The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), established to help ex-Service men and women make a successful transition back to civilian life, is delighted to announce that Dr Jane Rowley, a Senior Research Fellow at Staffordshire University, has been selected as the first FiMT specialist Fellow for the Clore Social Leadership Programme in 2015.

Earlier this year, FiMT announced that it would be funding the Clore Social Fellowship as part of its aim to deepen connections and learning between military charities and the wider social sector.  These connections will enable FiMT to become more innovative and collaborative in service delivery, and ensure that future policy is supported by a sound evidence-base.

Over 160 aspiring social leaders from across the UK applied for a place on the 2015 Fellowship programme of which 18, from a number of UK-based charities, social enterprises and community organisations, were successful.  The two-year Fellowship programme in which Dr Rowley will be participating, identifies, connects and develops individuals who have ambition to lead social change in their communities, organisations and the world around them.

Air Vice-Marshal Ray Lock, Chief Executive of the Forces in Mind Trust said: “We are pleased that in our first year of offering a FiMT Specialist Fellowship, we have attracted such a high-calibre and worthy individual as Dr Rowley.  Her extensive experience, including exposure to Service leavers and her current role within the RECOVEU addiction recovery project, will provide an excellent foundation upon which she can build her leadership development.  I have no doubt that over time, Dr Rowley will make a significant and innovative contribution to the work of the Armed Forces charities sector.”

Jane Rowley, FiMT Fellow for the Clore Social Leadership Programme 2015 said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with FiMT throughout my Clore Social Leader Fellowship.  I hope to explore ways to develop collaborative networks between Armed Forces charities and other organisations in the social sector whilst finding ways to investigate and develop the evidence base around practical routes to aid transition for those entering civilian life.  I plan to use the Fellowship to develop my leadership skills and learn from new colleagues both in the Fellowship and across the sector.”

Dame Mary Marsh, Founding Director of the Clore Social Leadership Programme, said: “We are very excited about 2015.  We have a great group of Fellows, all of whom we believe are deeply committed to social change, and a new Chair John Kampfner, the critically acclaimed author, broadcaster and commentator specialising in UK politics, international affairs, media and human rights issues.  We are also really proud that this cohort will bring our network of social leaders to 101 people driving innovation and having a positive impact on individuals and communities across the UK and beyond.”

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About The Forces in Mind Trust: The concept of the Forces in Mind Trust arose from a Big Lottery Fund (BIG) £35 million investment to fund a partnership between (BIG), COBSEO (The Confederation of Service Charities) and other charities and organisations.  FiMT has recently signed up to the Corporate Covenant:https://www.gov.uk/the-corporate-covenant

  • The concept of the Forces in Mind Trust arose from a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund (BIG), cobseo (The Confederation of Service Charities) and other charities and organisations.  In addition to cobseo Members, key supporting charities are: The Mental Health Foundation, Centre for Mental Health and the Shaw Trust.
  • During its first two years, FiMT has commissioned seminal research reports such as the Transition Mapping Study (TMS), which reviewed how the entire transition process from military to civilian life currently works and how it is viewed by stakeholders and recent Service leavers.  The economic model developed for the report calculated the total cost of poor transition to the UK as a whole to be £113 million in 2012, whilst the report itself has been discussed across Whitehall and debated in Parliament.

The Clore Social Leadership Programme: The Clore Social Leadership Programme was established in 2008 by the Clore Duffield Foundation after extensive research and consultation with the third sector identified a pressing need. Dame Mary Marsh was appointed Founding Director and it became a registered charity in July 2010. Sir John Gieve who has chaired the Board of Trustees since its inception will step down at the end of the year and John Kampfner will take over from January 2015.www.cloresocialleadership.org.uk

About RECOVEU:  RECOVEU takes a participative approach to curriculum development for adults in addiction recovery across the European Unionhttp://www.recoveu.org/  It is a project funded under the European Union Grundtvig Lifelong Learning Programme.  It aims to develop innovative learning activities to help adults in addiction recovery prepare for, and succeed in, college or university.  The learning activities will take into account the specific barriers that socially disadvantaged people, such as those in addiction recovery, often face.