Heywood signs Armed Forces Community Covenant

Heywood Armed Forces Community community Covenant

The signing of this Armed Forces Community Covenant marks Heywood as the first town in Great Britain to have its own local Armed Forces Community covenant and is welcomed and applauded by the MOD.

Ahead of the Rochdale Council Borough wide covenant this gives Heywood Armed Forces Representatives, The Lancashire Veterans Association, an extra choice should they wish to make a separate bid application or partake in a Borough wide bid.

The Armed Forces Covenant was published in May 2011; the Government introduced the Community Covenant with a £30m grant scheme to support it, with individual application bids of up to £250,000.

The covenant sets out the relationship between the Nation, the State and the Armed Forces.

It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to members of the Armed Forces and their families, and it establishes how they should expect to be treated.

It exists to redress the disadvantages that the Armed Forces community faces in comparison to other citizens, and to recognise sacrifices made. In some cases this will require special consideration, especially for those who have given the most such as the injured and the bereaved.

The principle behind the covenant is that the Armed Forces Community should not face disadvantage because of its military experience. In some cases, such as the sick, injured or bereaved, this means giving special consideration to enable access to public or commercial services that civilians wouldn’t receive.

The covenant covers issues from housing and education to support after Service, and in it veterans have great importance. It is crucial to the Government that it, and the nation, recognises the unique and immense sacrifices you have made for your country.

The Armed Forces Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. Community Covenants are intended to complement, at local level, the Armed Forces Covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces. The aim of the Community Covenant is to encourage local communities to support the Service community in their area and promote understanding and awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the Armed Forces Community.