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.

The 3 principles of the Armed Forces Covenant set out in the Armed Forces Act 2006 are:

1. Recognising the unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the Armed Forces.

2. The principle that it is desirable to remove disadvantages arising for Service people [this means the Armed Forces Community as a whole] from membership, or former membership, of the Armed Forces.

3. The principle that special provision for Service people may be justified by the effects on such people of membership, or former membership, of the Armed Forces. What this means is that we may wish to do more for those who have given the most, such as the injured or bereaved.

Armed Forces Champions

The Gold Award from the Employer Recognition Scheme recognises the councils are armed forces friendly organisations. 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

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.

● 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.

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

Directory tool link
Veterans Data Dashboard
Op ASCEND: a free, government-backed employment service that supports veterans by providing career advice and helping them connect with veteran-friendly employers.
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. GP's or armed forces charities can also refer direct.
Op FORTITUDE: For veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Helpline: 0800 9520774.
The Royal British Legion in Norfolk supports the local serving and ex-Service community. Their new Cost of Living Grants Programme is available to anyone eligible for support and can help in a quick and easy way with everyday essentials such as kitchen appliances, clothes, and energy costs. They aim to assess online applications are within 5 days of submission.
SSAFA in Norfolk can help provide practical, financial and emotional support for service personnel, veterans and their families. They can be contacted on 01603 430322 or email at norfolk.branch@ssafa.org.uk
Suicide Bereavement UK have veteran and family ‘At Your Side’ guides which can be downloaded from their website.
Veterans UK offer help and support for service leavers and veterans from the Veterans Welfare Service, Defence Transition Services, Armed Forces Pensions and other organisations.
Carers Matters Norfolk offers offers information and advice, carer breaks, signposting to services, and support for carers of all ages who are part of the armed forces.
Veterans' Foundation offer grants to charities or organisations that provide assistance to serving and former members of the armed forces. To check eligibility email grants@veteransfoundation.org.uk
Nationally the Armed Forces Covenant website offers information on support available. Norfolk Armed Forces Covenant has further information on the support available to our armed forces community in Norfolk including local and national support available.
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust funds projects supporting the Armed Forces community.
Forces Pension Society is available as a resource for Veterans
Armed Forces Community
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
Fighting with Pride Fighting with Pride is an LGBT+ military charity that supports LGBT+ veterans, serving personnel and their families.
VALOUR Veterans across the UK will have easier access to essential care and support under a new VALOUR system announced 5 may 2025, as part of the Government’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who have served through the Plan for Change
Thrive Together - Thrive Together is the name for the second phase of the Veterans People, Places and Pathways Programme (VPPP). Over a 3-year period from 2024-2027, Thrive Together aims to build sustainable and resilient networks to ensure Veterans receive prompt, effective and tailored support. Whereas VPPP was fully focussed on Veterans, this new phase of the programme will also include support to families.
Veteran's Voice - East of England the latest project proudly introduced by The Bridge for Heroes as part of the Thrive Together programme (above) in the East of England, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. Veterans Voice aims to strengthen partnerships, enhance digital access and provide a forum for feedback, improve awareness and access to services, provide targeted outreach, tackle stigma around mental health issues and improve community integration. Veteran's Voice - Norfolk events and activities

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.”