Armed Forces

Armed Forces Covenant

The Armed Forces Covenant is about fair treatment. For most of the Armed Forces community, the Covenant is about removing disadvantage; so that they get the same access to services as the civilian community.

The Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the nation, the government and the Armed Forces. It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to members of the Armed Forces and their families, and it establishes how they should expect to be treated.

North Warwickshire Borough Council, along with other local authorities across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull pledged its commitment to the Armed Forces community via the Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2012.

North Warwickshire Borough Council then re-signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant as an individual organisation in October 2023, re-affirming it's commitment to the Armed Forces Community. 

The Covenant’s two principles are that:

• the Armed Forces community should not face disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services in the area where they live
• special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved

Warwickshire County Council offer help and services for armed forces personnel and veterans.

Career Transition Partnership (CTP) are the MoD's official provider of resettlement services to those leaving the Armed Forces and help thousands of Service leavers successfully transition from the military to civilian life each year.

View more information on the benefits of the Armed Forces Covenant website.

Get involved

North Warwickshire Borough Council signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012, however, it is not just for Local Authorities, you can get involved as well.

The Employer Recognition Scheme

The scheme encourages employers to pledge their support to defence and inspire others to do the same. Join over 1400 organisations and businesses that have pledged their support to the Armed Forces community.

North Warwickshire Borough Council received a Bronze Award in 2017, Silver Award in 2018 and Gold Award in 2019. The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) which encourages employers to support our Armed Forces and inspire others to do the same.

The scheme, which encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employers is designed to recognise those who pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Armed Forces Covenant can be signed by:

• businesses of all sizes
• charitable organisations
• public sector organisations
• single services: Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force (RAF)

Reservist employer toolkit

If you need practical advice and help on employing reservists, a toolkit is available for you providing information on your rights, responsibilities, and financial assistance that may be available to you.

Veterans support

Veterans’ Gateway is a website funded by the Armed Forces Covenant, which launched in 2019. 

The website is designed to be the first point of contact for veterans seeking support and can put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.

Support is available 24 hours a day seven days a week and is made up of a number of organisations and Armed Forces Charities including The Royal British Legion, SSAFA, and Combat Stress.

For further information, visit the website, call 0808 802 1212 or text 81212.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

The Covenant Fund was launched in 2015, and our previous programmes have included support for ex-service personnel in the criminal justice system, the Veterans’ Gateway and supporting serving families encountering difficult periods through Families in Stress programme.

We have also worked with Local Government, and given grants to support their delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant locally.

For the first three years, the Covenant Fund was based within the Ministry of Defence, and in April 2018, following a decision that it should become independent, it moved to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.

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 and makes grants to support members of the Armed Forces community. 

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund has four broad funding themes:

• removing barriers to family life
• extra support after service for those that need help
• measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the armed forces community to participate as citizens
• non-core healthcare services for veterans

View the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust website for more information on current funding opportunities.

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