Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
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 Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead 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 Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead 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
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:

2.1 We recognise the contribution that Service personnel, reservists, veterans, the cadet movement and military families make to our organisation, our community and to the country. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant by: 2.2 Armed Forces Covenant Fund. Facilitating the best possible use of the Covenant Fund, an enduring government grant awarded to projects that will benefit the Armed Forces community. 2.3 Public Health. Investigating ways to strengthen the relationships between the armed forces and local authorities across Berkshire. The Berkshire Chief Executives are working together to explore collaborative arrangements for Civilian Military Partnership Boards. 2.4 Revenue and Benefits. Allowing for full disregard for any war widows pension/war disablement pension or armed forces compensation fund payments received by customers when applying for either Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support. 2.5 Town Centres. Supporting Military displays and events in the Maidenhead and Windsor town centres. 2.6 Education. The council is committed to the following: a. Ensuring that schools are aware of the Service Pupil Premium and are claiming all that they are entitled to. Determine ways in which Pupil Premium is spent and identify and share areas of good practice. b. Work with schools and early years providers to identify where Service personnels children might require additional support to help them deal with a parent being away from home for long periods of time, often in conflict situations. Children in some Service families may be considered more vulnerable than the general population because of the pressures they face, including PTSD. c. Ensure that policies enable a smooth transition for children from Forces families, alleviating any issues that may be experienced finding a school place mid-term, when a serving parent has been transferred to a new area of the UK; assist when issues arise at any other time relating to finding a school place for a dependent child. 2.7 Housing. Maintain Forces covenant in the Housing Allocations policy and homelessness legislation. 2.8 Social Isolation and sense of community. The council is committed to the following: a. Promoting best practice engagement in communities across Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, including support to those experiencing social isolation. b. Supporting the development of projects as identified by local communities, making use of the Covenant Fund as appropriate. 2.9 Transition. Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead will: a. Raise awareness of the issues experienced by the Armed Forces community, including the challenge of career change, and offer support and information on issues arising during transition into civilian life. b. Raise awareness during transition, and offer support, signposting and information to get involved in volunteering and community action as a pathway to health and wellbeing, developing personal interests, helping others and increasing employability. c. Ensure that injured Service personstransitioning to the civilian world are able to access supported housing or support to enable their existing home to be modified to meet their needs and that they are quickly and compassionately assessed on their level of care requirements

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.