The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) held a briefing event in Norwich on Thursday 6th October which was attended by over 30 people. Attendees came from a wide range of sectors including the Armed Forces Community and the Armed Forces charity sector as well as other key stakeholders and interested parties who work to support ex-Service personnel, and their families. The President of Veterans Norfolk, General the Lord Dannatt, kindly welcomed the team to the region, together with many members of the organization.

The event, which was the latest in a series of regional briefings, was led by Chief Executive of FiMT, Air Vice-Marshal Ray Lock CBE, and supported by his executive team. A presentation at the event highlighted FiMT’s work to provide an evidence base which aims to influence policy making and service delivery, in order to enable ex-Service personnel and their families to lead successful civilian lives.

There was also an update on FiMT’s strategy, current work and priorities, and the Mental Health Research Programme. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with FiMT’s executive team and network over lunch, and to meet the Trust’s designated Chairman from December, Hans Pung.

FiMT would like to thank everyone who attended the event and made it so interesting and enjoyable.

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About the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT):

  • FiMT came about from a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund (‘the Fund’), Cobseo (The Confederation of Service Charities) and other charities and organisations.  FiMT continues the Fund’s long-standing legacy of support for veterans across the UK with an endowment of £35 million awarded in 2012.  http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/.
  • The mission of FiMT is to enable ex-Service personnel and their families make a successful and sustainable transition to civilian life, and it delivers this mission by generating an evidence base that influences and underpins policy making and service delivery.
  • FiMT awards grants (for both responsive and commissioned work) to support its change model around 6 outcomes in the following areas: Housing; Employment; Health and wellbeing; Finance; Criminal Justice System; and Relationships.
  • All work is published in open access and hosted on the Veterans’ Research Hub.  A high standard of reportage is demanded of all grant holders so as to provide a credible evidence base from which better informed decisions can be made.

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