EAST LOTHIAN COUNCIL
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-10)

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 EAST LOTHIAN COUNCIL 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 EAST LOTHIAN COUNCIL 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
- Armed Forces Day
We also pledge the following:

SECTION 4: OUTCOMES 4.1 As part of this Covenant all parties are encouraged to work together to deliver six key objectives in support of Service personnel, their families and ex-Service personnel in East Lothian. Agreed measures in support of these objectives will be detailed in the Community Covenant Action Plan and reviewed by the Community Covenant signatories. Objective1: Children, Young People and their Families Work in partnership to build and develop further work, services and relationships to improve outcomes for children and young people of serving families / veterans in the communities of East Lothian. Objective 2: Health and Wellbeing Work in partnership to build and further develop work, services and relationships focused on health and wellbeing, including access to health services, focus on mental health and wellbeing and building a sense of belonging for families locally. Objective 3: Housing Develop clear direction and guidance within the Local Authority and the Armed Forces as to what levels of service provision can be expected and what is required of the military community to enable them. Objective 4: Community Partnerships working together Create opportunities for Armed Forces representatives to become part of the Community Planning Partnership structures and to help them to contribute to their local communities. Objective 5: Support to Veterans and their Families Consider and support the needs of Service personnel during and after their transition to becoming a veteran. Objective 6: Employability Identify measures to support ex and transiting Service personnel and their families to achieve positive employability destinations and outcomes.

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.