Support for Armed Forces Veterans: our covenant commitment

We acknowledge and recognise the service provided by our Armed Forces Veterans in addition to the sacrifices that they and their families make.

A Veteran of the British Armed Forces is defined by the Government as any person of any age who has served in the Armed Forces, regardless of the length of time of service and whether or not they have been involved in a conflict.  

Few career changes require as much adjustment as that of leaving the military and returning to a civilian lifestyle. Veterans of the Armed Forces often find that their life of strict routine and structure bears no resemblance to that of the average UK citizen, and more often than not, that the outside world has moved on significantly since they enlisted.

It is not uncommon for veterans to struggle with this transition, and it is of paramount importance that these brave men and women understand that help is available to them and their families should they need it.

We are committed to supporting the armed forces community and we have further strengthened this commitment by signing the Armed Forces Covenant with our Greater Manchester Housing Providers partners in 2018, in recognition of the sacrifices the Armed Forces make on behalf of the country. It is not designed to give the armed forces, veterans and their families preferential treatment compared with other people, but it should ensure that they are not placed at a disadvantage as a result of their service.  The aim is to bring together the armed forces community and civilian community on a local level, nurturing mutual understanding and raising awareness of issues faced by the armed forces veterans the families of those currently still serving.

For more information about the background of the Armed Forces Covenant, please tap here to visit the gov.uk website.

You can also tap here to read the Armed Forces Covenant in full.

Is this support for me?

If you are a member of the armed forces, a veteran, or a family member, the Armed Forces Covenant offers a wide variety of support to ensure you are being treated fairly. If you are a business, or a community organisation, you can also find out how to show your support.

This webpage on the gov.uk site will help direct you to the most relevant information regarding policies, services and projects that you can benefit from: www.gov.uk/government/collections/armed-forces-covenant-supporting-information.

What support networks are available?

Veterans UK is the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) dedicated veterans support organisation:

It provides assistance on many issues, including MOD’s injury and bereavement compensation schemes, armed forces pensions, benefits, housing, and welfare. Please visit the Veterans UK website for more information: www.gov.uk/veterans-uk.

The Armed Forces Covenant website can also help veterans seeking support:

Please visit the Armed Forces Covenant website for more information: www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk.

Veterans’ Gateway provides information and support for veterans and their families:

Veteran's Gateway can help veterans with housing, mental wellbeing, finances, and more. And they can also refer you directly to their referral partners. For more information and their contact details, please visit: www.veteransgateway.org.uk.

The Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee:

Find out more about the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee, who serve and support ex servicemen and women, their widows or widowers, and their immediate family members by visiting: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-advisory-and-pensions-committees-x13/about.

SSAFA, formally known as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Family Association:

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need. For more information, please visit: www.ssafa.org.uk/greater-manchester.

The Royal British Legion:

The Royal British Legion is at the heart of a national network that supports our Armed Forces community. For more information, please visit: www.britishlegion.org.uk.

Walking With The Wounded:

Walking With The Wounded empower veterans by reigniting their sense of purpose, enabling them to make a positive contribution to their communities and lead independent lives. For more information, please visit: walkingwiththewounded.org.uk.