Armed Forces Covenant

The Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the nation, the state and the armed forces and it establishes how they should expect to be treated.

What is the Covenant about?

The Covenant is about removing disadvantages so armed service personnel, past and present, get the same treatment and access to services as the civilian community. It is based on four themes:

• encouraging local communities to support their local armed forces community and vice versa
• promoting public understanding and awareness of issues that affect the armed forces community
• recognising the sacrifices made by the armed forces community
• encouraging activities which help integrate the armed forces community into local life. 

We pledged our support in 2013 with a particular focus on respect and remembrance. We re-signed the Covenant on 23 June 2018. You can find out more about the Covenant using the quick link above.

Supporting the armed forces community in Leicester

We work closely with partners locally to recognise the sacrifices made by the armed forces community. This includes leading events and city-wide participation in Armed Forces Day and the annual Remembrance Day service.

We also work closely with local units including the Royal Lancers Regiment and Royal Anglian Regiment who both have freedom of the city of Leicester.

The armed forces community we support includes current and former service personnel; families and dependents, reservists and veterans.

Below is a brief summary of the main areas of support offered through our council services:

Customer service

Customer services staff are aware of our commitments under the Covenant so please indicate if you are a member of the armed forces community when you make contact with us. 

Housing

Priority is given to armed forces personnel within our Housing Allocations Policy (Part 4.34) and persons leaving the armed forces will be considered under this priority, if they make an application for housing within 5 years of their discharge from the service and do not have a home to return to.

Housing benefit

The authority runs a “local scheme” for claimants of housing benefit who are in receipt of either War Widows Pension or War Disablement Pension.

This means that either of these incomes will be fully disregarded, when any entitlement to housing benefit is assessed.

School admissions

The Admissions Code to which we follow gives additional rights in relation to allocation of places to children of UK service personnel, and exceptions can be made to class sizes in infant education in exceptional circumstances. 

Public health

The needs of veterans are acknowledged and taken account of in the Joint Specific Needs Assessment for Mental Health Services prepared with the Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group. 

Hate crime and domestic violence

We have commissioned domestic and sexual violence support specifically for veterans, and are committed to combating hate crime in all its forms and always tailor our response to meet individual need. 

What is the Covenant Fund?

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) supports the Armed Forces Covenant by delivering funding programmes that create real change to Armed Forces communities across the UK. 

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund has four broad funding themes now and in future years:

1. Non-core healthcare services for veterans.
2. Removing barriers to family life.
3. Extra support, both in and after Service, for those that need help.
4. Measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the Armed Forces community to participate as citizens.

You can find more information on current programmes at covenantfund.org.uk.

Useful websites and local groups

There are also a range of other local and national services who may be able to help members of the armed forces community.

Contact us

For any enquiries about the Covenant please email us at AFCovenant@leicester.gov.uk.