also ensures the children receive gifts or vouchers on their birthday, at Christmas and on the anniversary of their parent’s death.
Veterans Into Logistics received £105,060 to continue its work getting men and women into employment after they leave the service. The funds go towards upskilling, training and certification for HGV licences.
We also awarded £120,000 collaborative funding for Walking With The Wounded's Care Coordination Programme for one year. The holistic programme is experiencing more demand than ever for help with a broad range of issues, from mental health to housing, as well as financial advice and guidance.
Alabaré, The Ripple Pond, Royal British Legion Poppy Factory, and Defence Medical Welfare Service, also received grants of between £100,000 and £200,000.
“We are seeing more and more evidence that projects providing support in one area help improve the mental health and wellbeing of our armed forces community,” said David Shaw.
“We want to help in the best way possible and realised that occasionally a little more goes a long way to making a big difference.
“That is why we felt it was important to provide a programme of grants dedicated to projects demonstrating potential to make the largest impact.”
We awarded £25 million in grants since we launched in 2016. That’s more than 1,000 grants to nearly 500 charities, with grants ranging from a few hundred pounds to £200,000.
