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Armed Forces covenant

Gedling’s Armed Forces Covenant

The Borough of Gedling signed its Armed Forces Covenant on 29 April 2013. 

The Armed Forces Covenant for Gedling is a statement of mutual support between local civilian and armed forces communities, and complements the National Armed Forces Covenant, published by the Government in 2011 as a statement of the moral obligation which exists between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces.

The Covenant supports Armed Forces personnel by making help with healthcare, employment and housing available both whilst they are serving, and when they leave.

The Borough of Gedling’s Armed Forces Covenant was signed by the Mayor of the Borough of Gedling, Councillor Sandra Barnes, on behalf of Gedling Borough Council, Lieutenant Colonel Kaine Price on behalf of the Armed Forces, the Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Reserve, and Mr Andy Gregory on behalf of the Royal British Legion.

Lieutenant Colonel Price said: “By agreeing, via this Covenant, to work with partners and local business communities as well as Armed Forces personnel, Gedling Borough Council is demonstrating a real commitment to improving the lives of both serving and former Armed Forces personnel.

Councillor John Clarke, Leader of Gedling Borough Council, said: “I believe that we should be doing everything we can to support our Armed Forces. They do an incredible job, and that’s why I’m keen to show our appreciation by signing up to this Covenant.”

 

View the Armed Forces Community Covenant Action Plan

Our commitment

The Covenant ensures that the Borough of Gedling:

  • Recognises the contribution made by the Armed Forces community
  • remembers the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces community
  • shares knowledge, experience and expertise to provide help and advice to current and former members of the Armed Forces community and their families
  • encourages the integration from service life into civilian life.

The Community Covenant also aims to ensure that the local Armed Forces community is not disadvantaged in the services offered in the borough, and enables the Armed Forces community to contribute its skills and experience.

Next steps

The council has amended their forces action that is refreshed every two years. This includes:

  • Ways of promoting and improving access to a range of countywide Forces support and information
  • Ways in which we’re working to identify serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families, so we can contact them about support and help that’s available
  • Projects and initiatives to help improve the health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces Community in Gedling

To find out about grants available for Armed Forces support initiatives please visit the gov.uk covenant fund web page.

ERS Gold Award Achievement

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community. Gedling Borough Council have aligned their values and practices with the Armed Forces Covenant to achieve the ERS gold award in June 2022. Find out more on the ERS website. 

Supporting Armed Forces

Nottinghamshire County Council has launched an online, one-stop-shop of support for local armed forces personnel, reserves, veterans, cadets and people who interact with them.

The website, www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/supporting-armed-forces highlights some of the ways in which the County Council is supporting current and former services personnel and their families through the Nottinghamshire Community Covenant.

It includes a link to the Veterans Information Network Nottinghamshire, which provides a wealth of information and support available to the Forces Community.

Local support

Citizens Advice Bureau

Citizens Advice Bureau Assistance given at Gedling Borough Council Civic Centre

Advice session times Friday 9.30am – 3.30pm

Find out more on the Citizens Advice Bureau website 

If you serve in the Armed Forces, or used to, find out about help you can get in the UK and abroad, including help with education and travel costs. Find out more on the Citizens Advice Bureau Armed Forces and Veterans page.

Armed Forces access to DWP Jobcentre Plus services

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has initiatives that help current and former armed forces personnel and their  families access Jobcentre Plus services. DWP provides help for veterans , services leavers, serving personal within their settlement period, and spouses and civil partners of serving or ex-service personnel, with benefits, and employment opportunities. To request help through the Jobcentre plus office phone: 0800169 0191 or via the postal address Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6LU. Find out more on the gov.uk site. 

 

More support options available from charities and companies nationwide.

Veterans UK

A UK Government Organisation that provide free support for veterans and their families, including a helpline, Veterans Welfare Service, Defence Transition Services and injury/bereavement compensation scheme payments.

Find out more on the Gov.uk site 

Armed Forces Covenant Trust

The Armed Forces covenant Trust grants for groups through the Armed Forces Grant scheme for groups. Plus the Trust has delivered a range of strategic programmes designed to support veterans. The £4.2M Tackling Serious Stress programme is funding complex projects exploring new ways of working to reduce serious stress in veterans, their carers and families.

With funding from the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, the Positive Pathways programme has awarded funding to more than 200 veterans’ projects across the UK since it began in 2019.

The Trust has awarded £2M to eight organisations under the One is Too Many programme, for projects to provide specialist and co-ordinated services that reduce suicide risk in veterans.

Find out more on the Covenant Fund website. 

Employment

Veterans across the country leave the armed forces equipped with skills and expertise that benefit not only themselves but our economy too. What’s more, stable long-term employment opportunities after service are the foundation of positive life outcomes for veterans. Find out about the schemes available on the Gov.uk website. 

Forces Family Jobs

Personnel are currently signing up to this organisation, as part of the covenant work. Forces Families Jobs is the go-to place for training, employment and volunteer roles for family members of currently serving UK military personnel. Find out more on the Family Forces website

HMRC Guidance 

Guidance now available for employers wishing to take advantage of the National Insurance holiday for employers of veterans.

Introduced on 6 April 2021, employers who hire former members of the UK regular armed forces during the first year of their civilian employment will be eligible for a zero-rate of secondary National Insurance contributions for up to 12 months.

Employers will be able to claim this relief through Real Time Information submissions from 6 April 2022 and any earnings of qualifying veterans hired from 6 April 2021 will be eligible for retrospective National Insurance contributions relief.

The new guidance explains the qualifying rules and claims process for both 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 tax years. Employers are encouraged to study this guidance to see if they can claim the relief. National Insurance holiday for employers of veterans.

Find out more on the Gov.uk website. 

The Career Transition Partnership (CTP)

The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is the Ministry of Defence working with Right Management Recruitment Agency.

The CTP provide resettlement opportunities and have supported leavers of the Armed Forces for over 20 years, to help transition from the military into civilian life. They offer huge benefits from registering, including having access to a wealth of support from career transition guidance, skills workshops, vocational training and routes to employment.

 

Blind Veterans UK

Blind Veterans UK helps vision-impaired ex-Servicemen and women to rebuild their lives after sight loss. Providing rehabilitation, training, practical advice and emotional support to veterans regardless of how or when they lost their sight. Find out more on the Blind Veterans UK website.

Armed Forces Groups, Schemes and Discounts for Serving Armed Forces Personnel and Veterans

HM Armed Forces Veteran Card

The HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a quick and easy way to prove your status as a veteran. It is a recognition of your service and can be one of the ways that helps you maintain a link with your service identity. Also, it will help you to apply for discounts and various schemes tailormade for the armed forces, making it easier for you to verify your identity, when applying.

Apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card (www.gov.uk).

 

War Pension Motability Supplement (WPMS)

Helps veterans with any extra mobility costs because of a disability caused by military service. The payment is provided by Veterans UK, and if a veteran receives it, they are eligible to join the Motability Scheme. Veterans cannot receive WPMS they  already receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).

Find out more on the War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement website. 

UK Government ECO boiler grants

The UK government’s Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO) was introduced to help vulnerable homeowners across England, Scotland and Wales with the reduction of their energy bills, this includes Armed Forces Veterans. The free boiler grants are funded by UK energy companies and don't need to be repaid.

To qualify veterans must be in receipt of certain benefits such as the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) or the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement

Find out more on the New Boiler Grant website 

Hero’s Welcome Scheme

An initiative that is encouraging a public show of support for current and former Armed Forces personnel and their families. (Councils can sign up as well as businesses)

Whilst Hero’s Welcome is not a charity or a discount scheme, it does provide a free and simple method for businesses, be it a service provider, café, pub, shop, restaurant, hotel, or taxi, to show a little special appreciation to those serving in the Armed Forces and to do it in a way that is effective and appropriate.

How Businesses and Services can sign up to the scheme - Joining Up is Free

Display it in your window with pride

Decide whether or not you wish to offer a small discount

Find out more on the Heroes Welcome website

Rewards for Forces

Rewards for Forces is the UK’s largest discount website featuring thousands of national and local discounts. The discounts are available for serving personnel and their partners of the Navy, Army, Air Force and veterans, service widows/widowers, reservists, cadets, MOD civil servants and the Royal British Legion.

Find out more on the Rewards for Forces website. 

Defence Discount Service

The Defence Discount Service provides discounts both online and on the high street for members of the Armed Forces, Veterans and Armed Forces Community.

Defence Discount Service is home of the Defence Privilege Card, the vetted discount card that can be used in stores, restaurants and venues to obtain armed forces discounts. This discount card allows Veterans and the Armed Forces Community to have a card that can allow them to receive military discounts.

Find out more on the Defence Discount Service website 

Details of healthcare for the armed forces community 

Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists

Find mental health information and support for veterans, service leavers, reservists, families and carers. 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.

Mental health problems are common and can affect anyone, including veterans, serving personnel, reservists and their families. It is important to get help and support if you or someone you know has mental health problems.

Find out more on the NHS website

Samaritans and the Ministry of Defence

Samaritans works with the Ministry of Defence and other charities to support serving personnel in the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. They offer emotional health and wellbeing support for serving personnel, service leavers and veterans.

Support includes: A Samaritans Veterans App for mobile devices and laptops. Suicide Prevention and Peer support for personnelin the Armed Forces, Online chat - Military Support, and a free phone support on 116 123. There are also pocket sized support guides available.

Find out more at the Samaritans website 

Businesses

Be a forces friendly employer

Reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to the civilian workplace, developed throughout their military careers. To consider getting involved, sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

 

For more information on how to support the Armed Forces Covenant, go to the Armed Forces Covenant website.  

Contacts

Armed Forces Champion – Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth  Cllr.Jenny.Hollingsworth@gedling.gov.uk  07833 621462

Armed Forces Covenant Contact – Jane Ansell (Community Investment Manager) 0115 901 3698  jane.ansell@gedling.gov.uk