Hackney Armed Forces community covenant

The Armed Forces community covenant is a promise from the nation ensuring people who serve (or have served) in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

Together with Hackney Police, Hackney CVS and representatives from the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Greater London Reserve Forces, Cadets Association and national Armed Forces Charities, we signed an Armed Forces community covenant on 29 January 2013.

Cllr Chris Kennedy is our armed forces champion, and seeks to ensure we achieve our commitments to the armed forces community and resolve any blockages.

About the covenant

The covenant is designed to complement the national Armed Forces covenant which outlines the obligation that exists between the UK, the Government and the Armed Forces.

The community covenant is intended to make it easier for service personnel, families and veterans to access local help from statutory partners and from the voluntary and community sector, as well as encourage the Armed Forces community to contribute to community life.

Through this two way arrangement we aim to build mutual understanding and engagement as well as raise awareness of the issues which affect people in the Forces and their families.

Although Hackney’s full-time Armed Forces community is small, we have a resident Territorial Army Battalion, The 3 (Volunteer) Military Intelligence Battalion (3MI), and a very active Sea, Land and Air Cadet Force.

The covenant will become ever more important as the Armed Forces enter into a period of change and restructures up until 2020, with a significant increase in people leaving the services and returning to local communities.

• Hackney Armed Forces community covenant (scanned and signed version)
• Hackney Armed Forces community covenant (unsigned version)

Hackney’s covenant has 4 measures:

• 4.1.1 – mapping our Armed Forces community and understanding their needs.
• 4.1.2 – exploring opportunities for the Armed Forces to engage with the wider VCS and partners.
• 4.1.3 – to explore how housing, employment, education and adult social-care services can support the complex needs of our armed forces community, alongside existing services.
• 4.1.4 – exploring opportunities to raise awareness and celebrate the contribution of the Armed Forces to our borough.

This brief report provides basic information about the size of the Armed Forces Community in Hackney and its needs. We’ll be working with the Armed Forces community locally to develop our knowledge.

On 18 March 2014 Hackney Council, Hackney Council for Voluntary Services and the Ministry of Defence organised a joint event to find out more about more about the needs of the Armed Forces Community in Hackney and to explore how we can work together to meet them.

• meeting notes

Help and advice for serving members of the Armed Forces and veterans

An app called Forces Connect is available to download from the Apple App Store and GooglePlay. It contains information about a range of services available to armed service personnel and veterans on issues like mental health, employment, education, family support, health and wellbeing package and housing and homelessness.

View the Hackney Armed Forces awareness presentation for statistics about the Armed Forces community in Hackney along with details of organisations that can provide help and support.

The Hackney Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club meets regularly to offer peer support.

The covenant fund

The covenant fund was set up by the government to fund local projects which strengthen the ties or the mutual understanding between members of the Armed Forces community and the wider community.

• more information about the covenant fund, including current priorities and how to apply

Successful application to the covenant fund – Manor House Development Trust, Half the Battle Project

The Manor House Development Trust were successful in securing £46,000 of funding from the covenant fund in 2014. They worked with local forces charities like the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force Association to identify unemployed ex-service personnel and offered them tailored support on issues like health and employment.

• Half the Battle project social impact report