The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
Armed Forces Covenant for communities
All 407 local authorities in mainland Great Britain and 4 Northern Ireland councils have signed their own Armed Forces Covenants (previously known as Community Covenants). These complement the Armed Forces Covenant at a local level.
The aims are to:
- encourage local communities to support the armed forces community in their areas and to nurture public understanding and awareness among the public of issues affecting the armed forces community
- recognise and remember the sacrifices faced by the armed forces community
- encourage activities which help to integrate the armed forces community into local life
- encourage the armed forces community to help and support the wider community, whether through participation in events and joint projects, or other forms of engagement
The Armed Forces community includes serving and former members of the forces (both regular and reservist); their families and dependents.
The Armed Forces Covenant in Bath and North East Somerset
The council and its partners are committed to supporting the local Armed Forces community and signed their Covenant pledge on 24 June 2013 to reflect this. Current signatories are:-
- Avon and Somerset Constabulary
- Avon Fire and Rescue Service
- Avon Local Councils Association
- Bath and North East Somerset Council
- Bath Spa University
- British Army
- BANES Clinical Commissioning Group (now Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board)
- Curo
- Royal Air Force
- Royal British Legion
- Royal Navy
Support for members of the Armed Forces Community
Staff from the Council's Customer Services teams are able to assist with a range of enquiries about Council and partner services. If you are a member of the Armed Forces Community and feel that you have not been treated fairly when accessing any public service, do let us know.
The Community Wellbeing Hub also provides a central place for Bath & North East Somerset residents to access a range of services related to health and wellbeing including debt, money and benefits advice; housing advice; access to low cost food; support to improve mental health; help with finding employment and more. Call 0300 247 0050.
Support and advice for the Armed Forces Community is also available from a large number of organisations both locally and nationally, such as Royal British Legion and SSAFA.
With over 1,000 charitable and not for profit organisations currently offering help to veterans, the system can prove difficult to navigate. To assist, a national 'Veterans Gateway' has been established. Visit the website for further details or call 0808 802 1212.
The Royal British Legion also has a website specifically to help service personnel transition to civilian life called Civvy Street.
There is also a website aimed at the Armed Forces Community in the South West Forces Connect South West.
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is a charity that supports the Armed Forces Covenant by delivering funding programmes that create real change to Armed Forces communities across the UK. The Armed Forces Covenant Fund is worth £10m a year and has four broad funding themes.
1. Non-core healthcare services for veterans.
2. Removing barriers to family life.
3. Extra support, both in and after Service, for those that need help.
4. Measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the Armed Forces community to participate as citizen
The Trust has also created The Knowledge Network which includes information on the impact of the projects they support, examples of best practice, research, statistics and consultations.
We are delighted that Hidden Valley Bushcraft based in Pensford were awarded £70,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Positive Pathways Programme. This enabled them to provide two years of their Woodland Warrior programmes between 2020 – 2022. The Woodland Warrior Programme provides therapeutic activities for armed forces personnel, veterans and members of the emergency services. It gives participants the opportunity to: Recuperate, Recalibrate and Re-engage. The funding also supported wild camping experiences for veterans and their families and rural experience days. If you are interested, or know someone that might benefit, please contact them via e-mail.
Other Resources
For other funding opportunities for organisations and individuals, see the Council's latest Funding Journal.
For statistics and research on veterans and their families, visit the Forces in Mind Trust Research Centre website.
For information on any aspect of the Armed Forces Covenant in Bath and North East Somerset contact:-
Alison Wells
Community Engagement Officer – People and Policy
Tel: (01225) 396539
E-mail: alison_wells@bathnes.gov.uk