Colchester City 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 Colchester City 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 Colchester City 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
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- Flexible Leave For Spouses
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Discounts
- Armed Forces Charities
- UK Wounded, Injured And Sick
We also pledge the following:

We are advocates for the Armed Forces Covenant and work together with others, to promote the benefits this brings, along with our shared learnings and best practices. We work closely with Colchester Garrison HQ and have formed a strong relationship over the years. Engage with the Career Transition Partnership. Provide and promote training, such as e-learning, for our staff on the Armed Forces Community. Promote the Armed Forces Covenant, the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and our support for the Armed Forces Community to your staff and the wider public. Use the Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme logos on our webpages to promote our support. Created a dedicated Armed Forces page on our website. Appointed an Armed Forces Champion Officer, Lead Officer and Member Champion within our organisation to act as a focal point for supporting the Armed Forces Community. Signposting members of the Armed Forces Community to available support, for example, Veterans Gateway and other local and national support available, depending on need. Supporting networks for veterans and other members of the Armed Forces Community, such as Armed Forces Community drop in sessions, Veteran forums and breakfast clubs. Regularly engage with our local Colchester Garrison HQ. Develop relationships and working collaboratively with other organisations supporting the Armed Forces Covenant and the Armed Forces Community in our area, for example the Essex Civilian and Military Partnership Board. Colchester City Council is part of the North East Essex Health and Wellbeing Alliance, which brings together local authorities in North East Essex, with other commissioners and providers of health and wellbeing services, such as the NHS and County Council Social Services; working together to tackle not just ill-health, but the causes of ill-health. As a key partner, Colchester City Council is represented on the Alliance board. Colleagues from our Communities and Wellbeing Team, work with colleagues from other partners to further our joint goals of reducing inequalities and creating healthy, resilient communities for everyone. Waive the local-connection requirement for eligibility for social housing for ex-Service personnel and their current or ex-spouses. Armed Forces personnel are banded in accordance with the Allocations policy but are prioritised within the band. Promote awareness of housing and homelessness services among the Armed Forces Community. Ensure the upkeep of the main War Memorial on Colchester High Street and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission look after the 2 War Memorials within Colchester Cemetery grounds. Organise, facilitate, promote and/or take part in remembrance and other ceremonial activities.

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.