St Helens Armed Forces Covenant

St Helens Borough Council are proud to honour our local Armed Forces community through public events such as the Annual Armed Forces Day and the Service of Remembrance.

The council signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012 and we work closely with our local regiments, Armed Forces charities, and health, housing, education and employment partners to ensure the Armed Forces community receive the support and recognition they are entitled to.

These pages have details of that support and links to related pages and documents which include information and guidance relevant to our local Armed Forces community - including local support groups and breakfast clubs for Service Leavers, Ex Forces, and Veterans.

From 22 November 2022, St Helens Borough Council undertakes Armed Forces Covenant Impact Assessments on decisions affecting relevant education, health, and housing functions under the Armed Forces Act 2021 Covenant Duty, to consider whether special provisions or tailored services should be put in place, in order to remove any disadvantages arising for the Armed Forces Community as result from the unique obligations and sacrifices made by Armed Forces Service People.

If you or a member of your family serve in the British Armed Forces, or if you are an Armed Forces Service Leaver, Reservist, Veteran, Widow or Widower, the following pages hold a summary of the support, special provisions, and tailored services available in St Helens Borough.

• Under One Roof: helping you find a rented home in St Helens
• Help and advice on housing and homelessness
• Housing Benefit: how to make a claim
• Merseyside Aged Veteran Housing Project - Shelter

• NHS healthcare for the Armed Forces community
• NHS choices: find a GP, dentist, hospital, chemist or optician in St Helens
• Veterans In Mind: NHS military veterans' service for ex-Forces personnel in St Helens

• School admissions: helping you get a school place for your children in St Helens
• St Helens Family Information Service: finding childcare and help with parenting
• College for military veterans and emergency services: education, employment and apprenticeship

• St Helens Borough Council Armed Forces and Reservist Employment Policy (PDF) [177KB] (opens new window)
• St Helens Jobcentre Plus: support to help current and former armed forces personnel and their families access Jobcentre Plus services
• Forces Family Jobs: official MOD-endorsed, Forces-friendly employers' job hub for reservists, veterans, and their families
• The Starting Point: help and advice on getting a job in St Helens
• St Helens Chamber: help and support with self-employment, new skills and qualifications
• Royal British Legion Industries Lifeworks: free employment training course for Armed Forces veterans
• Former Forces Support: life skills, wellbeing, employment, training and development programmes

St Helens Borough Council offers access to all council leisure services for Armed Forces personnel and former members of the Armed Forces. The memberships are all-inclusive, which enable members to access council-run gyms, pools, saunas, steam rooms and classes.

Armed Forces memberships can only be issued at a council leisure centre reception. You must take your Armed Forces ID as proof.

The entitlements are outlined below:

• Armed Forces regulars, reserves and veterans - discounted Go Active bronze membership (anytime including weekends).
• All serving personnel and veterans for seven days starting on National Armed Forces Day each year - FREE access to all council leisure centres, fitness suites and swimming pools.
• Recipients of an Armed Forces pension and compensation (MOD) - FREE Go Active Membership (daytime including weekends).
• All serving Regular Armed Forces personnel on leave - one month's FREE access to all council leisure centres, fitness suites and swimming pools.

The The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment is the local infantry regiment in the North West. To find out more about a career with the Duke of Lancaster's, please watch their latest recruitment video. 

St Helens' Local Reserve Regiments

Find out more about our local British Army Reserve Regiment, 103 Regiment Royal Artillery.

Find out more about the Reserve Forces

The following YouTube video highlights the main roles of the soldiers within 103 Regiment Royal Artillery Reserve and the rigours they go through during their live fire training.

Here are links to the websites of our local Sea, Air and Army Cadet Forces:

St.Helens Sea Cadets - TS Scimitar

Newton-le-Willows Sea Cadets with a Marine Cadet Detachment - TS Warspite

St.Helens Army Cadet Detachment

Newton-le-Willows Army Cadet Detachment

St.Helens Air Training Corps - 969 Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets