HAMPSHIRE County Council has been holding a series of meetings to help community organisations access Armed Forces funding.

Around 30 organisations, including schools, Armed Forces and children’s charities, housing associations and the NHS, benefitted from the workshops in Gosport, Winchester and Farnborough, to support communities in applying to the Armed Forces Covenant Grant Scheme.

The £10m per year Covenant Grant Scheme aims to help integrate Armed Forces and civilian communities, and deliver valuable local community services.

Covenant Grant Scheme funded projects in Hampshire include accommodation for homeless former servicemen at Mike Jackson House in Aldershot, a first-responder 4x4 vehicle run by RAF Odiham staff, and the ‘Poppy Pod’ camping village at Tile Barn Outdoor Centre in the New Forest, which is free for military families to use during weekends and holidays.

Alton councillor Andrew Joy, executive member for communities, partnerships and external affairs and an Armed Forces Champion, said: “The county council has proudly supported Hampshire’s Armed Forces communities for many years and was one of the first local authorities to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and establish a strategic civilian military partnership.

“These workshops, helping communities access covenant funding, once again illustrate our commitment to help bring military and civilian communities closer together in Hampshire.”

The county council recently received a Gold Award from the Duke of Cambridge at the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards ceremony at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

The authority has developed a number of projects and policies supporting the military, including two weeks’ additional paid leave for reservists for training and other duties, and promotion of civil events such as Armed Forces Day.

On November 21, Hampshire County Council will also host an event for service leavers and their partners/spouses to raise awareness of career opportunities at the local authority.

Details of successful Armed Forces Covenant Grant Scheme grants are due to be revealed next March.