Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East A £10 million government scheme which funds projects that support the Covenant or Covenant related activity Armed Forces Covenant Fund

Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East Armed Forces Covenant Fund Successful Bids in 2015/2016 There were a number of projects throughout the UK that secured funding in the last financial year and these are now available to view on the Armed Forces Covenant website. The £10 million was allocated to both Small Bids (up to £20,000) and Large Bids (from £20,000 to £500,000) There was some publicity surrounding these bids when they were initially funded and the MOD is keen to continue promoting good projects as they progress. The types of bids that can be applied for are varied and are only limited by your imagination as long as the applicant and project meets all of the eligibility criteria for the assigned priority. Specific restrictions will always be highlighted on the website

Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East The Covenant Fund has 4 broad funding themes now and in future years. They are: Removing barriers to family life Extra support after service for those that need help Measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the armed forces community to participate as citizens Non-core healthcare services for veterans The themes will shape the fund and annual priorities will change to ensure that the fund stays focused and current. The priorities for 2016/2017 are as follows: Veterans’ Gateway Families in Stress Improving Local Covenant Delivery Community Integration/Delivery of Local Services The 2 nd, 3 rd and 4 th priority will be reviewed in 2 years time Armed Forces Covenant Fund

Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East Veterans’ Gateway Priority 1 Pilot project to set up a single 24/7 multi-media point of contact for veterans seeking assistance Will refer to existing service providers Will not compete or replicate existing charities Two year project Bid size – up to £2 million Individual applicants or consortiums welcome to apply but expected to work closely with major helpline providers Application process kicked off with an applicant workshop on 5 th April Priority 1 opened for applications on 4 th May Deadline for Stage 1 applications 1 st July Armed Forces Covenant Fund

Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East Families in Stress Priority 2 Projects that support families of serving personnel who are experiencing a significant stressful life event Intervention from specialist charities working with the serving community. Injury, bereavement, domestic abuse, relationship breakdown, mental health issues, subject to the civil or service justice system Bid size – £20,000 - £300,000 Applications welcomed from charities or community interest groups Priority 2 opened for a two stage application process on 4 th May Deadline for Stage 1 applications 22 nd June Armed Forces Covenant Fund

Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East Improving Local Covenant Delivery Priority 3 Materially improve the experience of local Armed Forces communities and ensure they are not disadvantaged Further guidance to come on this priority after the Local Government Association Conference early July to ensure appropriate targeting Bid size – £20,000 - £500,000 Applications welcomed from clusters of local authorities (working at least at county or regional level) to share best practice. Examples could include training front line staff, accessible web presence etc Open for applications from Late July Armed Forces Covenant Fund

Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East Community Integration/Delivery of Local Services Priority 4 Projects that respond to the local needs of the Armed Forces community, improve recognition of the Covenant, integrate communities and deliver valuable services Bid size up to £20,000 Applications welcomed from charities including community interest companies, schools, local authorities and Armed Forces units with a UIN Priority 4 opened for applications on 4 th May Application deadline Noon on 22 nd June Community Integration Create strong links between communities Shared development, delivery and benefits for both communities Delivery of Local Services Fund projects that offer financial, housing, mental and physical health, employability or social support for serving armed forces personnel, veterans and their families Armed Forces Covenant Fund

Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East Further information about each of the priorities is available on the GOV.UK website including: Bid size Who can apply Application process Provisional timescales (From 4 th May for Priorities 1, 2 and 4) Each priority has individual guidance notes and a sample application form or expression of interest form available on the website so that the applicant can work off line to develop the bid before applying. Visit the GOV.UK website at: If you have any questions about a potential project and whether it is likely to be funded and meets the criteria, you can the MOD team at: Armed Forces Covenant Fund

Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East Armed Forces Covenant Fund Submitting an Application Visit for full details and guidance It is essential that applicants engage with their local Covenant Partnerships/Local Authorities in the area in which they are proposing to deliver a project, for a number of reasons: Connecting applicants and projects with other relevant services Ensuring that there is no duplication of effort and that new services complement existing services Improving the quality of applications Priority 4 is operating a pilot scheme this year where the application process includes a form requesting endorsement from Covenant Partnerships/Local Authorities before submission.

Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East Armed Forces Covenant Fund What Makes a Good Bid? Is this a good project? Does it fit with local priorities? What are the risks? Main Criteria How well the project addresses one of the priorities and how it will meet the specific requirements of that priority Evidence of the need for the project Engagement, partnership working and collaboration How well the project is likely to be delivered To what extent the project represents value for money To what extent we can have confidence that the project will have lasting impact, delivering changes that last beyond the funding period

Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East Armed Forces Covenant Fund Any Questions? 11 Infantry Brigade and HQ SE Community Engagement Officer Brigade Secretariat for the Armed Forces Covenant Fund and the Regional Devolved Administration Board on behalf of the MOD Karen Webster Tel: Tracy Evans Tel: Website