Burnley’s Armed Forces Covenant complements, at a local level, the national Armed Forces Covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the nation, the government and the armed forces. It encourages local communities to support the armed forces community in their area and promote understanding and awareness among the public of issues affecting the armed forces community.
This Armed Forces Covenant replaces the ‘community covenant’ launched in June 2011.
Aims of the Armed Forces Covenants
Burnley Council and our armed forces community have worked together and established a covenant in our area in order to:
- encourage local communities to support the armed forces community in their areas and to nurture public understanding and awareness among the public of issues affecting 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
Councillor Charlie Briggs is our Armed Forces Champion whose role is to make sure that the local authority achieves its commitments to the armed forces community.
For further information about the Armed Forces Covenant, contact Councillor Briggs, or Catherine Swift: cswift@burnley.gov.uk
We have also established an armed forced covenant group to deliver the covenant action plan.
Organisations which support service and ex service personnel in Burnley
The following local organisations provide a range of support to current serving members of the armed forces, veterans and ex service personnel:
Below are links to some of the regional and national organisations who can provide advice and support, including to people in the Burnley area:
- College of Military Veterans and Emergency Services
- Defence Medical Welfare Service
- Military Veterans service (mental health support through the NHS)
- Veterans UK
- SSAFA – (formerly Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association)
- Little Troopers – the charity which supports children with parents serving in the armed forces
- Forces Compare – find and compare military-related insurance deals
Events of remembrance, and to celebrate the contribution made by the armed forces to the life of the community and the country
Organisations involved in the Burnley Armed Forces Covenant have supported a range of events over the last year, such as Remembrance Sunday and Padiham on Parade, and the Uniformed Services Fun Day.