The Armed Forces Covenant is a nationwide agreement between the armed forces community, the nation and the government.
It aims to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. It also means that special consideration is appropriate in some cases. This is especially true for those who have given the most, such as the injured or the bereaved.
The Covenant does not provide any special advantage but it makes sure that members of the armed forces are not disadvantaged.
The Armed Forces Covenant e-learning programme provides more details about how the Covenant can help.
The Armed Forces Act 2021 introduces legislation covering housing, healthcare and education. The Armed Forces Covenant Duty is a legal obligation on certain public bodies to pay due regard to the Covenant principles when exercising certain functions. The purpose of this guidance is to assist the specified bodies comply with their legal obligations, by providing information about the Duty and those people within the Armed Forces Community who are beneficiaries of the Duty. It highlights the issues these people can face as a result of Service life, and illustrates good practice in the areas of healthcare, education and housing.
Plymouth first adopted the Plymouth Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2012. Since then the Ministry of Defence has changed the commitment process and ask each individual organisation to sign their individual commitment to the Covenant.
The Council’s support for the Armed Forces Covenant
Councillor Pauline Murphy is the Council’s Armed Forces Member Champion and the Chair of the Plymouth Armed Forces Covenant Partnership.
Plymouth Armed Forces Covenant partnership
More than 70 Plymouth businesses have signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Partnership involves representatives from businesses and services within the council and partner organisations including those in:
- The Royal Navy, Army, Royal Marines, RAF, Reserves and Cadets
- housing and Community Connections departments
- education, children and young people departments
- adult social care and public health departments
- voluntary and charity sectors
- service children
- war widows
- Ministry of Defence
- local and national businesses
Further information and help
- education for armed forces community
- employment and training
- funding and grants for armed forces community
- healthcare for armed forces community
- housing information for armed forces community
- other sources of information and support for the armed forces
- A home in civilian society – a guide for the armed forces community
- Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans
Information for communities, organisations and businesses that wish to support Plymouth’s armed forces:
- funding and grants
- show your support for the Armed Forces
Please email ChiefExecutiveBusinessSupportUnit@plymouth.gov.uk if you are unable to find the information you need.