A community covenant to help Armed Forces veterans across Brighton & Hove

The proposed community covenant with the Armed Forces is a mark of civic progress

Thousands of veterans of the Armed Forces live in Brighton and Hove, possibly as many as 17,000. And they’re about to get a better deal from local charities, businesses and the council. This comes as a result of something known as the community covenant which has echoes of the national Armed Forces covenant.

It recognises that soldiers, sailors and airmen sign up to serve and in doing so sacrifice many of the civilian freedoms that most of us take for granted. They can’t quit their job just because they’ve been posted to a frontline. They face danger and many have suffered serious injury or death in doing their duty. Their families also provide vital support.

The covenant encourages respect, support and fair treatment for our servicemen and women. It articulates our moral obligation to recognise the sacrifices that they make in doing their duty. Stories abound of pubs, shops and other businesses treating service personnel unfairly, particularly in what used to be known as garrison towns.

Even in Brighton there were tensions on occasions between locals and rowdy off-duty soldiers in wartime. The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the controversial Iraq War and the long-running conflict in Afghanistan have all divided opinion. But troops don’t choose where they are sent. And the covenant is one way in which some people show their support for the individuals who serve even if they have doubts about the way they are deployed.

As mayor three years ago, Councillor Ann Norman signed Brighton and Hove up to the Heroes Welcome scheme. Shops, restaurants, hotels and even Sussex County Cricket Club offered special deals and discounts. And now the Greens have picked up where the previous Conservative administration left off, by seeing through the proposal to agree a formal community covenant.

The council’s policy and resources committee is likely to agree on Thursday 11 October that the council should sign up for the scheme. It will involve working in a partnership with the relatively low-key local military leadership in a way that is tried and tested in other spheres of local life in Brighton and Hove. The Economic Partnership is a good example of this.

The preparatory work has identified some of the difficulties faced by those who have served. They may not find it easy to prove the local connection that is required to be accepted on to the housing list or receive homelessness relief. And, although the number of homeless veterans has declined, specific groups at greater risk of homelessness have been identified.

Homeless veterans are far more likely to be from the Army, reflecting a greater intake from disadvantaged communities. And young leavers, who served less than four years or who were discharged, have also been identified as being at greater risk of living rough. An edition of the BBC TV programme Panorama last year highlighted this issue when it trailed a homeless former soldier in Brighton.

Some groups of veterans have an above average likelihood of suffering mental health problems, in particular depression, anxiety, drink and drug problems and being suicidal. The community covenant will not mean that all these problems are miraculously dealt with. But it will bring together some of those who are best placed to identify those who are vulnerable so that they are more likely to receive timely help.

Of course, many veterans leave the Forces and go on to play an active role in civilian life, serving their communities dutifully too. Some help out with local cadet units. So it is encouraging to these included in the community covenant. The diligent work of those looking after cadets and other youth groups such as the Scouts, Guides, the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade is often unseen or overlooked.

The council and a number of local businesses, charities and community groups already cater for current and former members of the Armed Forces with varying degrees of commitment. The community covenant serves as a timely reminder of their contribution, sacrifice and service. It formalises and spells out what should really be standard good practice. It is a welcome sign that our political leaders of all parties are willing to do this.