A new study commissioned by Forces in Mind Trust has found that effective delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant depends on strong collaboration between local authorities, national bodies and third sector organisations.
The Our Community, Our Covenant and Beyond report, produced by RAND Europe, Shared Intelligence and Meri Mayhew Consulting, examined how partnerships support local delivery of the Covenant and identified both areas of progress and persistent challenges.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a national commitment to ensure that those who serve, have served, or are family members of service personnel are not disadvantaged as a result of military life. It covers areas including healthcare, education and employment.
Progress since legal duty introduced
The report found that many local authorities believe progress has been made over the past five years in mitigating disadvantage faced by the Armed Forces community. Two factors were identified as key drivers of this improvement: the introduction of a legal duty to have due regard to the Covenant in 2022, and growing awareness of the Armed Forces community within local government.
However, the research also pointed to ongoing challenges. These include low awareness among some frontline service providers, misconceptions about the Covenant within the Armed Forces community, difficulties in identifying those who are part of the community when accessing services, and a fragmented support landscape.
Partnership working critical to progress
The report emphasised that no single organisation can deliver the Covenant alone. Instead, it requires coordinated action between local authorities, national government, healthcare providers, charities, and military organisations.
Partnerships were found to enhance delivery by sharing expertise, supporting training for frontline staff, and ensuring local authorities can meet their Covenant obligations more effectively. But the level of partnership involvement varied significantly between areas.
Lisa McCance, director at Shared Intelligence, said the research highlighted the value of local partnerships in improving provision: “Local authorities are critical enablers, but effective support requires input and commitment from a wide range of organisations. Partnerships bring expertise and knowledge that can help ensure the Covenant meets local needs more consistently.”
Variation across regions
The study found that delivery of the Covenant varies across the country, with good practice emerging in some regions that could be replicated elsewhere. However, researchers noted that support must be tailored to local circumstances and should not rely on a one-size-fits-all model.
Case studies examined how the Covenant is delivered in Glasgow, Greater Manchester, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, the East Riding of Yorkshire and Oxfordshire. These examples highlighted different models of partnership working and the importance of adapting approaches to local conditions.
Updated toolkit for local authorities
As part of the project, the Armed Forces Covenant Toolkit has been updated. The resource is designed to help local authorities coordinate support and strengthen partnerships to deliver the Covenant more effectively.
Michelle Alston, chief executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said the findings underline the shared responsibility for upholding the Covenant: “Local authorities play a critical role, but delivery relies on national, regional and local government working alongside charities, businesses and community partners. That ecosystem of support is what makes meaningful delivery possible.”
The report also notes that while progress has been made since 2011, further work is needed to ensure consistent access to support across different regions and services.
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