What is the Armed Forces Covenant?
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives.
It's two principles are that, recognising the unique obligations of and sacrifices made by the Armed Forces:
- 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.
Disadvantage is when any member or group in the Armed Forces community has worse access to goods or services than is normal for the UK general population, due to Service life. - Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
Special provision is when an appropriate group in the Armed Forces community has better access to goods and services than is normal for the UK general population and the rest of the Armed Forces community. An appropriate group is usually a group that has sacrificed the most, such as the injured or bereaved.
The Armed Forces Community Covenant was developed and signed in June 2012 by a range of statutory agencies, voluntary and military charities in support of the national Armed Forces Covenant. These agencies have formed a partnership to progress the Covenant across the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire sub-region.
The Coventry & Warwickshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership is working with the armed forces to help and support current and former service personnel and their families in the local area.
We are also encouraging Coventry & Warwickshire businesses, community groups and individuals to work with us to pledge their support to armed forces personnel and their families as well as reservists and veterans.
The aim of the Armed Forces Covenant is 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.