Every local authority in Great Britain has signed a pledge to implement the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant in their communities through their local services, policies and partnerships.
These are sometimes referred to as Community Covenants.
In practice, this means local councils and civilian groups are committed to work together to ensure that members of the Armed Forces community:
- Face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services
And that
- Special consideration is appropriate in some cases especially for those who have given the most, such as the injured and the bereaved
Across the country, local authorities have been training staff about the Covenant.
They've been setting up new webpages for the Armed Forces community, reviewing their housing allocation policies, and briefing GPs and health professionals about the needs of the Armed Forces community in their area.
This focused, collaborative approach is helping to improve the everyday lives of millions of members of the Armed Forces community.
We have produced guidance to help local authorities establish successful Covenant groups and address the big issues facing the Armed Forces community. You can download our best practice guide, community covenant checklist and what's next? document.
Making a difference
The Armed Forces Covenant is making a real difference on the ground in all local communities but this can only happen with the support and input of local authorities, Armed Forces units, charities, healthcare providers, employers, and many more stakeholders. If you’d like more information on how to make a success of local Covenant pledges in your area please contact [email protected].