The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, established in February 2018 as a UK-wide charitable trust and executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, upholds the Armed Forces Covenant by funding projects that deliver tangible improvements for serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Rooted in the moral obligation to fairly support those who serve, it emphasises high-impact, evidence-based interventions through collaborative partnerships, governed by independent trustees, government representatives, and military charities for broad accountability and stakeholder input.

It prioritises four themes: veteran non-core healthcare (e.g., mental health), removing barriers to family life (transition, deployment), targeted aid for disadvantage/hardship, and military-civilian integration to combat isolation and foster cohesion. Programmes like On the Move (family support during moves), Apart, Not Alone (loneliness), and Family Focus fund activities such as mental health initiatives, community engagement, local service improvements, digital inclusion, and capital projects for veteran housing, supporting both grassroots groups and national charities UK-wide.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or CICs (typically operational 3+ years with 3+ unrelated trustees/directors and proven Armed Forces community experience); no income limits apply, but projects must align strictly with open programmes. Grants range £5,000–£50,000 typically (up to £500,000 for capital), via online portal with programme-specific eligibility checkers, guidance, and fixed deadlines (e.g., On the Move: 23 July/17 Dec 2025; Family Focus: 24 Sep 2025; decisions 8–12 weeks later). No rolling applications or late submissions.

Exclusions include core costs, speculative work, or non-Covenant-aligned projects; it uniquely drives Covenant delivery through flexible single/portfolio grants, rigorous evaluation, and transparent reporting, differentiating via state-sector synergy and nationwide, partnership-focused impact.