Armed Forces Covenant
The Armed Forces Covenant, first signed by Cherwell District Council in 2011 and renewed in 2018, was a voluntary ‘promise from the nation’ that those who serve or have served in the armed forces (and their families) should be treated fairly and not disadvantaged in their day-to-day lives.
The aim of the Covenant is to encourage charities, local authorities, businesses, communities and individuals to work together with the military to offer support to service personnel and their families as well as reservists and veterans.The Armed Forces Act 2021 strengthened the Covenant with a new legal duty for public bodies to consider the needs of armed forces personnel, their families and veterans when planning and delivering our services.
All public bodies, including Cherwell District Council, are now required to consider how its services recognise the three principles of the Armed Forces Covenant:
- the unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the armed forces;
- the principle that it is desirable to remove disadvantages arising for service people from membership, or former membership, of the armed forces; and
- the principle that special provision for service people may be justified by the effects on such people of membership, or former membership, of the armed forces.
The Armed Forces Covenant website provides more information about the Covenant and the new legal duty. The Government has additionally published statutory guidance to help bodies understand how best to uphold the legal duty and support the Covenant’s promise.
In addition, Oxfordshire County Council have produced the following publication Armed Forces Covenant Publication (pdf format, 509Kb)
Employer Recognition Scheme
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, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Find out how to apply for bronze, silver and gold ERS awards
Forces friendly Silver Employer
The Council has been awarded ERS Silver in recognition for its support to current and future employees with Armed Forces connections.