Armed Forces support
What is the Armed Forces Community Covenant?
We are committed to supporting the armed forces personnel and veterans as part of the Armed Forces Covenant, a scheme which encourages understanding and awareness of the issues affecting veterans and their families within the local community. It also promotes better help and support for existing and ex-Armed Forces personnel and their families.
Signing the Pledge
On 8 April 2014, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council pledged support for its local armed forces community through the signing of a covenant. Representatives of the Ministry of Defence and voluntary sectors from the civilian community of Leicestershire joined representatives from the armed forces community in Leicestershire to sign the covenant. A copy of this signed covenant is available on request. The covenant was subsequently refreshed in January 2021.
The covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support, which encourages each party to bring their knowledge, experience and expertise to bear on mutually beneficial matters, in which both communities can share.
Three years later, the Borough Council was awarded the bronze award from the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). The scheme comprises bronze, silver and gold awards for employers who support those who serve or have served in the armed forces and their families.
The covenant is part of a national initiative to support the armed forces. Hinckley and Bosworth are proud to be one of more than 200 local authorities who signed a Community Covenant Pledge.
By signing this pledge we agree to:
- Encourage local communities to support the armed forces community
- Recognise and remember the sacrifices faced by the armed forces community
- Encourage activities which help to integrate the armed forces community into local life
- Encourage the armed forces community to help and support the wider community, whether through participation in events and joint projects, or other forms of engagement
The Armed Forces Covenant website enables all those who benefit from the covenant, and those that can support it, to find the information they need in a clear and easily accessible format.
In 2007, the council granted freedom of entry to the borough of Hinckley & Bosworth to the second Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment (Poachers).
The council supports the national initiative to fly a flag for Armed Forces Day. The raising and flying of the Armed Forces Day flag in Argents Mead provides a high profile opportunity to raise awareness of the role our armed forces and their families continue to play.
The council co-ordinates arrangements for marking Remembrance Sunday in Hinckley and Bosworth. This involves the Mayor, alongside other civic dignitaries, leading a public act of remembrance in Argents Mead and hosting a parade of local regiments through the town. On occasions, this includes presenting medals to members of the armed forces. The Mayor will also attend other remembrance services around the borough during the day.
The Borough Council also recognises the importance of marking Armistice Day. A two-minute silence is commemorated at the council offices. Both events provide the opportunity for members of the public, councillors and staff to observe Armistice in silence and to reflect on previous wars and the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces.
The council has included special qualifying provisions in recognition of recent government guidance in its revised housing allocations policy. This ensures that members of the armed forces are not disadvantaged by the requirement to have a local connection to qualify for inclusion on our housing register, and therefore can access social housing.
Last updated: 08/01/2024 14:57
