The Veterans’ Foundation defied the COVID downturn that struck much of the charitable sector to award a record £3.3 million in grants to British veterans in need in the year up to June 2021.
It’s a year-on-year increase of more than 70% and it’s meant that more than 130 different military charities and organisations have been given crucial support during the pandemic.
The Veterans’ Foundation enjoyed substantial growth despite the difficulties presented by COVID – the details of which can be found in the VF’s Impact Report, which has been published today.
By the end of the financial year, the VF had given £7.1 million in grants to more than 240 military charities and organisations since inception in 2016, including Scotty’s Little Soldiers, Service Dogs UK, Walking With The Wounded, Rock 2 Recovery and Veterans Into Logistics.
“This represents an exceptional performance during a period in which most charities saw a significant drop in their fundraising income and one which made the grant-making of the Veterans’ Foundation even more important,” explained Peter Mountford, Chairman of the Veterans’ Foundation.
“The Veterans’ Foundation has had a significant incremental impact on the support given to service people and their families, not just in the year, but cumulatively over the last five years,” he added.
Health and wellbeing, particularly mental health support, have been important areas of attention for the VF over the 12 months and over £1.2 million has gone to help our ex-service personnel get healthier.
A fifth of the year’s awards have also directly assisted veterans with educational and unemployment issues, helping them learn new skills after service and find a new career.
Charities helping veterans to address homelessness, family welfare and wellbeing, and community hubs that provide signposting and advice, have also received financial support.
"The Veterans’ Foundation not only grew its income year-on-year during the pandemic period, but it has been able to provide funding to more organisations who are helping members of the Armed Forces who are in need,” said Major General David Shaw, CEO and founder of the Veterans’ Foundation.
“The growth is a reflection of public support, the hard work of our creative teams that reach members of the public and the work of the trustees and staff of the Veterans’ Foundation, for which we thank everyone,” he added.
“Most importantly, we know the beneficiaries have had their lives improved through the funds raised; but it doesn’t stop there - with continuing public support we will work hard to achieve more."
Most of the Veterans’ Foundation’s income comes from the Veterans’ Lottery and with 64,000 players at the end of the financial year – up by more than 40% on the previous year – more people than ever are helping the VF to support veterans.
With the top prize increased to £35,000, including the £30,000 rollover pot, the Veterans’ Lottery is going from strength to strength and is now one of the largest lotteries in the UK.
The Veterans’ Foundation has now given £8.1 million in grants to more than 240 organisations and with the next round of grants due in December, that figure will rise to over £9.1 million.
You can view the Veterans’ Foundation Impact Report for the year ended 30th June 2021 here.
