North Yorkshire Armed Forces Community Covenant

North Yorkshire was one of the first areas in the UK to agree an armed forces community covenant.

Community covenant logo The county is proud of its military connections: the armed forces based in the county, the veterans who live in the county, and all their families. The first signatories signed the covenant at a ceremony at Catterick garrison on 30 June 2011. Other organisations have subsequently signed the covenant.

Signing ceremony

Signatories to the North Yorkshire Armed Forces Community Covenant

Army
Royal Air Force
Royal Navy
North Yorkshire County Council
Richmondshire District Council
Hambleton District Council
Craven District Council
Harrogate Borough Council
Ryedale District Council
Scarborough Borough Council
Selby District Council
NHS North Yorkshire and York
North Yorkshire Police
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
North York Moors National Park Authority
Yorkshire and Humber Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee
ABF The Soldiers Charity
North Yorkshire Credit Union
The Royal British Legion
Hambleton Citizens Advice Bureau
Richmondshire Citizens Advice Bureau
HIVE information services
North Yorkshire and York Forum
SSAFA Forces Help
Riverside ECHG
Service personnel and veterans agency
York and North Yorkshire Probation Trust
KO2 Adventures Community Interest Company
A1 Community works limited
Holy Rood House (centre for health and pastoral care)
Hipswell Parish Council
Groundwork North Yorkshire
Department for Work and Pensions

The aims of the covenant are to:

  • encourage local communities to support the armed forces community in their areas, and vice versa
  • promote understanding and awareness among the public of issues affecting the armed forces community
  • recognise and remember the sacrifices made by the armed forces community
  • encourage activities that help to integrate the armed forces community into local life.

The armed forces community includes all those who serve in the armed forces, whether regular or reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families.

The covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local armed forces community. It is intended to complement the national Armed Forces Covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces.

For the civilian community of North Yorkshire, the covenant presents an opportunity to bring their knowledge, experience and expertise to bear on the provision of help and advice to members of the armed forces community. It also presents an opportunity to build upon existing good work.

For the armed forces community, the covenant encourages the integration of service life into civilian life and encourages members of the armed forces community to help their local community.

Representatives of covenant signatories are in regular contact by email and meet together at least once a year to review the measures that they are taking to implement the covenant and consider if further actions would be helpful.

For further information about the North Yorkshire Community Covenant contact:

Mark Logie, Military Civil Integration Project, HQ 15 (NE) Bd

01904 662056 15X-MCI-SO1@MOD.UK

Neil Irving, North Yorkshire County Council

01609 533489 neil.irving@northyorks.gov.uk