25th March 2024

Press Release: Bristol charity awarded funding to pilot new project to support female veterans

Bristol-based charity, Step Together Volunteering, is celebrating after securing a 2-year grant from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s Reaching & Supporting programme to pilot a new project for women in the Armed Forces Community. Called “Step ToGetHer”, the pilot will seek to support female veterans and serving women who are on recovery duty to improve their confidence and wellbeing through one-to-one coaching and peer support.

The project will be delivered by Step Together Volunteering’s female Armed Forces Community staff team, and aims to help women improve their confidence, connections, support networks, and skills to help their transition into civilian employment or training following service in the Armed Forces.

Women account for only 11% of the Armed Forces workforce, and female veterans and personnel on recovery duty (PRD) can find themselves feeling lonely and isolated. Women are also less likely to engage with veteran-specific services. Step Together Volunteering consulted with female veterans and PRD and found that 100% felt that connecting with other women in similar circumstances to share experiences and advice would be helpful.

The Step ToGetHer project was therefore created in response to the unique challenges faced by women within the Armed Forces Community, to address the gender-specific needs they experience, which are often hidden within the general veteran and PRD population. The pilot project will be overseen by Step Together Volunteering’s female project team, both of whom have lived experience of the Armed Forces Community.

Senior Project Manager, Laura Dobson, said: “I’m delighted that we have received this funding and will be able to provide tailored support to female veterans and women on recovery duty. The project will be very much led by and for these women and will provide opportunities for them to come together, share experiences, and give and receive support.”

Anna-Clare Temple, CEO at Step Together Volunteering, said “We are so grateful to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for recognising this need and providing the much-needed funding to enable us to deliver this project.”

Established in 1994, Step Together Volunteering has been supporting members of the Armed Forces Community for almost 15 years, through bespoke one-to-one coaching and supported community volunteering placements.

If you are interested in being involved in the Step ToGetHer project, or would like to find out more, please get in touch by emailing admin@step-together.org.uk, or give us a call on 0117 955 9042.

Step Together Volunteering supports Veterans and Personnel on Recovery Duty, if you would like to find out more about the support we provide, please do get in touch. Whilst this project is aimed at women, Step Together Volunteering welcomes and provides support for all genders within the Armed Forces Community.