FiMT Challenges: turning evidence into change
Forces in Mind Trust was established to enable ex-Service personnel and their families to make a successful transition to civilian life.
Over the past 15 years, FiMT and its partners have helped build a strong body of evidence about transition and the factors that can help or hinder it. As we enter the final phase of our planned life, our focus is increasingly on turning this evidence into action: strengthening services, improving systems and creating change that will last beyond the lifetime of an individual grant.
Our grant making approach
Our funding will focus on:
Driving systemic change
We will support practical approaches to known problems that have the potential to influence wider systems, services, policy or practice.
Applying existing evidence
We want to help organisations translate evidence into action, bringing together decision makers, practitioners and service providers to deliver change.
Supporting innovation
We will support new and collaborative approaches to persistent challenges, including work that connects Armed Forces organisations with mainstream services.
The FiMT Challenges
Our four FiMT Challenges identify persistent, evidence-based problems where focused funding, collaboration and innovation could unlock progress. Each Challenge begins with an understood problem and sets out what needs to change, what successful projects should achieve and the difference this should make for the Armed Forces community. We welcome applications that target these challenges.
Identifying and responding earlier to unmet need
How can systems better identify and respond earlier to unmet need amongst the Armed Forces community?
Understanding of need is often shaped by the people who engage with services or are represented in existing data and research. As a result, hidden, emerging or unmet needs may not be identified early enough.
We want to support practical approaches that improve visibility, identify risks sooner and help systems respond before needs escalate.
Supporting better transition through earlier and more tailored support
How can we better identify and support those who struggle to navigate transition through earlier, more tailored and proactive approaches?
Some Service personnel and families face barriers to recognising their needs, preparing for transition or navigating complex systems. Those most at risk of poor outcomes may also be least able to find and engage with support.
We want to reduce reliance on people navigating transition alone by supporting earlier identification, proactive engagement and more personalised and accessible pathways.
Sustainable cross-sector collaboration
How can we encourage sustainable cross-sector collaboration to provide better support for the Armed Forces community?
People may need support from several organisations, particularly during transition or periods of complex need. Where services are not well coordinated, this can lead to delays, duplication and gaps in support.
We want to help organisations develop practical and scalable ways of working together that are embedded in systems, processes and commissioning, rather than depending on informal relationships or individual champions.
Embedding Armed Forces awareness in mainstream services
How can Armed Forces awareness become embedded in mainstream public and charitable services to improve access, responses and outcomes?
Most members of the Armed Forces community use mainstream services. However, recognition of an Armed Forces connection can depend on self-disclosure or the presence of individual Armed Forces champions.
We want to support approaches that embed identification, recording and appropriate responses into everyday practice, leading to more consistent access, experiences and outcomes.
Applying for funding
Applications are invited for grants of up to £250,000.
Before applying to the FiMT Challenges, please read the full specification for your chosen Challenge alongside our eligibility criteria and application guidance, which can be found on our apply pages.
The FiMT Challenges are designed to complement our existing grant making that works towards our mission and vision. FiMT will always be flexible in responding to emerging needs, ideas and opportunities when they are presented to us. If you have an idea and are unsure how it fits into the FiMT Challenges, we will collaborate with you wherever possible to build a project that maximises impact for improving transition in the Armed Forces community.