The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) is supporting The Royal Foundation with a grant of £250,000 as part of their three-year partnership agreement.

This is the latest grant awarded by FiMT, which is currently funding a number of research, and evaluation projects as well as making direct grants to military and civilian partner charities and organisations.  Each initiative provides an evidence base from which to improve the transition process that Service personnel and their families undergo as they to move into civilian life.  The funds come from a £35 million endowment awarded to the Trust by the Big Lottery Fund in January 2012.

The Endeavour Fund, created by The Royal Foundation, provides opportunities for injured Servicemen and women to take part in sporting and adventure challenges as part of their recovery and subsequent transition into civilian life. The Endeavour Fund offers seed funding for new endeavours and help emerging initiatives with advice, hands on support and mentoring. The Royal Foundation and Forces in Mind believe that the Fund will play an important role in ensuring that more wounded Servicemen and women have the opportunity to rediscover their self-belief and fighting spirit.

The organisations and projects FiMT and The Endeavour Fund partnership are funding are:

  • Toe in the Water (a tri-Service initiative using competitive sailing to re-inspire, re-engage and re-integrate profoundly injured Servicemen and women).
    1. The Round The Island Race: Led by 12 wounded personnel aboard two yachts competing against hundreds of other boats on an equal footing.  The grant funded entry fees, berthing costs, living costs and safety equipment. The teams did very well, out of 475 boats, Toe in the Water Too finished 80th and Toe in the Water finished in 118th place.
    2. Fastnet Race: a grant has been awarded to enter a team into this year’s iconic Fastnet Race.
  • Flying For Freedom (trains wounded Servicemen to fly micro-lights up to solo standard.  They have adapted their vehicles so that people with multiple amputations are able to fly and they offer the kind of freedom that would have otherwise been unattainable).  They are taking part in large air displays this Summer and have been awarded funds to purchase a new aircraft.
  • Walking With The Wounded (supports a number of charities and projects that are entirely focused upon the retraining and reskilling of wounded personnel) will be sending three teams of four on foot to the South Pole in the winter of 2013.
  • Walk On Wales has been given a grant to fund safety equipment, vehicles and administration for an event starting on 25th August 2013. Up to 5,000 people (at intervals) are expected to join 11 teams of veterans walking the entire coastal route of Wales (874miles).  Many of the team members are of the Falklands generation. Money raised will go towards Combat Stress and the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal.

An initial allocation of specific amounts to each project has been agreed by The Royal Foundation and FiMT, although this will be constantly held under review to ensure that funds are most effectively deployed.

Nick Booth, CEO of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, said:

“The diverse array of projects we are funding as part of our partnership with The Forces in Mind Trust is a testament to the imagination and dedication of the Armed Forces community.

“The support for these projects has been overwhelming and has enabled significant fundraising for extremely worthwhile causes”.

The Chief Executive of the Forces in Mind Trust, Air Vice-Marshal Ray Lock said:

“When we formed our partnership with The Royal Foundation, we recognised the tremendous potential each of us offered the other.  I am delighted that through our mutual determination, we have now found the means whereby we can take forward both missions in the most exciting way.  Working in partnership with The Royal Foundation has given us the unique privilege of enabling smaller projects such as Flying for Freedom literally to get off the ground, whilst also supporting established charities like Toe in the Water to continue their work with injured Service personnel.

“The value of this partnership lies not just in what each project does for the individual participant – although that is significant enough – but in the inspiration it provides across the community, and in the demonstration of the ability of wounded, injured or sick Servicemen and women to make a successful transition to civilian life.  Our ex-Servicemen and women should become defined not by their disability, but by their capability; that is our shared aim.

“As well as providing grants for events and initiatives like this, we also have a number of research and pilot projects currently in progress.  We will use the resulting evidence-base to commission and award grants to further research and programmes in conjunction with partner organisations that support the transition process”.

Notes:

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About The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry

The Royal Foundation was set up by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and is the culmination of their charitable lives so far and will be the principal vehicle for Their Royal Highnesses’ future charitable activities.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry aim to make the following their early areas of focus:

  • Veterans and military families
  • Conservation and sustainable development
  • Children and young people

The Endeavour Fund is a restricted fund set up by the Foundation to supported wounded servicemen and women providing physical challenges as part of their recovery and subsequent transition into civilian life. The Endeavour Fund managed by an Advisory Board which reports to the Royal Foundation’s trustees.

For more information on The Royal Foundation and Endeavour Fund please go towww.royalfoundation.com