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Armed Forces Covenant

Welcome to the home of everything you need to know about how Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and its local authority partners support the Armed Forces Covenant.

Armed Forces Covenant

What is the Armed Forces Covenant?

The Armed Forces Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. It encompasses the moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces, at the local level.

The first duty of Government is defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.

Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.

What does Liverpool City Region Combined Authority do as a regional civic leader, working with the six Liverpool City Region local authorities to support the Armed Forces Covenant?

  • Promote Armed Forces Covenant and Defence Employer Recognition Scheme within the Fair Employment Charter regime
  • Convenes the group of Armed Forces Covenant Lead Officers from each authority
  • Leads on publication of the LCR Armed Forces Covenant Annual Review
  • Organises LCR-wide training in relation to the Armed Forces Covenant, for example on the implementation of the new Covenant duty. See here for an explanation of the duty and here for lived experience voices from our online workshop.

What does Liverpool City Region Combined Authority do as a provider of public services, commissioner, and funder to support the Armed Forces Covenant?

  • Discounts at Beatles Story and Mersey Ferries for Armed Forces Day
  • Training and awareness packages available for staff
  • Marks Armed Forces Day each year by flying the Armed Forces Day flag from a Mersey ferry

What does Liverpool City Region Combined Authority do as an employer to support the Armed Forces Covenant?

  • Recognises the needs of reservists in its time off policy.
  • Guaranteed job interview scheme for veterans
  • Establishing an Armed Forces Community Staff Network Group (working with the six LCR local authorities)
  • Signed up to the Defence Employers Recognition Scheme and is working towards Gold Award status
  • Introducing collection, monitoring and reporting of armed forces related data on its workforce

Champion and Lead Officer

One of the commitments contained within the Armed Forces Covenant is that LCRCA should have a political champion and a lead officer. These are:

  • Armed Forces Covenant Champion: Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram
  • Armed Forces Covenant Lead Officer: Olly Martins

Support in your area

Find out about your Liverpool City Region local authority’s support for the Armed Forces Covenant by following the relevant link:


Halton

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Knowsley

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Liverpool

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Find out about the Veterans Gateway – the first point of contact that puts veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.

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