Supporting Partners Programme reopens for applications
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) are pleased to let you know that the Supporting Partners programme under the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund is now open and ready to welcome new applications!
What’s the programme all about?
Since 2023, the Trust have awarded over £2.5m on behalf of the MOD to 45 projects under the Armed Forces Families Fund: Supporting Partners programme which seeks to provide support and solutions to help partners of serving personnel navigate the challenges of service life.
Today, the Trust are reopening this programme for new applications which will achieve one or more of the following outcomes -
• Partners of serving personnel have increased their skills and confidence through additional opportunities to explore new ways of working and/or to change careers.
• Partners of serving personnel, including non-UK nationals, are better able to access and engage with employment support that reflects the challenges of service life, such as mobility and separation.
• Service providers and employers demonstrate improved understanding of the unique challenges of service life, enabling more informed and effective support for partners of serving personnel.
• Improved mental health and wellbeing for partners of serving personnel, leading to increased confidence and greater empowerment in personal and career choices that work within service life.
Grants of £10,000 to £150,000 are available for projects lasting up to three years.
Why are the Trust running this programme?
Families play a vital role in supporting serving personnel. Although the Tri-Service Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FAMCAS) 2025 indicates that overall spousal employment levels remain high, some partners continue to face challenges in sustaining employment that reflects their skills and qualifications, and in maintaining continuity of work alongside service life.
Although reported levels of loneliness and anxiety show improvement, this may not be consistent across all partners, and some may continue to experience these challenges.
“We’re delighted to support this important work through the Supporting Partners programme. Families play a vital role in service life, and partners of serving personnel should be able to access the support, opportunities and recognition they need to make choices that are right for them.
This programme is about helping to strengthen that support, promote the skills and experiences partners bring, and address some of the barriers that can make sustaining employment alongside service life more challenging. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this work will have for partners and families across the armed forces community.”
– Karen, Project lead of the Supporting Partners programme.
Who can apply?
The Trust invite applications from:
• Registered Charites
• Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Armed Forces Units and Bases
• UK university or Colleges
Full eligibility details are available on the Trust website
Find out more
The application deadline is 12pm on 23 September 2026. You will receive a decision before end of November 2026.
Full details of this fantastic funding opportunity, including full eligibility and how to apply, are available on the Trust’s dedicated programme page.
Background information:
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is a charity and an MOD sponsored NDPB that manages the grant programmes funded by the Covenant Fund. They also run wider funding programmes that support the Armed Forces community.
The Trust makes grants that have an impact on the lives of Armed Forces communities, including serving personnel, Armed Forces families, the bereaved, Veterans, and their families.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
All the grants that we award support the values of the Covenant.
For more information on the Armed Forces Covenant, visit the Covenant website www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk