Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide additional financial support for armed forces charities during the (a) autumn 2020 and covid-19 lockdown and (b) regional covid-19 restrictions.

The Government has been proactive in providing support to the charity sector in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) in the Cabinet Office have played a leading role in this effort by providing £6 million in funding for the Armed Forces community, through the COVID Impact Fund. The MOD and OVA work in partnership with Service charities to deliver support where needed and for the most vulnerable and have been working closely with them throughout the pandemic to ensure the important help and support they provide remains available to veterans.

The Government has pledged £750 million to ensure voluntary community and social enterprise organisations can continue their vital work supporting the country during the coronavirus outbreak including £200 million for the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, along with an additional £150 million from dormant bank and building society accounts. This fund also includes £60 million for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support thousands of charities on the frontline helping people affected by COVID-19. Other pre-existing funding streams are available to Armed Forces charities, including through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, to which the Government provides £10 million annually. The Trust runs frequent and regularly updated funding streams for the Armed Forces Community for projects across the UK.

Charities also have access to other support packages made available by HM Treasury, including the Business Loan Interruption scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme. An overview of Government financial support for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/financial-support-for-voluntary-community-and-social-enterprise-vcse-organisations-to-respond-to-coronavirus-covid-19.

The Government continues to monitor the financial health of charities and regularly meets with charities and their representative bodies to ensure that their views are heard and understood.