Armed Forces Covenant - Sign Up

We, the undersigned, agree to work and act together to honour the Armed Forces Covenant.

 Signatories

Section 1: Participants

1:1 This Armed Force Covenant is made between

The serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families working and residing in Gloucestershire.

And

Barrington Parish Council, 1ST Battalian the Rifles - Beachley Barracks, Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council, Brimscombe & Thrupp Parish Council, The British Legion, Brockworth Parish Council, Bromsberrow Parish Council, Cam Parish Council, Chapter of Gloucester Cathedral, Charlton Kings Parish Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, Chipping Campden Parish Council, Cirencester Town Council, Corse Parish Council, Cotswold District Council, Eastington Parish Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner, Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hartpury Parish Council, Imjiin Barracks, Innsworth Parish Council, Lechlade Town Council, Little Dean Parish Council, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, Mickleton Parish Council, Mitcheldean Parish Council, Newent Town Council, Northway Parish Council, Norton Parish Council, Prestbury Parish Council, Royal Agricultural University, Siddington Parish Council, South Cerney Parish Council, SSAFA, Stroud District Council, Tewkesbury Town Council, The Methodist Circuit of Gloucestershire, Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, Westbury on Severn Parish Council, Wotton-under-Edge Town Council.

SECTION 2: PRINCIPLES OF THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT

2.1 The Armed Forces Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. This Covenant encompasses the moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces, at the local level.

2.1 The Armed Forces Covenant is based upon two key principles:

• The Armed Forces community should not face disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.
• Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
• 2.3 The purpose of this Covenant is to encourage support for the Armed Forces Community working and residing in Gloucestershire and to recognise and remember the sacrifices made by members of this Armed Forces Community, particularly those who have given the most. This includes in-Service and ex-Service personnel their families and widow(er)s in Gloucestershire.
• 2.4 For Gloucestershire County Council and partner organisations, the Community Covenant presents an opportunity to bring their knowledge, experience and expertise to bear on the provision of help and advice to members of the Armed Forces Community. It also presents an opportunity to build upon existing good work on other initiatives such as the Welfare Pathway.
• 2.5 For the Armed Forces community, the Covenant encourages the integration of Service life into civilian life and encourages members of the Armed Forces community to help their local community.

SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES AND GENERAL INTENTIONS

Aims of the Covenant

• 3.1 The Armed Forces Covenant defines the enduring, general principles that should govern the relationship between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces community
• 3.2 It aims to encourage all parties within a community to offer support to the local Armed Forces community and make it easier for Service personnel, families and veterans to access the help and support available from the MOD, from statutory providers and from the Charitable and Voluntary Sector. These organisations already work together in partnership at local level.
• 3.3 The scheme is intended to be a two-way arrangement and the Armed Forces community are encouraged to do as much as they can to support their community and promote activity which integrates the Service community into civilian life.

SECTION 4: Measures

4.1 Leadership Gloucestershire (LG) which brings together key public sector organisations in the county and provides vision, leadership and strategic direction in those areas where it is vital for organisations to work together has taken the lead on the Armed Forces Community Covenant in the county. LG sees the Community Covenant as a long-term statement of intent to improve and build on existing military/civilian community relations. We confirm that we, when exercising certain aspects of our public functions, will have due regard to the three principles of the Armed Forces Covenant as required under the Armed Forces Act 2021: 1. the unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the armed forces; 2. the principle that it is desirable to remove disadvantages arising for service people from membership, or former membership, of the armed forces, and; 3. the principle that special provision for service people may be justified by the effects on such people of membership, or former membership, of the armed forces. LG hopes that the Covenant will provide an opportunity to build upon existing good work and initiatives in the county. (For further information on the members and terms of reference of Leadership Gloucestershire see:

Leadership: Gloucestershire - Working together for you - Gloucestershire County Council).

4.2 The Gloucestershire Armed Forces Partnership Forum brings together public sector organisations, military representatives, military charities and the voluntary and community sector.

The Forum works together to ensure that we are meeting our commitments to the Armed Forces community within Gloucestershire as members of the Armed Forces Covenant, to discuss Armed Forces issues and to share best practice. For more information contact:

afcovenant@gloucestershire.gov.uk

CONTACT PERSONNEL

MOD Armed Forces Covenant Team

Email: covenant-mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Address

Armed Forces Covenant Team
Zone A, 6" Floor Ministry of Defence Main Building
Whitehall
London SWA 2HB

Gloucestershire County Council

Email: afcovenant@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Address

Prevention, Wellbeing & Communities Hub
Gloucestershire County Council
Shire Hall
Gloucester GL1 2TJ

THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT

An Enduring Covenant Between

The People of the United Kingdom

Her Majesty's Government

- and -

All those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown

And their Families

The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families.

They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.

Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.