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.  Councillor Lynn Clarke, is the Borough's Armed Forces Champion.

The council signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012 and honours the commitment it has made to ensure people in the Armed Forces community receive the support and recognition they are entitled to.   The Council works closely with local Armed Forces Units, Armed Forces charities, and health, housing, education and employment partners to ensure that those who Serve and those who have Served receive fair treatment and respect, and not disadvantaged compared to other citizens when accessing public services.

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.

Further assistance for Armed Forces and Service Families is available through the three official Armed Forces Family Federations - the Navy Families Federation, the Army Families Federation, and the RAF Families Federation.

Since November 2022, St Helens Borough Council has undertaken Armed Forces Covenant Impact Assessments on decisions affecting prescribed education, health, and housing functions that are within the scope of the Armed Forces Act 2021 Covenant Duty.  The Armed Forces Impact Assessment Tool uses evidence to consider whether special provisions or tailored services should be put in place, in order to remove any disadvantages arising for St Helens Armed Forces Community as result from the unique obligations and sacrifices made by Armed Forces Service People. 

The Armed Forces Covenant Impact Assessment process has supported the following bespoke provision in the Borough

• Specific Armed Forces Housing support
• Bespoke Armed Forces Mental Health Support
• St Helens Council's Armed Forces Leisure Offer

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.