The Armed Forces Community Covenant

What is the armed forces' community covenant?

Stevenage Borough Council has signed up to and supports the Hertfordshire community covenant. Councillor Claire Parris is the Armed Forces Champion for Stevenage.

The Hertfordshire Community covenant aims to:

• encourage local communities to support the service community
• promote 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.

Why is it important?

Members of the armed forces make a significant contribution to this country and many risk their lives for it. Returning from service can be difficult, but life is made easier if service personnel receive support and gratitude for the dangerous work they do.

We are committed to supporting forces personnel and their families, and to helping them to continue to contribute strongly to society. Armed forces personnel can be reluctant to ask for help, so we will show that we are here to help.

What will we do?

• Display the Hertfordshire Heroes logo in all our offices, including the Customer Service Centre.
• Include the Hertfordshire Heroes logo on all our headed paper.
• Continue to give armed forces personnel higher priority when applying for social housing.
• Continue not to require armed forces personnel to have a local connection to receive social housing.
• Work with the Royal Anglian Regiment and the Royal British Legion to explore commemorating members of the armed forces through street names
• Offer standard concessionary rates to veterans and serving forces personnel when they use Stevenage Leisure’s facilities.