The Armed Forces Covenant is an expression of the moral obligation that the government and the nation owe to the Armed Forces community.
The Covenant acknowledges that members of the Armed Forces sacrifice some freedoms and often face dangerous situations. It recognises that families play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces.
North Somerset Covenant
Ten years after the first North Somerset Covenant was signed locally, a new one was agreed in November 2023 to re-invigorate and evolve the original pledges of support.
The new covenant makes sure we consider the needs of serving and former Armed Forces personnel in matters of housing, education and health. Members of the Armed Forces community who wish to challenge our decisions will also now be able to ask for a judicial review.
There are three key principles in the Armed Forces Covenant, as follows:
- recognition of the service given in the Armed Forces
- that the Armed Forces community faces no disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services
- that special consideration should be given when required and appropriate, such as to the injured or the bereaved
The Armed Forces Covenant is therefore a promise made by the government to ensure that the Armed Forces community face no disadvantage as a result of their Service.
Armed Forces community
The Armed Forces community includes:
- regular personnel
- reservists
- veterans and families, including those of the bereaved
Family refers to the immediate family, including spouses, civil partners and children. In some cases this can be extended to parents, unmarried partners and other family members.