Introducing The Cove’s Mess PME Grants

Our Messes are an important contributor to The Army Profession.

DCA Directive 04/23 recognises Messes as places where our people develop professional knowledge, leadership, identity and resilient communities. They are an important part of Army’s collegiate approach to professional development and PME.

The Cove recognises that decentralised PME is valuable. Sometimes a great local PME idea only needs a small amount of funding to make it happen.

The Cove’s Mess PME Grants are designed to provide that support.

What can we fund?

If you have an idea for a PME activity in your Mess or local Army community, The Cove may be able to help with things such as:

• external speaker honorariums;
• speaker travel and accommodation;
• appropriate hospitality for PME events;
• professional books and library resources;
• presentation or audio-visual equipment;
• wargaming activities; and
• other creative ideas that directly support PME.

Note: Funding for alcohol or bar tabs is not available.

How are applications assessed?

We want to keep this simple. Applications are considered case-by-case, with priority given to activities that:

• make a meaningful contribution to professional mastery, PME or professional discourse;
• enable an activity that would otherwise be difficult to deliver;
• provide good reach and value for money;
• broaden access to PME, particularly for regional or smaller Messes; or
• create an enduring PME resource or capability, such as a Mess library.

The grants are intended to complement, not replace, existing Army, unit, formation or Mess funding arrangements.

You don't need to tick every box. We want to retain the flexibility to support good and innovative ideas.

How much?

As a guide, one to two grants of around $500 per Mess per financial year is a reasonable planning assumption for an average size mess. Larger or smaller requests may be considered on their merits and subject to available funding.

Who can apply?

The scheme is open to Officers' and Sergeants' Messes, Soldiers' Clubs, and unit PME activities conducted in a Mess.

How do I apply?

Get a quotation and complete the online form.

We'll ask what you're planning to do, what you want to achieve, how many people will benefit, who is supporting the activity and what funding you need.

No lengthy business case required.

So, if you've got a good PME idea, get creative and apply. We want to help make local PME happen.