An Official Oral History of Women Veterans in the UK

All applicants must: 

• Be based in the UK. 

• Be a UK Higher Education Institution, registered UK charity, not-for-profit organisation or UK research institute. 

• Demonstrate robust financial governance and data management arrangements, including the capacity to manage public funding and meet reporting requirements. 

• Demonstrate appropriate project management and governance arrangements. 

• Demonstrate experience of delivering research, heritage, oral history or archival projects. 

  For ethical and legal compliance, applicants must confirm that they can: 

• Comply with UK research ethics standards. 

• Comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). 

• Demonstrate appropriate procedures for the ethical handling of oral history testimony and sensitive historical material, including participant support and appropriate training for all research staff where required. 

Applicants must declare any actual or potential conflicts of interest in relation to this project.

Scheme Objectives: 

The application must meet the following requirements: 

• Deliver a national oral history project documenting the lived experiences of women who have served in the UK Armed Forces.

• Create an official digitised oral history collection, working in partnership with Imperial War Museums (IWM), which will preserve these accounts for future research, education and public understanding. 

• Creation and dissemination of relevant public engagement activities.  

The objectives of this project are to: 

• Celebrate the unique contribution of women veterans to the UK Armed Forces, ensuring that society and future generations recognise and understand the value of their service.

• Raise awareness of careers in the UK Armed Forces for women of future generations.

• Improve public understanding of who veterans are, recognising that many veterans are women and that their experiences are diverse. 

A. Project Scope 

The project must collect and record oral testimonies from women veterans representing a range of Services, roles, ranks, generations and lived experiences. Interviews should capture experiences across key military and other life experiences, including, but not limited to: 

• Motivations for joining the UK Armed Forces  

• Family background and recruitment experiences 

• Training and early service 

• Experiences during military service (deployment where appropriate) 

• Health, wellbeing and support 

• Family life, caring responsibilities & relationships 

• Leadership and career progression 

• Challenges and achievements throughout military careers 

• Transition from military to civilian life 

• Identifying as a ‘veteran’ after service 

• Recognition and Legacy 

The project should seek to reflect the diversity of women’s experiences across the UK Armed Forces, including different Services, career pathways, operational roles, periods of service, socioeconomic, ethnic and other underrepresented groups. 

The duration of the project will be no longer than two years from the date of award. Extensions will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.    

B. Research Design and Methodology 

Applicants must demonstrate a robust oral history methodology, including: 

• Participant recruitment and sampling strategies. 

• Interview design and recording methodology. 

• Transcription and documentation processes. 

• Quality assurance processes for interview recordings and transcripts.   

Methods should align with the professional standards and guidance of the Oral History Society.  

The project must include a minimum of 40 completed, recorded and transcribed interviews with women veterans.  

Applicants should demonstrate how their methodology will ensure the collection of high-quality oral histories that reflect the diversity of women veterans’ experiences. 

The impact of the project should be evaluated throughout its duration. This should include collecting feedback from participating women veterans on their experience of taking part in the project, together with feedback from audiences attending public engagement and dissemination activities. Evaluation findings should be analysed and included within the final project report submitted to the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA).   

C. Ethics, Safeguarding and Consent 

 Applicants must demonstrate clear procedures for:  

• Obtaining informed participant consent. 

• The ethical collection, handling, storage and use of personal testimony. 

• Appropriate distress policies and where needed safeguarding for participants where sensitive experiences or distress may arise. 

• Compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. 

Applicants should ensure that appropriate support arrangements are available where participation may involve discussing sensitive or potentially distressing experiences. 

D. Digital Preservation and Archiving 

The successful candidate will work with IWM to produce a high-quality digital archive of interview recordings, transcripts and associated project outputs. 

Applications must include a detailed plan for:  

• Secure storage and management of digital materials. 

• Transcription and cataloguing standards. 

• Working with IWM for preparation of materials for long-term digital preservation. 

• Deposit of the completed oral history collection with IWM. 

Applicants should demonstrate how they will plan for the archive to remain accessible and sustainable beyond the lifetime of the project. 

E. Public Engagement Key Outputs 

Working with IWM, the project should promote public understanding of women’s military service through appropriate public engagement activities. 

These may include: 

• Digital resources, exhibitions, public events in partnership with IWM. 

• Educational materials. 

• Other appropriate dissemination activities. 

Applicants are expected to provide a plan of proposed public engagement outputs and encouraged to demonstrate impact on how their proposed activities will ensure participant's voices are reflected, maximise public reach, accessibility and long-term impact. 

Applicants must clearly demonstrate which project activities they will deliver directly, as only activities delivered by the successful applicant are eligible for funding; applications should also specify where input from IWM will be expected in line with IWM's role and responsibilities shared below.

F. Delivery and Outputs 

Applicants must provide a clear delivery plan, including the project timeline, governance arrangements, project management approach and the expertise of the project team. 

The project will be expected to deliver several key outputs, some of which will be in partnership with IWM. These include but not limited to:  

• A curated oral history collection. 

• High-quality interview recordings and transcripts. 

• Public engagement activities that promote understanding of women’s military service. These may include digital resources, exhibitions, public events, educational materials or other appropriate dissemination activities. 

• A final project report. 

• Deposit of the completed oral history collection with IWM. 

As part of project delivery, the Research and Evidence Team within the OVA will maintain regular engagement with the successful applicant. Quarterly written progress updates will be required throughout the duration of the project.  

 G. Funding 

Up to £250,000 is available to fund one project over a period of two years. 

Imperial War Museum (IWM) Partnership & Contributions: 

The successful applicant will work in partnership with Imperial War Museum (IWM). As the project’s cultural partner, IWM will deliver the services and support set out below. These activities will be funded separately by the OVA and should not be included within the funding requested as part of this application. Applicants should therefore not include costs associated with these activities in their project budget.  

IWM will: 

Archival Preservation and Public Access: 

• Receive, archive, catalogue and preserve oral history recordings for long-term retention within the IWM collections. 

• Work towards making interview recordings publicly accessible through IWM’s digital platforms and website. 

Collection Management: 

• Support the acquisition and management of supplementary materials provided by participants, including personal papers, photographs and related artefacts. 

• Ensure all deposited materials are appropriately archived and linked to the oral history collection. 

Research and Interpretation: 

• Identify and establish connections between interview content and relevant materials held within IWM’s existing collections and archives. 

• Contribute archival expertise to strengthen project outputs and interpretation. 

Digital Exhibition and Storytelling: 

• Develop and curate online exhibition content using project interviews and associated archival materials. 

• Create dedicated digital content showcasing participant stories, research findings and project outcomes. 

Public Engagement and Dissemination: 

• Promote and disseminate project outputs and women veterans’ stories through IWM communication channels and public engagement activities. 

• Support wider public awareness of, and access to, the project’s outputs.  

Partnership Working: 

• Work collaboratively with the successful applicant and project stakeholders to maximise the impact, legacy and public reach of the oral history project.

Competition Launch: Tuesday 11th August   

Applications close: Tuesday 22nd September  

Stage 1: Application sift outcome: w/c 5th October*

Inform shortlisted candidates for Stage 2 Interview: w/c 5th October*

Interviews: w/c 19th October*

Stage 2: Application outcome and Award: w/c 26th October*

*Please note that the dates set out above are indicative and may be subject to change depending on the number and quality of applications received, the requirements of the assessment process, and any wider competition or operational considerations.

All applications should be made via the application form on Find A Grant [Link Here].

Application and Assessment: 

Applications will be assessed through a two-stage process. All eligible applications will first be reviewed against the published competition requirements and assessment criteria. Assessment will consider the quality of the proposed project, the applicant’s relevant experience and capability, the strength of the methodology and ethical approach, deliverability, public engagement and impact, risk management, and value for money. Applications will be assessed by an independent assessment panel, with final funding decisions made by the OVA.  

Stage 1: Application form. Applications will be assessed by an assessment panel. The highest-scoring eligible applicants will be shortlisted for Stage 2. 

Stage 2: Interview and presentation. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their proposal to an OVA/IWM panel and respond to questions on their project design, delivery plan, risks, budget and expected impact. 

Final funding decisions will be made by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA), informed by the assessment panel’s recommendations and any relevant due diligence checks. OVA reserves the right not to award funding if no application meets the required standard, or to amend the application process where necessary. 

Feedback to unsuccessful applicants will normally only be provided to applicants shortlisted for Stage 2. Funding decisions are final and will not be subject to appeal.

Following the award of funding, a Grant Agreement will be entered into between OVA and the successful applicant. Subject to any legal, ethical or data protection requirements, project outputs will be made publicly available to maximise transparency and the long-term impact of the project.

All enquiries relating to this competition should be sent to: 

people-OVA-research-evidence@mod.gov.uk

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) sits within the Ministry of Defence and leads the delivery of the UK Government’s Veterans Strategy. It also works across government to improve the coordination of policies and services that support veterans. 

Evidence indicates that some women veterans feel their service has not always been recognised or well understood. This oral history project will capture and preserve the lived experiences of women who have served in the UK Armed Forces, ensuring that their stories are recognised, preserved and shared with future generations. 

The project should reflect the diversity of women’s experiences across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, encompassing a broad range of ranks, roles, ages, periods of service and operational theatres. 

This project will contribute to the UK Government’s Veterans' Strategy by supporting the commitment to celebrate the contribution of women veterans, while also delivering Ministerial and departmental commitments to improve recognition of the vital role women have played within the Armed Forces community. 

The project will provide valuable insight into the experiences of women veterans, improve public understanding of women’s military service and inspire future generations of women to consider careers in the UK Armed Forces. It also aligns with the Strategic Defence Review’s focus on people and readiness, particularly in relation to recruitment and retention. The project will contribute to wider cross-government ambitions to improve the visibility and recognition of women and their contribution to society. 

The successful applicant will work closely with the Women Veterans Forum throughout the project to keep them informed about the project’s progress and objectives.