The London Borough of Bexley is preparing to refresh its Armed Forces Community Covenant, reaffirming its commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families across the Borough.

Following Remembrance events across the Borough, the Council wants to recognise the contribution made by those who serve, have served and their families. The courage, dedication and sacrifices of the Armed Forces help protect the freedoms and security that we all enjoy and the Council is committed to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community receive the recognition and support they deserve.

The London Borough of Bexley first signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2013 alongside representatives of the Armed Forces, the Royal British Legion, the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and other partners. Since then, national policy and legislation have evolved significantly, including the introduction of the Armed Forces Covenant Duty through the Armed Forces Act 2021. Refreshing the Covenant provides an opportunity to ensure Bexley's commitments remain relevant, ambitious and focused on meeting the needs of today's Armed Forces community.

Bexley has a long-standing connection with the Armed Forces community. The Borough is home to almost 5,000 veterans, military families, reservists and 10 cadet units, as well as military organisations based locally.

The Council already provides support through a range of services and partnership arrangements, including housing, employment support and signposting to specialist organisations. Through the refresh, the Council will consider how existing support can be strengthened, how awareness of available assistance can be improved and where there may be opportunities to do more for serving personnel, veterans and their families.

Over the coming months, the Council will work alongside partners and representatives of the Armed Forces community to help inform the refresh process. The aim is to ensure that a renewed Covenant is underpinned by practical and deliverable commitments which make a positive difference to the lives of Armed Forces personnel, veterans, reservists and their families in Bexley.

Councillor David Leaf, Leader of the Council, said:

We are proud of Bexley's long-standing relationship with the Armed Forces community and the contribution made by serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families.

Refreshing our Armed Forces Community Covenant is an opportunity not only to reaffirm our support, but also to consider what more we can do. We want to work with our partners and the Armed Forces community to ensure that our commitments have a real impact and that those who serve, have served and their families continue to feel valued, recognised and supported in Bexley."

Councillor Brian Bishop, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities and Armed Forces Champion, said:

Those who serve our country, together with their families, make significant sacrifices on behalf of us all and it is important that we recognise that contribution through meaningful support.

The refresh gives us an opportunity to review what we currently offer, strengthen our partnerships and identify ways in which we can further improve support for the Armed Forces community locally. We want the renewed Covenant to be more than a statement of intent. We want it to help deliver practical benefits for serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families across the Borough."

The Council will continue to work with partners over the coming months as it develops proposals for a refreshed Armed Forces Community Covenant ahead of Armed Forces Day 2027.