Armed Forces Covenant

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

It is a pledge that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who 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. This includes offering injured servicemen, women and bereaved families extra support where suitable.

Broadland District and South Norfolk Councils are proud to have signed the Norfolk Armed Forces Covenant Pledge to show our support.

The Covenant Duty

The Armed Forces Covenant Duty is a legal obligation on public bodies in Healthcare, Housing and Education to 'have due regard' to the principles of the Covenant. It requires decisions about the development and delivery of certain services are made with conscious consideration of the needs of the Armed Forces Community. It ensures armed forces personnel, veterans and their families are better supported when accessing these essential services.

Armed Forces Champions

The Gold Award from the Employer Recognition Scheme recognises we are an armed forces friendly organisation. Armed Forces Covenant Member Champions are Councillor Fraser Bowe in Broadland and Councillor Graham Minshull in South Norfolk.

What we offer

Housing

Our housing allocations policy has special consideration for the armed forces community. We:

disregard injury and disability payments; whether these are periodic or a lump sum
overlook lack of connection for current and former members. We allow up to five years for divorced and separated spouses, eligible partners and civil partners
all applications qualify from current or former members (having left service within the preceding five years, as defined by s.374 of the Armed Forces Act 2006)
if they are divorced, separated or a civil partner of service personnel required and are required to move out of Ministry of Defence accommodation, they will qualify to join the housing register.

Information on applying for housing can be found on our Housing Register.

Employment

Our vacancies are advertised on Careers Transition Partnership and Forces Families for Jobs, with a guaranteed interview to anyone leaving the forces who meets the essential criteria of the role applied for.

We recognise that service life has equipped our ex-defence employees with resilience and flexibility and value the contribution they bring to the organisation. Our Annual Leave Policy helps with leave for spouses and partners and other policies support flexible working, and volunteering. We offer Reservists 10 days extra paid leave to attend their redeployments.

Our staff take e-learning sessions giving them extra skills to help our armed forces:

Armed Forces Covenant-Induction (Mandatory for Housing staff)
Housing, Homelessness and the Armed Forces Covenant
The Armed Forces Covenant for Front Line Workers
Adjusting to life outside the Armed Forces

Businesses or community organisations can show your support by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. We will help any parish council or business who want to sign up. Please contact business@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

If you are self-employed or starting a business, our Business Builder Programme can help with advice and training to support your business grow.

Help and support

The Norfolk Armed Forces Covenant has more information on the different types of support available to our armed forces community, including funding for the Armed Forces Community.

The Royal British Legion in Norfolk plays an active role in your local area to support the serving and ex-Service community. Royal British Legion support includes a Cost of Living Grants Programme. This is will help with everyday essentials such as kitchen appliances, clothes, and energy costs. It is available to anyone eligible for support and they aim to assess online applications within 5 days of submission.

SSAFA in Norfolk can help provide practical, financial and emotional support for service personnel, veterans and their families.

Forces Connect app is an easy-to-use and comprehensive directory of valuable contacts and information, for those seeking help within the Armed Forces Community. It is available for iPhone or android.

Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families. To make a referral you can call direct on 0300 323 0137, email mevs.mhm@nhs.net or ask your GP to refer you.

The Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans Annual Report 2024 is the annual update on delivery against the Armed Forces Covenant and the Strategy for Veterans. Further information is available from the Covenant on a page 2024

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust support the Armed Forces Covenant by delivering funding programmes that create real change to Armed Forces communities across the UK. E-learning courses are available.

Forces Pension Society is available as a resource for Veterans

On Thursday 12 September 2024 OVA launched a new directory on GOV.UK that will allow veterans to find government and charity support, nationally and in their local area, as well as new online guides to help veterans access the information they need more quickly.

At the end of September 2024, the Veterans’ Gateway website was retired and now redirects users to the new GOV.UK pages. The Gateway phone line will continue to operate.

The Veterans’ Gateway website has provided a valuable resource over the last few years, and OVA thank the Royal British Legion for their work in running it. However, extensive user research with veterans and recommendations from the independent welfare review informed the decision to develop the new GOV.UK directory and advice pages.

GOV.UK will now include:

● A searchable directory lists government and charity support for veterans and their families, allowing veterans to find help in their local area. Initially the directory will list COBSEO members and current referral partners. Veterans Data Dashboard can also be viewed for up - to - date data.

● Online support guides to help veterans find information by need, including on housing, employment, health, compensation, bereavement, care needs and more.

Employer Recognition Scheme – Gold Award

Councillors Florence Ellis, Ken Kelly and Keith Kiddie receiving the Gold Award

The Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire other organisations to do this.

We are proud to have been given a Gold Award in national recognition of our commitment to support our Armed Forces community, past and present.

Steve Williams, Waste Senior Operations Manager and former RAF Acting Squadron Leader, said:

"The organisation has helped me settle in after leaving the RAF and the support that it gives to ex-service personnel is brilliant. The transition from the military way of working to a civilian way has gone smoothly, but I know that if I needed extra support, it would be readily available.”