Stuart Cole wins 2021 FiMT Research Award
Stuart Cole, DSC Research Development Manager, has won the 2021 FiMT Research Award in recognition of his research on Armed Forces charities during Covid-19.
The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) Research Centre has announced today (2nd February) that our very own Stuart Cole has been awarded the 2020 FiMT Research Award, in recognition of his research on Armed Forces Charities and his support for the sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stuart is our Research Development Manager and has received the award for his work leading on the delivery of a series of independent and credible reports on the Armed Forces Charities Sector over six years. The reports have included a comprehensive ‘Sector Insight’ overview and analysis and a ‘Focus On’ series, exploring topics such as education and employment, housing and criminal justice.
As a result of the research led by Stuart, DSC was able to provide credible evidence of how the sector needed state assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic. The second edition of Sector Insight was complete in Spring 2020, but the national lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic delayed its publication. The research team at DSC, led by Stuart, quickly responded to requests for evidence from Cobseo – the Confederation of Service Charities. They provided an accurate and independent read out of the sector pre-Covid, followed by a series of rapid surveys of Cobseo’s member charities. The evidence they provided led to tangible financial and other support, delivered by Government across the UK to the sector.
Stuart will give a presentation about his research at the FiMT Research Centre Conference 2021 on Wednesday 24th March. The online free-to-attend conference will focus on the ‘Transition of Service People and Families’ and is now open for registrations.
Ray Lock CBE, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said:
“Over the last six years, Stuart and his team have vastly improved our understanding of the Armed Forces Charities sector, and demonstrated the value of the important services charities provide to the UK Armed Forces community.
“Thousands of copies of the reports on which Stuart led have been downloaded or handed out, reaching the most senior policy makers and service providers in the country. The impact of his work was already widely felt and, when the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic hit the sector, his team stepped up to provide important evidence which led directly to vital support being provided.
The projects the Directory of Social Change has conducted on our behalf over the years have been absolutely transformational. It has of course been a full team effort, but we are delighted to recognize Stuart’s individual achievements with this award, and to have an opportunity to celebrate the impact of his work on our sector.”
Stuart said:
“I’m very honoured to receive this award, and on behalf of DSC and my colleagues, I would like to say how pleased we are that our research has helped make the case for directing support to charities providing vital services.
“Throughout the pandemic, the needs of those who rely on support has not gone away, nor has the resolve of charities to meet that need. In the face of increasing demand and decreased resources, armed forces charities continue to serve those who may otherwise face significant difficulty.
“My team and I work to provide accessible evidence to inform decision making and strategic thinking at policy, practitioner, and public levels. We are proud to partner with Forces in Mind Trust in achieving that, and we are honoured to be recognised for it.”
The full press release from FiMT can be found here.
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