The Woking Armed Forces Covenant is a formal statement of mutual support between the civilian community and the local armed forces community.
It is intended to complement the Armed Forces Covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the nation, the government and the armed forces. The covenant aims to raise awareness of issues affecting the armed forces community and provide support through assisting with health and wellbeing, housing, leisure and culture, housing and employment.
The covenant also gives Woking community organisations the opportunity to bid for UK wide funding via the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
About Woking’s Armed Forces Covenant
In 2012, we signed a community covenant – a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces, which aims to:
- Encourage local communities to support the Armed Forces community in their areas.
- Nurture understanding and awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the Armed Forces community.
- Recognise and remember the sacrifices faced by the Armed Forces community.
- Encourage activities which help to integrate the Armed Forces community into local life.
- Encourage the Armed Forces community to help and support the wider community, whether through participation in events and joint projects, or other forms of engagement.
A decade later, we have re-pledged our support to the Armed Forces by re-signing the covenant. This outlines our enhanced approach to further recognise and support the Armed Forces community, including building upon our work to:
- Promote the covenant to our staff and external stakeholders.
- Provide employment support to member of the Armed Forces Community.
- Engage and work with the established Military Covenant Advisory Panel and the Army Training Centre at Pirbright.
- Provide ex-service personnel with fair access to our services.
- Promote veteran-friendly accreditation for GP practices and the Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance.
- Raise awareness of and waive the social housing requirement for ex-service personnel to have a local connection with the borough.
- Promote the monthly Veterans’ Hub at Woking Fire Station and the weekly meeting for the Gurkha community.
- Promote and support local Armed Forces events and military heritage sites, including the Peace Garden and Brookwood Cemetery.
Woking Borough Council Military Covenant Advisory Panel
In support of the local Armed Forces Community Covenant, we run a members' Military Covenant Advisory Panel (MCAP) to advise and steer the implementation of activities in support of the aims and objectives of the Woking Community Covenant.
Read the Military Covenant Advisory Panel’s terms of reference
MoD Employer Recognition Scheme
In 2020, we received the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.
The MoD Employer Recognition Scheme recognises organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community by aligning their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
We welcome job applications from members of the armed forces community.
Find out more about working for us
Find out more about the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Employer Recognition Scheme
More information
For more information about the Woking Armed Forces Covenant.
Email: armedforces@woking.gov.uk
Phone: 01483 755 855