A new website, developed by the Directory of Social Change (DSC), for exploring Armed Forces Charities in the UK goes live today, Thursday 26th April. The online directory has information, statistics, infographics and unique research on hundreds of charities serving thousands of people.

The Forces in Mind Trust funded website is a key resource for policy makers, researchers, media, governments and charities – or anyone with an interest in the UK’s Armed Forces charities.

Search the directory and explore the data

Users can search for information on over 1,600 charities and associated branches, using an intuitive search tool producing clear results. Each charity in the directory has its own record with key information which is updated regularly.

The website includes an interactive data page, where users can check out analysis and learn more about the charities. New data and insights will feature regularly in this section.

Read ground-breaking research

DSC has been publishing ground-breaking research regarding the Armed Forces Charity sector since 2014, including five downloadable reports, each accompanied by infographics and fact sheets. For accessibility, each report is also condensed into easy read four-page research briefs.

The website has dedicated sections for each report topic, where you can learn about what the charities provide, including: mental health, education and employment, and physical health. There is also research on charities in Scotland and an overview of UK charities. More research is coming soon – keep an eye out for our section on housing provision, coming summer 2018!

Stuart Cole, Research Manager at DSC, said: “This website is the new home for DSC’s ever-growing body of research. The topical nature of our reports and our directory of charities combines here to illuminate the work of charities serving the armed forces community. It’s a must-read and a must-view for anyone interested in the topic.”

Ray Lock, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said: “This exciting new resource developed by the Directory of Social Change will be a valuable tool for policy makers, media commentators, service providers and other charities. It epitomizes our approach to presenting decision makers with the best knowledge and evidence available, and it offers a credible alternative to anecdote, hyperbole and fake news. We look forward to seeing how this information is utilised, how the site develops and the impact our funding will have achieved.”

You can access the website at www.armedforcescharities.org.uk

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Note to Editor:  Stuart Cole, is available for comment or interview via scole@dsc.org.uk or 0151 708 0136.

Ray Lock is available for interview. To arrange please contact Tina McKay, Communications Officer at FiMT on co@fim-trust.org or on 07956 101132 or 0207 901 8916.

About DSC: Founded in 1974, the Directory of Social Change (DSC) is a national charity which champions an independent voluntary sector through campaigning, training and publications. DSC is the largest supplier of information and training to the voluntary sector, and its work helps tens of thousands of organisations every year achieve their aims. Learn more at www.dsc.org.uk.

Follow DSC on social media

Make sure to stay tuned to twitter @forcescharities too, for the latest commentary and updates. We’re publishing more research each year, so keep checking-in for news on our upcoming reports, analysis, and website developments.

About the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT):

FiMT came about from a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund (‘the Fund’), Cobseo (The Confederation of Service Charities) and other charities and organisations. FiMT continues the Fund’s long-standing legacy of support for veterans across the UK with an endowment of £35 million awarded in 2012. http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/.

The mission of FiMT is to enable ex-Service personnel and their families make a successful and sustainable transition to civilian life, and it delivers this mission by generating an evidence base that influences and underpins policy making and service delivery.

FiMT awards grants (for both responsive and commissioned work) to support its change model around 6 outcomes in the following areas: Housing; Employment; Health and wellbeing; Finance; Criminal Justice System; and Relationships. All work is published in open access and hosted on the Forces in Mind Trust Research Centre’s Veterans and Families Research Hub https://www.vfrhub.com/. A high standard of reportage is demanded of all grant holders so as to provide a credible evidence base from which better informed decisions can be made.

Useful links

Website: www.fim-trust.org

Reports: www.fim-trust.org/reports/

Who we have helped: www.fim-trust.org/who-we-have-helped/

Twitter: @FiMTrust

About the Mental Health Research Programme: www.fim-trust.org/mental-health/research-programme/