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The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Anna Soubry, announced the funding today while publishing this year鈥檚 Armed Forces Covenant Report.

The report highlights that, over the course of this financial year, the government will invest 拢65 million into various life-changing Armed Forces Covenant projects all over the UK. These projects are:

• 拢9 million on the best possible prosthetics for injured service personnel and veterans

• 拢28 million invested in charities supporting the Armed Forces community

• 拢19 million to provide support for service children in schools through the School Support Fund and Service Pupil Premium

• 拢4 million funding innovative local community covenant projects

• 拢5 million introducing a brand new benefit so seriously injured veterans are guaranteed 拢7,000 a year for life

In addition to this commitment, the Prime Minister has announced that 拢6 million will be invested into the School Support Fund every year for the next 4 years. This will ensure that service children receive the best possible care and support to help them settle into their new schools.

The 拢65 million committed this financial year builds on the 拢36 million committed to Armed Forces Covenant projects from 2012 to 2013 and the 拢17 million committed from 2011 to 2012; once again demonstrating the government鈥檚 continued commitment to our Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, said:

We made a promise to do more for our armed services and to put the military covenant at the heart of our national life. And I鈥檓 proud that this year鈥檚 report proves that we are keeping our promise.

The government is providing more funding than ever before for covenant projects. Almost all our local authorities have committed to bringing their service community closer to their local community. And the corporate sector have recognised their role too, with more than 70 companies now offering tailored support for members of our Armed Forces, their families and veterans.

This level of commitment across society sends a clear message to our Armed Forces: we are immensely grateful for the huge sacrifices they and their families make every day to ensure that we all live in safety, and we want them to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Anna Soubry said:

Our personnel and their families represent the very best of society and it is only right that we support them in every way we can. I am therefore delighted that we have been able to double the amount we are investing in Armed Forces Covenant initiatives and projects this year to 拢65 million. It demonstrates our unwavering commitment to our Armed Forces community and is helping to transform lives across the UK.

As well as providing extra funding for the Armed Forces community, the covenant encourages the nation to show its support for service personnel and the sacrifice they make for their country. Some of the biggest covenant successes in 2013 include:

• a total of 397 local authorities, around 98%, have now signed up to the community covenant and have committed to bringing personnel, veterans and their families closer to their local community

• the corporate covenant was launched and already 70 companies have signed up to offer tailored support to the Armed Forces community, from providing special packages on banking, telecoms and breakdown cover to securing jobs for personnel on leaving the Armed Forces

• creation of the , which will make 拢200 million available to help personnel buy their first home from next year