London Borough Of Bromley
We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.
The Armed Forces Covenant
An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families
The first duty of Government is the 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.
Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant
1.1 We London Borough Of Bromley will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment
2.1 London Borough Of Bromley recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
We also pledge the following:
Strengthening our links with the Armed Forces Community by: Appointing an Armed Forces Member Champion and Senior Officer point of contact within the Council to ensure our commitments are implemented and maintained. Ensuring staff and elected Members are made aware of the Armed Forces Covenant for Bromley. Offering support to our local cadet units. Working closely with the South East London Clinical Commissioning Group (SEL CCG) and attend Covenant Stakeholder meetings. Ensuring that Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) by Council/ Public Health and wellbeing departments will try to take consideration of the Armed Forces community. Making information about support available to the Armed Forces community easily accessible to all. Considering the needs of the Armed Forces Community as part of the wider Bromley community in future service and infrastructure planning. 4.3 Seeking to support the employment of veterans and service leavers: 7 Recognising that the Armed Forces community bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities developed through their military careers when interviewing for positions. Ensuring our recruitment process in inclusive and accessible. Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required. Promoting employment opportunities available to members of the Armed Forces Community. Enrol on the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. 4.4 Striving to support the families of the Armed Forces Community by: Ensuring the Armed Forces Community has fair access to our services and is not put at a disadvantage by their service. Ensuring information and signposting to appropriate support services for the Armed Forces Community is freely available and easy to access. Connecting with GP practices to encourage staff to ask patients about service background. Ensuring school admission policies recognise the needs of children of the Armed Forces community. 4.5 Seeking to support out employees who choose to be members of the Reserve Forces or Cadet Force Adult Volunteers. Providing the necessary support for our employees within the Armed Forces Community, including additional paid leave as appropriate and flexible working opportunities. We will, wherever possible, accommodate the mobilisation of our reservists if they are required to deploy. Ensuring employees are able to easily disclose whether they are members of the Armed Forces Community. We will encourage any reservists in our organisation to participate in Reserves Day. 4.6 Ensuring support is given to members of the Armed Forces Community with urgent housing needs. Ensuring our Housing Allocation Scheme recognises the needs of the Armed Forces Community, providing additional preference for the Armed Forces as part the Housing Act 1996. 4.7 Recognising and remembering the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces Community by: Flying the Armed Forces Day Flag. Supporting and promoting other Armed Forces events in the local community. Mindfully recognising and remembering the contribution and sacrifices made by British and Commonwealth military and civilian service men and women who have been affected by armed conflict by supporting Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day
2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.