Somerset 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 Somerset 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 Somerset 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
- UK Reservists
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
We also pledge the following:

Having a guaranteed interview scheme for veterans and armed forces spouses, and promoting appropriate vacancies through the Career Transition Partnership. Having an armed forces employee network to support employees from the armed forces community. Offering reservists 10 days paid leave in addition to annual leave allowance to enable them to attend annual camp. Leading the Somerset Armed Forces Covenant Partnership and communicating both national and local updates that are relevant to the armed forces community. Holding an annual Armed Forces Partnership Conference to engage with members of the Partnership and other stakeholders, and improve awareness of local and national developments Engaging with regional partnerships, learning from best practice and aligning with regional policies as appropriate. Having named Armed Forces Champions within the authority as a point of contact for the armed forces community to raise issues Having a Social Value policy that recognises the Armed Forces Covenant and promotes the covenant to our suppliers and contractors. Working in partnership with health bodies {ICB, NHS Trusts and voluntary sector groups) for the benefit of the armed forces community Promoting policies applicable to the armed forces community directly and through our housing partners, and ensuring armed forces families are able to identify this status. Promoting policies applicable to the armed forces community directly and through our education partners, and ensuring armed forces families are able to identify this status.

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.