The Armed Forces Covenant
The Covenant is a promise between the nation, the government and the Armed Forces community, ensuring that those who serve, and have served, in the Armed Forces and their families, are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged by their service.
- Applies to regular serving personnel, reservists, veterans, their families and the bereaved
‘Parity not priority’
What the Covenant covers
- Access to services
- Education
- Housing
- Health
- Mental Health
- Employment
- Transition
- Family support
- Criminal Justice
- Welfare
- Community and Social Isolation
Bases: RAF Wittering, RAF Wyton and Bassingbourn (All are expanding over the next two years) overseen by 7th Infantry Brigade based at Kendrew Barracks. US bases of Molesworth and Alconbury and links with Mildenhall and Lakenheath.
Reserve regiments: 158 RLC in Peterborough, 254 Medical Regiment in Cambridge and University Officers Training Corps in Cambridge, Wyton and Wittering.
Dispersed Families
Cadets and Adult Cadet volunteers
Veterans: Estimated around 10% of our population. Anyone that has served one day or more. Average veteran age is 40-50 but can be in their 20’s and upwards.
You will have colleagues from the Armed Forces Community that you were not aware of.
Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Boards
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Purpose of Partnership Boards
- Provide a strategic link within partner organisations with regard to the Armed Forces Covenant
- Give strategic direction in order to strengthen links between communities and the Military
- Champion the Armed Forces and honour the commitment given by the men and women of the Armed Forces
- Review the work of the Armed Forces Covenant on an annual basis
- Acknowledge and promote the valued role Reservists play within the community
- Encourage recognition and remembrance of the role played by the Armed Forces
- Work collaboratively with the task groups and act as final arbiter
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Project Objectives
- Coordination and support for the Covenant Boards (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough)
- Producing Annual report.
- Strategic oversight and policy change
- Data gathering
- Training
- Raising awareness
- Community engagement and public events
- Digital Presence development, signposting and referral pathways
- Further projects to improve lives of the military community
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Health
- Specific Coding for Veterans, reservists and family members
- Priority access for treatment for service related injuries
- Veterans Mental health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS)
- Veterans Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS)
- Veterans trauma Network (VTN)
- Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans Framework (IPC4V)
- Personalised care for veterans with long term physical, mental or neurological health condition or disability.
- Veteran Friendly GP Practice Accreditation
- Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) E-Learning
- E-Learning
- https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/nhs-healthcare-for-the-armed-forces/
- https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/localauthorities/
Housing
- Removal of local connection criteria for anyone who has left service within last 5 years.
- Priority banding for those being medically discharged
- Divorcing spouses not covered but new consultation may change this
- No specific veteran housing in the county at present
- STOLL – Veterans Nomination Scheme wanting to expand into Cambridgeshire
- Support for rent and deposits
- Transfer of care, OT and adaptions – MOD recovery pathway
- Hidden Homeless and Rough Sleeping
- Data – Homelink report – last quarter 226 AFC applications, 22 requesting move due to medical condition, injury or disability.
Housing Outreach Project
- Funding from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to tackle veteran homelessness
- Housing Outreach Officer to work, over next 12 months, closely with housing authorities, housing associations and homeless/rough sleeping organisations.
- Establish true picture of the housing need in the county for the Armed Forces Community
- Create a Veterans hub at Garden House for those most vulnerable veterans
- Advise on gaps in provision and produce strategy for moving forward/ensure armed forces community are considered in current homelessness strategies.
- Continued training for housing staff across the county.
Campaign Website
#nohomelessveterans.org.uk
Contact details
Vikki Barr
Armed Forces Covenant Development Officer for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Victoria.barr@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Covenant@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
T: 01223 703258
M: 07776679592
Armed Forces Champions:
Cambridgeshire – Cllr Mac McGuire
Peterborough – Cllr John Fox
