The creation of local ‘Community Covenants’ complement, at a local level, the armed forces covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the nation, the government and the armed forces. The aim of a community covenant is to encourage 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. Use the link below to read more about the Ministry of Defences’ policy position on Community Covenants:

https://www.gov.uk/defence-and-armed-forces/armed-forces-covenant

A ‘Community Covenant’ was created for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in 2012.  The Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Community Covenant Board aims to:

• Improve the outcomes and life choices for military personnel, reservists, their families and veterans living in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire.
• Enhance the relationship between the civilian and military communities in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire.

To achieve this the Board will support and advise the Cambridgeshire Public Service Board, Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and District Councils’ Cabinet/Committee meetings and the Ministry of Defence by working in partnership to develop, evaluate and ensure the delivery of an Action Plan for Cambridgeshire across the key public agencies responsible for working with the military community.

• To liaise with other agencies on broader issues to ensure that their strategies, policies and plans relate to Peterborough and Cambridgeshire’s military personnel, their families and veterans.

To support projects that meet the aims of a community covenant, the MOD operates a ‘Community Covenant Grant Scheme’.  The Community Covenant Grant Scheme was established to support the community covenant and to fund local projects that bring together the civilian and armed forces communities. £30 million, over four years, was set aside to establish the Community Covenant Grant Scheme. The scheme is now in the third year and some £11 million has been allocated to projects supporting the Armed Forces and their local communities.

To find out if your organisation and project can apply, please use the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/armed-forces-community-covenant-grant-scheme

The Eastern Region contact for grants administration is: covenant-grantscheme-east@mod.uk – The team will be able to advise applicants on the process for submitting applications.

If you would like the latest community covenant updates you can check out the MODs quarterly community covenant e-newsletter.   You can email the Armed Forces Covenant Team at: covenant-mailbox@mod.uk.