Cambridgeshire County Council has restated its commitment to fair treatment for serving personnel, veterans and their families when accessing public services.
Yesterday (Thursday, 25 June) councillors attending a meeting of the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee agreed to formally sign the Armed Forces Covenant, bolstering the support provided through the 2011 Armed Forces Community Covenant, making a public declaration of support for and commitment to the Armed Forces community.
The new pledge strengthens the council’s organisation-wide approach to ensuring the Armed Forces community faces no disadvantage when accessing public services. It also reflects the council’s strategic vision to enable full, healthy lives for all and ensure fairness and opportunity wherever possible.
While signing the Armed Forces Covenant is voluntary, national legislation has significantly strengthened the Covenant in recent years. The Armed Forces Act 2021 placed it on a statutory footing, requiring local authorities to give due regard to Covenant principles in housing, healthcare, and education. The Armed Forces Bill 2026 will extend these duties further, ensuring more consistent support across public services.
In preparation, Cambridgeshire County Council has developed a comprehensive Armed Forces Covenant Action Plan that goes beyond statutory requirements. Shaped by engagement with the Armed Forces community, the plan sets out practical commitments that will be delivered within existing budgets. Oversight will be provided by the Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Coordinator, with progress reported to elected members.
The Action Plan sets out how the Council will meet its legal duties under the Armed Forces Acts and deliver on its wider promises to support the Armed Forces community. It makes sure that serving personnel, veterans and their families receive consistent help whenever they interact with the Council, and that their needs are considered in future policies and projects.
Each service area has agreed the actions relevant to their work, and the plan will be overseen by the Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Coordinator with support from an internal delivery group. Regular progress updates will be shared with elected members, ensuring the Council meets its current responsibilities and is ready for these duties to extend into more services in the future.
As part of this work, the council’s Library Service is strengthening the support it offers to members of the Armed Forces community. This includes providing dedicated space in libraries for information and signposting, making resources such as the Forces Connect app more widely available, and sharing information about local events and support services.
Libraries will also play a practical role in supporting veterans and their families, including helping with applications for veterans’ badges, offering space for Armed Forces community groups and events, and ensuring staff are trained to better understand the needs of the Armed Forces community. This work will be supported by a dedicated lead officer and ongoing staff training, helping ensure consistent support across library services.
Councillor Alison Whelan, Chair of the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said:
“Formally signing the Armed Forces Covenant is an important and public reaffirmation of our commitment to those who serve, or who have served, and the families who support them. Our strengthened Action Plan ensures that the needs of the Armed Forces community are consistently considered across all our services.
“As a council, we’re committed to enabling full, healthy lives for all and ensuring fairness and opportunity wherever we can. Supporting our Armed Forces community is a vital part of that vision, and I am proud that we’re taking this step to ensure fairness, opportunity and meaningful support for all who have served.”
Councillor Yannifer Malinowski, Armed Forces Covenant Champion, said: “Signing the Covenant is about making sure every member of our Armed Forces community feels supported and treated fairly. This commitment reinforces the practical help we offer and makes sure everyone gets the help they need when they turn to us for support.”
