Publication of the Armed Forces Covenant annual report 2018
December 11, 2018
The seventh Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report was published on 21 November 2018. The report this year focuses on the tangible progress made in delivering the covenant. In particular, it acknowledges the Nation’s improved understanding of the needs of the armed forces community as well as recognising the values and skills the armed forces community can offer to society in return.
There have been a range of highlights from the past year, including the 3000th signing of the Covenant by the Post Office; the £5 million extension until 2020 of the MOD’s Education Support Fund; and the expansion of the Department for Education’s Common Transfer File which will assist schools and teachers in England when Service children move between schools, ensuring a greater continuity of education and pastoral support.
Going forward, in 2019 there will be a focus on working with the Devolved Administrations and providers of local services to identify variation in outcomes for the armed forces community and, where possible, agree plans to address this. There is also a commitment to strengthening the childcare support offer for the families of serving personnel and ensuring where possible, that greater flexibility be afforded to families with children at critical stages of their education and those with special educational needs and/or disability provision. Finally, a new scheme to support spousal employment, announced in September 2018, will facilitate access to vocational training and development opportunities.
The Tri-Service Defence Holistic Transition Policy will be launched before the end of 2018, expanding holistic support to Service leavers in life-changing processes such as resettlement, health and wellbeing, welfare, housing advice and financial information.
The report and summary document is available on GOV.UK
The Covenant on a Page will open in PDF and is also available on GOV.UK