Armed Forces serving personnel, veterans, reservists and their families are valued members of our communities. All councils have signed the voluntary Armed Forces Covenant and are fully committed to honouring their obligations to those who have served their country.
Councils work with partner organisations to provide a range of services that support serving personnel and their families. Councils also support veterans and their families to adjust from the Armed Forces to civilian life, including housing, money advice, employment support, schools and health and wellbeing services.
The Armed Forces Act 2021 introduced a new requirement for some public bodies, including local authorities and the NHS, to pay due regard to the principles of the Covenant when carrying out specific functions in the areas of housing, healthcare and education. Guidance to public bodies will be laid before Parliament in due course.
The LGA supports a network of council officers with lead responsibility for the Armed Forced Covenant. The Network provides an opportunity for councils to feed into LGA policy development, influence Government policy and a space to discuss evolving issues and approaches. If your council would like to join the network please email [email protected].
LGA documents
Ministry of Defence documents
- Armed Forces Covenant including resources for local authorities such as e-learning modules developed for front line staff and housing, homelessness and the Armed Forces Covenant
- Veterans’ Strategy action plan
- UK Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022 to 2032
- Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees
- Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans annual report 2021
Other useful links
- Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, including a Knowledge Network that enables councils and others to access learning and best practice from the grant making of the Armed Forces Covent Fund Trust
- Falklands 40