Armed Forces Covenant - Print version

Armed Forces Covenant - Coventry Offer

The Covenant Legal Duty is a legal obligation on certain public bodies (including local authorities, governing bodies of certain state schools, various NHS bodies, and other organisations) to have due regard to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant when carrying out certain functions in healthcare, education and housing.

Councillor Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Armed Forces Champion for Coventry City Council.

"The Armed Forces Covenant is a visible symbol of our intent to ensure that those who defend all of us are not disadvantaged by their service: and that the talents and dedication of veterans and Reservists are given further arenas in which to shine and benefit from their undoubted talents, skills and experiences".

What is the Coventry Offer for Armed Forces employees?

• Guaranteed interview to armed forces applicants if they meet minimum criteria at application stage.
• 10 days paid leave for Reservists.
• 5 days additional unpaid leave for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV)
• Flexible working arrangements
• Coventry City Council is establishing an Armed Forces Employee Network. The Network is open to Veterans, Reservists, Cadet Force Volunteers and those with a family member who once Served or is still Serving, as well as to those who have an interest in championing awareness of equality for our Armed Forces community. We aim to offer support and guidance for staff whilst raising awareness of key issues and to play a role in influencing policy that may affect this community.
• Dedicated internal and external information page for Veterans, Reservists, CFAV, spouses / partners.
• Coventry City Council has an Online Learning Platform hosting three Armed Forces modules, which are available for all council employees to complete.
• Managerial support to new starters in a safe, supportive and structured way through an induction process and policy
• An internal Officers Group, which brings together colleagues, from a range of different service areas to champion and share good practice, discuss and raise awareness of Armed Forces issues.
• Coventry City Council is a registered user of the Careers Transition Partnership [https://www.ctp.org.uk/job-finding] jobs board and Forces Families [https://www.forcesfamiliesjobs.co.uk/] jobs board promoting job opportunities.

How does Coventry City Council celebrate and champion our Armed Forces community?

• Each year, the Lord Mayor of Coventry asks all the cadet services in Coventry Cadets to nominate a young person to be a Lord Mayor Cadet. The Lord Mayor's Cadets are representative of all the tri-services and are included in the Ceremonial Planning Group where they can influence and shape the local delivery of Armed Forces Week, Remembrance Sunday etc.
• CCC hosts and celebrates a number of Armed Forces events throughout the year. View our latest photo galleries: Armed Forces Week [https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB3ftd], Remembrance Sunday [https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAKaKd]
• The Armed Forces Champion attends the Armed Forces Cadets AGM
• When invited, the Armed Forces Champion will visit the local cadet units.
• The Coventry Job Shop hosts Armed Forces Recruitment events with the Army Careers Service.
• Coventry supports veterans in the community and hosts two Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Clubs.
• Signposting information and support for defence people employees to access.
• The Veterans Contact Point in Nuneaton offers advice and support to veterans and their families who live in Coventry
• Regular information and updates relating to local and national Armed Forces are posted on the intranet page.
• CCC has compiled an Armed Forces Survey, which is being distributed across the council to all employees. The survey will be used to identify the numbers of employees who are a Veteran, Reservist, CFAV, Spouse/Partner. Moving forward, this data will automatically be captured through the application and recruitment process.
• CCC promotes and celebrates the various Armed Forces events and training events across a range of social media platforms.
• The Coventry Job Shop [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/jobshop] is committed to raising the profile of the Employer Recognition Scheme and will promote the scheme to the organisations and businesses in Coventry that it works directly with. The Job Shop can also offer support for local residents who are looking for work and can provide a range of services for individuals.

Job opportunities with Coventry City Council

You can find all job opportunities on our careers page [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies] where you will be able to seek additional support and advice for job seekers [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/advice-job-seekers], information about our rewards and benefits [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/rewards-benefits], future talent [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/futuretalent] and our commitment to diversity and inclusion [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/diversity-inclusion].

Alternatively, if you can’t find the answer you are looking for, you can either complete our online contact form [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/advice-job-seekers/accessibility] or contact resourcing@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:resourcing@coventry.gov.uk].

If you want to be updated weekly about new job opportunities, sign up to our free job alerts for all Coventry City Council jobs [https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKCOVENTRY/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKCOVENTRY_352] and free job alerts for our School jobs [https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKCOVENTRY/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKCOVENTRY_453].

What is the Armed Forces Covenant [https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/]?

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 [https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/] 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 [https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20600/charities_and_voluntary_groups/1430/armed_forces_community_covenant] 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 [https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/support-and-advice/businesses/] 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.

Support for the Armed Forces

There are lots of organisations that provide support to serving armed forces personnel, their families and veterans.

Here you can find out more about alternative support. [https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20600/charities_and_voluntary_groups/1430/armed_forces_community_covenant/2]

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) awards grants that support the Armed Forces community.

The people who benefit from the grants are from the Armed Forces community. This includes serving personnel, families, Veterans and families and carers of Veterans. In some of the programmes, the wider community around a base or in an area with an Armed Forces population can also benefit.

The Trust are both a charity and a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). They deliver high impact programmes, including administration of the £10 million Armed Forces Covenant Fund, each year.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust [https://covenantfund.org.uk/] will award £30million in grants under the Covenant Fund over the next three years (2024 – 2027) according to its three–year framework.

The new Funding Framework has a strong focus on the principles within the Covenant of no disadvantage due to Service, and extra support for those who have given the most. It is built around themes of:

• improving quality of life.
• ensuring that Armed Forces Communities are not disadvantaged;
• supporting those in need of special consideration and
• understanding complex needs and identifying solutions.

The Trust has launched their first three-year Funding Framework. You can read the full document and also watch a recording of their recent webinar where they discussed the Framework in more detail [http://covenantfund.org.uk/resources/armed-forces-covenant-fund-funding-framework-2024-27/].

More information on the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust [https://covenantfund.org.uk/], including how it awards grants, current open grant programmes, information about its governance, and more.

Forces discount offers

For great deals and savings for the military community, visit Forces Discount Offers, who are a UK based website offering discounts and deals to our Armed Forces and military staff.

Veteran ID Card

An HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a way to prove that you served in the UK armed forces. The card can make it quicker and easier to apply for support as a veteran.

Until now, there has been no easy way for veterans to prove they were in the Armed Forces, with serving personnel being required to hand back their ID card (the MOD 90) upon discharge - but now a new ID card is available.

People who left the military recently may already have the new Veteran ID card. But those who left before December 2018 will not.

The new, official card (which can be applied for online) [https://www.gov.uk/veteran-card] is being delivered by the Ministry of Defence and Office for Veterans' Affairs as part of ongoing improvements to veteran support.

It’s free to apply.

The Veterans' Gateway

The Veterans’ Gateway [https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/] can help you if you are ex-service and struggling with civvy street. Whether you’re looking for a new home, having financial troubles or struggling with employment, they can connect you directly to the help you’re looking for from organisations that support the ex-service community – wherever and whenever you need it.

For 24-hour support, go to The Veterans’ Gateway [https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/] website or call 0808 802 1212.

Veterans Contact Point

The ethos of The Veterans Contact Point [https://veteranscontactpoint.org.uk/] (VCP) is to be there for those who have served in any of the UK Armed Forces – Veterans,  and those who live in Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire (CSW) Area.

The VCP is a service by staffed by veterans for veterans. The Veterans Group identified that Veterans understand Veterans and became aware that with external help/interventions assisted by Peer Support, positive changes could be made in people's lives, reducing re-offending, improving engagement, providing a fantastic return on any social investment made, but most importantly of all “being there without judgement, for other veterans in need."

They provide a confidential, free service for veterans and their families living and working in Coventry and Warwickshire.  

For further information:

• Call 024 7634 3793 or 07763 792168  (10am – 4pm Monday to Friday)
• Visit The Veterans Contact Point [https://veteranscontactpoint.org.uk/] website

Combat Stress helpline

If you're currently serving, or have served in the UK Armed Forces, you can call the Combat Stress 24-hour helpline [https://www.combatstress.org.uk/helpline] to talk about mental health. If you are a family member or carer worried about a loved one or need to talk to someone yourself, you can use it too. 

Open all day, every day offering support and advice. This is a free and confidential service.

We are here for you if you are having a tough time, have trouble sleeping, have flashbacks, feel depressed, get anxious sometimes or just feel that something is not quite right. 

• Call: 0800 138 1619 [tel:+448001381619]
• Text: 07537 404 719 [tel:+447537404719]
• Email: helpline@combatstress.org.uk [mailto:helpline@combatstress.org.uk] 

The Army Families Federation (AFF)

The Army Families Federation [http://www.aff.org.uk/] is independent of the Army and offers confidential advice on a range of welfare issues including money matters and family life.

The MOD Army

The MOD Army [https://www.army.mod.uk/people/] provides help on a range of welfare issues including deployment support for families, legal assistance and a dedicated Forces line for confidential guidance.

The Naval Families Federation

The Naval Families Federation  lists organisations and charities that can help with a range of welfare issues, including bereavement and disability needs.

The Royal Navy

The Royal Navy Community [https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/community-and-support/community] provides information to help serving personnel facing bullying, harassment or stress.

The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA)

The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association [http://www.ssafa.org.uk/] provides information on social, family and financial issues to anyone that is currently serving or has ever served in the Army, Navy or RAF, and their families.

Veterans UK

Veterans UK [http://www.veterans-uk.info/] provides a range of services including a veterans' advice helpline, a welfare service that will provide a dedicated caseworker to assist veterans and their families, and support to war pensioners and war widow(ers).

The Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion [http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/] provide financial, social and emotional care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces - past and present and their families.

Open University

Opening access to higher education for the armed forces [https://www5.open.ac.uk/forces/#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20looking%20to,the%20armed%20or%20civil%20services.].