The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise that people who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly. It recognises the contribution of the Armed Forces community and the impact service can have on serving personnel, veterans and their families.
The Covenant applies to:
- serving personnel, including Regular and Reserve forces
- veterans
- families, including the bereaved families.
The covenant is based on two core principles:
- members of the Armed Forces community should not face disadvantage when accessing public or commercial services
- special consideration may be appropriate in some cases, particularly for people who have been injured or bereaved because of the service
Supporting the Armed Forces community is a shared responsibility. It involves central government, local authorities, the NHS, schools, businesses, charities and the wider public.
How we support The Armed Forces Covenant
The Dorset Armed Forces Covenant Board leads delivery of the covenant across Dorset. The board provides leadership, oversight and coordination across the county. It works with partners to help make sure covenant principles are reflected in local services and support for serving personnel, veterans, reservists and their families.
The board is part of the Dorset-wide Armed Forces Covenant Programme. This long-standing partnership brings together public services, military representatives, health partners, charities, community groups and education providers.
The board works with partners across Dorset to:
- identify need
- reduce disadvantage
- embed covenant duties in public services
- improve outcomes for the Armed Forces community
This partnership approach helps make sure support across Dorset is joined up, responsive and sustainable. It helps turn the national Armed Forces Covenant into practical support at a local level.