Armed Forces Covenant Conference 2024 – report

December 17, 2024

More than 240 delegates gathered at Winchester University on the 23rd and 24th October for the Armed Forces Covenant Conference 2024. The aim of the Conference was to discuss issues affecting the Armed Forces community and build on the opportunities for further co-operation and shared ambitions. The theme of the Conference was ‘The Covenant Through Life’.

Alistair Carns OBE, MC, MP, Minister for Veterans and People, delivered the keynote speech. The Minister thanked delegates for all their work in supporting the Armed Forces community, and took questions from the audience on his vision for the Covenant.

The first day began with a presentation from the Forces in Mind Trust, Rand Europe and Shared Intelligence on their research on Covenant delivery.

This was followed by a presentation on Service children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities, with a focus on the challenges encountered during service moves, and then a talk and Q&A with James Greenrod, Deputy Director and Head of Armed Forces People Support at MOD.

For the first time, an evening reception provided an opportunity for informal networking and engagement in a relaxed environment. The highlight of the night was a talk from Mark Ormrod, a Royal Marine veteran and Invictus games athlete. Mark gave an incredible talk on overcoming adversity and rebuilding his life after a near-death experience in Afghanistan.

Guest speakers on the second day included representatives from the NHS and Portsmouth Council, and a serving Army officer spoke about the Commonwealth soldier experience.

For the first time ever at the Covenant Conference, a representative of the bereaved community spoke about the pain of losing a loved one.

The day also included presenters from the MOD outlining ongoing initiatives on improving mental resilience and tackling suicide.

Three breakout sessions were available for attendees. These covered a diverse range of topics, from a discussion on disadvantage in the Commonwealth Armed Forces community, to ‘identifying trends of disadvantage’, and ‘communicating the Covenant’. It was wonderful to see such lively discussion, so much so that time ran out in all three rooms. In response to feedback, these interactive sessions will be extended in next year’s conference.

The conference concluded with a stirring talk by Sqn Ldr John Peters, who detailed his experience as a POW in the first Gulf War. John spoke about his recovery after the war, the value of a military career, and the transferable skills he developed in uniform which translated into a successful career in the civilian world. It was a brilliant way to wrap up this year’s conference.

Planning is already underway for the 2025 conference, and we hope to welcome you, virtually or in person, to our next event.