Armed Forces Covenant

On Thursday 8 May 2025, Swanage Town Council formally became a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The signing took place at a tripartite ceremony held at Blandford Forum, Dorset, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (V.E.) Day. The event was attended by representatives from Swanage Town Council, Swanage Railway, and the Royal Corps of Signals. Councillor Tina Foster, Mayor of Swanage, signed the covenant on behalf of the Town Council.

Photograph by Andrew P.M. Wright

What is the Armed Forces Covenant?

The Armed Forces Covenant brings together charities, local authorities, other public sector organisations, businesses, communities, individuals and the military in a pledge of support between local residents and the armed forces community.

The Armed Forces Covenant:

Encourages local communities to support their local armed forces community and vice versa.
Promotes public understanding and awareness of issues that affect the armed forces community.
Recognises and remembers the sacrifices made by the armed forces community.
Encourages activities that help to integrate the armed forces community into local life.

The Covenant is a promise from the nation to those who serve. It says we will do all we can to ensure they are treated fairly and not disadvantaged in their day-to-day lives. This includes offering injured service members and bereaved families extra support where appropriate.

You are part of the armed forces community if you are serving, or have served, in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or Royal Air Force. The armed forces community also includes families and dependants, reservists, and veterans. A veteran is anyone who has served in the armed forces.

What we promise - Principles of the Armed Forces Covenant

We will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:

no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen
In some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.

What we will do - Demonstrating our Commitment

We recognise the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business and to our country. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by:

Promoting the Armed Forces:

Promoting our work, activities and events through our own digital and social media channels as well as working with the press.
Publishing our Covenant pledges on a dedicated Covenant section on our website.
Promoting the fact that we are an Armed Forces friendly organisation, to our staff, contractors, customers, suppliers and wider public.

Veterans:

Working with and advertising vacancies through Career Transition Partnership (CTP), as well as advertising widely in the Armed Forces community, to ensure employment opportunities are made available to veterans.
Welcoming Applications from and guaranteeing interviews with veterans who meet the criteria in the job specification.
Recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process.

Service Spouses & Partners:

Supporting the employment of Service spouses and partners by welcoming applications from spouses/partners who meet the criteria in the job specifications.
Partnering with and advertising vacancies on Forces Families Jobs and Recruit for Spouses, as well as advertising widely within the Armed Forces community.
Endeavouring to offer a degree of flexibility in granting leave for services spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment.

Reserves:

Supporting our employees who are already members of the Reserve Force.
Staff are actively encouraged to become Reservists.
Granting additional leave to our Reservist employees to support annual training, in accordance with paragraphs 9 and 11 of the Council’s Leave Policy.
Supporting the employment of members of the Reserve Force by welcoming job applications from those who meet the essential criteria in the person specifications.

Cadet Force Adult Volunteers:

Supporting our employees who are volunteer leaders in military cadet organisations.
Granting additional leave to our Cadet Force Adult Volunteer employees to attend annual training and courses in accordance with paragraphs 9 and 11 of the Council’s Leave Policy.
Recognising the benefits of employing cadets/ex-cadets within the workforce.

National Events:

Supporting Armed Forces Day, Reserves Day, the Poppy Appeal Day and Remembrance activities.

Armed Forces Charities:

Supporting Armed Forces charities (eg SSAFA) with fundraising and supporting staff who volunteer to assist.

Additional commitments:

Marking the town’s link with the 11th Signals Regiment, Royal School of Signals, by periodically inviting the regiment to exercise the liberty of the town.
Inviting Armed Forces representatives to Town Council civic events (such as church services and the marking of royal occasions).
Appointing a ‘Mayor’s Cadet’ each year.