Responding to the extraordinary challenges that the Coronavirus outbreak has brought about, requires flexibility in how we use our money. Trustees have already approved a Hardship Fund to support people and organisations facing situations unimaginable for them and their loved ones not so very long ago.
The Fund is already being put to good use for serving personnel with grants having already been made to ships and submarines, shore establishments, overseas commands and in support of vulnerable Naval families. We are also working at pace with a number of fellow charities to ensure funding exists to support both working-age and older veterans as the economic turmoil the nation is experiencing turns to hardship for many.
Just some of the ways we're helping during this crisis:
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Live streaming of Passing Out Parades at HMS Raleigh for family and friends. (This has now been extended into April and May.)
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Team Morale nights for serving personnel stuck in isolation, deployed overseas or helping during COVID-19, from HMS Blyth, HMS Enterprise, HMS Kent, HMS Penzance, HMNB Devonport, HMS Raleigh, HMS Audacious, HMS Talent, 820 Naval Air Squadron, 30 Commando, 45 Commando and Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.
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Licensing for mental well-being and mindfulness app Headspace for ship's company on board HMS Sutherland who are currently on deployment, and serving personnel at FOST North.
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Accommodation for visiting St Vincentine families who are stuck in the UK.
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Sailors Children's Society to distribute computers to naval families ahead of the school closures so children could continue their lessons.
- Funding to Scotty’s Little Soldiers to support additional COVID-19 projects and initiatives for bereaved children from naval families
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Re-purposed funding to Company of Makers, who run creative workshops with veterans, to buy equipment to set up a podcast during this period.
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An Easter dinner and Easter eggs for Junior Rates working over the Easter break at RNAS Culdrose.
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Providing audio equipment and entertainment to the Defence Primary Healthcare South West for military patients with coronavirus or those that cannot go home
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Prizes for Naval Service Family and People Support to run‘Virtual Community’ activities and competitions for serving personnel and naval families
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Audio equipment, entertainment and morale night for Junior Rates stuck in lockdown and without a TV signal at European Joint Support Unit in Belgium
If you are an organisation who would like to apply for a grant, please fill out the following form.