COVENANT The Armed Forces Covenant
The Armed Forces Covenant continues to deliver commitments to prevent you and your family from experiencing disadvantage. William Lyn from the MOD’s Armed Forces Covenant team explains in a bit more detail...
The key principles underpinning the Covenant are: ThosewhoserveintheArmedForces, whetherRegularorReserve,those whohaveservedinthepast,andtheir families,shouldfacenodisadvantage comparedtoothercitizensinthe provisionofpublicandcommercial services.
Specialconsiderationisappropriatein somecases,especiallyforthosewho havegiventhemostsuchastheinjured orthebereaved.
This drives everything that we do. The Government wants to ensure that you are supported and recognised for the sacrifices you make. We work closely with other Government Departments, Local Authorities, the business world, Families Federations and Service charities to achieve this.
Community or Corporate? The Armed Forces Covenant is supported by the Community and Corporate Covenants. The Community Covenant, encourages Local Authorities to support the Armed Forces Community in their area and promote public understanding and awareness. Every Local Authority in Great Britain has signed a Community Covenant. The Corporate Covenant is a pledge of support from the business world to members of the Armed Forces Community, who work for and use their services.
What has the Covenant achieved? Education: The Directorate Children and Young People (DCYP) has continued to work closely with the Education Departments in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on a range of issues that affect Service children. Most recently, on Authorised Absence in Term-Time
in England – DCYP has drafted some guidance that they intend to pass directly to Head Teachers in England explaining how the operational needs of the Armed Forces may legitimately prevent Service families from taking leave during school holidays. Head Teachers can also seek further advice from the MOD when dealing with specific requests from parents for term-time absence. The Department of Education recently endorsed the advice, which will be distributed shortly. Higher Education Funding in Scotland: DCYP has been working with the Scottish Government and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland to clarify eligibility for higher education funding for Service children with a ‘Scottish’ connection. DCYP has recently commented on what they believe to be the final draft of the revised policy, which is based on a much clearer and fairer definition of residence in Scotland.
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Envoy Autumn 2015
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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