Behind every serving member, whether regular or reserve, is a network of loved ones who quietly support from the sidelines. But for the partners, life in the armed forces can set unique challenges such as relocations, career disruptions, isolation, and the emotional toll from long separations.
Delivered on behalf of the MOD and designed specifically with service partners in mind, the Armed Forces Families Fund: Supporting Partners programme provides tailored solutions and dedicated support to help navigate the demands of service life. It recognises that while service members wear the uniform, their partners also serve in their own way – often by juggling family life, careers, and personal wellbeing.
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has supported a further 17 projects in the latest funding round, worth almost £1 million to projects that aim to improve the overall provision of support available to partners of serving personnel. Whether it’s promoting skills and experience in the workplace, enhancing access to vital services, or improving wellbeing – these projects are committed to empowering partners to thrive.
Supporting partners across Wales
Adferiad has been awarded a grant to deliver an 18-month, Wales-wide programme aimed at supporting partners into volunteering and employment.
Through targeted outreach, personalised training, and hands-on placements, the initiative is designed to build confidence, enhance skills, and improve long-term career prospects. With a strong focus on inclusivity, mental wellbeing, and sustainable impact, the programme will not only empower individuals but drive meaningful change with organisations and the broader armed forces community.
Head of National projects, Michael Harvey, expressed enthusiasm about the grant, saying:
"Adferiad are delighted to receive funding through the AFCFT's Supporting Partners Programme to deliver our Employment and Volunteering Pathways project across Wales. The project will enable us to support partners of servicemen and women into employment and volunteering roles within Adferiad.
Through tailored outreach, recruitment, training and placements, we'll be able to increase our beneficiaries’ skills, confidence, and career prospects. Our aim is to embed this pathway into Adferiad's long term employment and volunteering strategies to ensure that we continue to support partners of servicemen and women beyond the life of this project".
Building futures through business support
“Our programme will empower participants, ensuring that they acquire and build the core skills and knowledge to develop and maintain a business. Critically the programme will enhance individuals’ confidence to find new ways of working and contributing to household income pressures”
- CEO Ren Kapur MBE.
Enterprise Pathways for Forces Partners is a comprehensive business start-up support programme delivered by X-Forces Enterprise, for partners of serving personnel.
Designed to be accessible across the UK, overseas bases, and online, the initiative is made possible through strong partnerships with HIVE and local welfare support.
The programme combines group workshops with one-to-one mentoring, offering specialist guidance tailored to individual business ideas.
Ren continued:
“Critically the programme will enhance individuals’ confidence to find new ways of working and contributing to household income pressures. Our programme will give partners core life skills and actionable and practical ways to develop a business from home whilst being adaptable to the transient lifestyles of forces families.”
By equipping participants with the tools, skills, and confidence to launch their own ventures, the Enterprise Pathways project aims to create lasting self-employment opportunities and empower individuals to explore new career paths or innovative ways of working.
AI Training initiative brings new opportunities to partners worldwide
BFBS, an organisation that provides a range of media outlets and events for British forces and their families, has been awarded a grant to deliver a new training programme designed for military partners worldwide.
The programme - offering both online and in-person - aims to equip participants with the skills and confidence to sue artificial intelligence tools in their everyday lives and work. Through a combination of self-paced learning and live support, the project promotes wellbeing, digital confidence, and opens new opportunities for employment, self-employment and further education.
Jackie Collins – Head of social media, BFBS (Academy & Creative) said:
“This grant is a game-changer for military spouses and partners. Never before has a programme like this been developed specifically for the partners of those serving in our Armed Forces. AI skills have the power to unlock new opportunities, whether that’s helping participants explore new jobs, grow careers, or take businesses to the next level. With the support of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, we can give people the tools and confidence to use AI in ways that make a real difference to their lives and careers.”
Find out more
Check out the full list of awards made in this latest round on the Trust website here.
Read more about the Armed Forces Families Fund: Supporting Partners programme.