North Yorkshire Armed Forces
Community Covenant
Craven District Council is a signatory to the North Yorkshire Armed Forces Community Covenant.
The armed forces community includes all those who serve in the armed forces, whether regular or reserve, those who have served in the past, (including National Service), and their families.
North Yorkshire was one of the first areas in the UK to agree an armed forces community covenant. The aims of the covenant are to:
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encourage local communities to support the armed forces community in their areas, and vice versa
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promote understanding and awareness among the public of issues affecting the armed forces community
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recognise and remember the sacrifices made by the armed forces community
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encourage activities that help to integrate the armed forces community into local life.
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.
Further information about the covenant is available at www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk
Access to support and information
The following organisations can provide a range of support and advice to members of the Armed Forces community.
The Veterans Gateway
Puts veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help. Information, advice and support covers housing, finances, personal relationships, employment, living independently, mental wellbeing, physical health and more. 0808 802 1212 www.veteransgateway.org.uk
SSAFA
The Soldiers', Sailors' & Airmen's Families Association charity provides lifelong support to regulars and reserves and their families, this includes specialist support for working-age veterans. 0800 731 4881 www.ssafa.org.uk
Royal British Legion
Provides lifelong support for the armed forces community, serving men and women, veterans, and their families. The Legion is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. The Skipton Branch meets at 7.30pm on the first Friday of every month at the Three Links Club, 26 Rectory Lane, Skipton, (membership is open to everyone). 0808 802 8080 www.britishlegion.org.uk
Veterans' UK
Administers the armed forces pension schemes and compensation payments for those injured or bereaved through service. Veterans UK is part of the Ministry of Defence 0808 1914 2 18 www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk
Forces Connect app
The Forces Connect mobile app is easy to use with simple navigation and enables the entire Armed Forces community (veterans, reservists, military families and those currently serving), as well as community practitioners access details to available services such as: crisis support; employment, education and training; family support; care and benefits; health and wellbeing; housing and homelessness. The app has recently been updated to cover North Yorkshire and can be downloaded via Google play and the Apple store, simply type 'forces connect' in the search.