Supporting armed forces

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly.

We have signed our own Covenant with the armed forces showing commitment to supporting serving, reservist and ex-armed forces personnel and their dependents.

We have pledged to ensure that our armed forces community will not be disadvantaged in accessing our services as a result of serving in the military.

Kent Armed Forces Champion

Welcome from Richard Long, member for Tonbridge and Malling.

Kent is proud to have a rich military heritage. In 2012 Kent County Council signed the Armed Forces Covenant. On signing the Armed Forces Covenant, we committed to supporting our serving and ex-armed forces personnel, promoting a strong and visible presence in the county, integration into our communities, and most of all, equal and fair access to our services.

It is my role to ensure this is happening. As well as being the council's lead representative for the armed forces, I am also a serving reservist, so I understand the difficulties servicemen and women can face. I am passionate about my role and I am determined to continue our good work embedding the covenant in everything we do.

I am confident that the vast majority of the armed forces community are able to use our services just like any other resident, and where they do encounter problems, our services now have the knowledge of the covenant and be able to assist.

We aim to take the covenant one step further, celebrating the important contribution the armed forces have played and continue to play to the county.

We encourage activity that integrates military and civilian communities, and recognise the skills and attributes that having served can bring to the county and its employers.

As a large employer ourselves, we are developing processes that celebrate our ex-armed forces staff, and fully support our staff who are serving reservists. If you feel you are experiencing disadvantage as a result of being in the armed forces (or a dependent), mention the Kent Armed Forces Covenant.

However if you do experience disadvantage in accessing our services as a result of serving in the Armed Forces, please get in touch, we are very keen to help.

Contact us

For more information, if you need help or want to get involved:

• call 03000 416466
• email armedforces@kent.gov.uk