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Annual Report 2019

SUPPORTING OUR ARMED FORCES AND OUR ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY IN NORTH

North Yorkshire Armed Forces Covenant Local Authorities Working Group CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. What is the Armed Forces Covenant?

3. Our Covenant priorities

4. The Journey So Far

5. Next Steps

PAGE | 3 1. INTRODUCTION 2. WHAT IS THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT? This is the second Annual Report produced by Armed Forces Covenant Local Authorities Working Group. The report sets out what has been achieved, by local authorities The Armed Forces Covenant is a All local authorities in have promise from the nation that those signed up to the Armed Forces working together across the county, in order to deliver our who serve in the Armed Forces, Covenant and Community Covenants commitments to the Armed Forces Covenant and support our whether Regular or Reserve, and their have been produced, to reflect local Armed Forces Community across North Yorkshire. families should not face disadvantage needs throughout the country. compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial The seven district councils in North services. Yorkshire and North Yorkshire County Council agreed with partners It is a statement of intent and relies on the North Yorkshire Community The Working Group was formed Together we are focusing on raising people, communities and businesses Covenant in June 2011, which aims to in June 2017 following receipt of awareness, promoting the benefits of to actively support it in order to make complement the National Covenant funding from the Covenant Fund and supporting all of our Armed Forces a real difference. The Armed Forces and encourage local support. The since October 2017 there has been Community and identifying gaps in Act 2011 requires the Government City of Council agreed with significant progress, through a co- service provision and support. to produce annual reports on partners the York Community ordinated effort to implement the implementation and progress of the Covenant in December 2011. Both Group’s Action Plan. Together we are improving Armed Forces Covenant. covenants have similar local priorities, communications and creating greater but needs may vary between Working together, the Group has consistency in the way that we geographical areas. delivered the actions identified in the promote our services. Our websites plan, and more, to strengthen our are being updated and we are Armed Forces Covenant and support preparing training packages for staff our Armed Forces Community (those in both the public and voluntary and currently serving, reservists, their community sectors. families and those who have served). However, the Working Group also A Practitioners’ Conference is being recognises that it still has more work held on Friday 11th October 2019 to do and that the public, private, at the Pavilions . This will voluntary and community sectors provide an opportunity to showcase need to work together to really make the successful work that has been a difference within our county. achieved throughout the county and identify the challenges which can be faced by our Armed Forces Community.

PAGE | 4 PAGE | 5 3. OUR COVENANT PRIORITIES 4. THE JOURNEY SO FAR

The Working Group includes representatives from all District Councils across the North Yorkshire wide approach: The partnership values our public, county, North Yorkshire County Council and (which is the lead private and voluntary sector partners authority for the funding from the Covenant Fund). The Group has also co-opted The North Yorkshire Armed Forces and recognises that partners can representatives from the current serving population, and relevant charities and Community Covenant is a partnership both contribute to and benefit from organisations who work with the Armed Forces. including District councils, North pledging support to the Armed Yorkshire County Council and City of Forces Covenant. Over 2,000 Together we share the following priorities, which aim to improve our understanding York Council. businesses in the of the Armed Forces Covenant and its benefits to the local community. have already pledged support for • District Council the Armed Forces Covenant and • Council awareness is being raised throughout Building Employment, the county to encourage more of our • City of York Council Communities Education and Skills public, private and voluntary sector • Scarborough Borough Council partners to support the Armed Forces • To improve support for armed • To improve understanding Covenant. forces communities by nurturing of the needs of local service • North Yorkshire County Council public understanding. children in schools. • District Council A working group made up of • To increase activities for serving • To improve support for Service • Harrogate Borough Council representatives from the partnership personnel and their families leavers to get employment, in authorities and a representative of the using local services. particular, early service leavers • District Council Army Families Federation meet on a regular basis. • To increase community who are still of working age. • District Council integration for serving personal • To provide opportunities for The partnership secured funding from The Working Group agreed the and their families. spouses to develop their own the Ministry of Defence to strengthen following five actions as a focus for careers. the delivery of local Armed Forces the project’s development. Covenants and provide a standardised Health, Welfare approach to supporting the Armed • North Yorkshire wide approach and Housing Support and Forces Community throughout the • Research • To improve co-ordination of Advice county. • Evaluation support available to veterans in • To provide support and advice • Training North Yorkshire. to service personnel, to assist Through the creation of this • Practitioners conference partnership and with support from • To improve support to families with their transition from the the Ministry of Defence, the Local during deployment. military into local communities. Authorities have now dedicated • To ensure that they have access • To improve access for serving resources devoted to strengthening to the same welfare benefits as personnel and their families their local Community Covenants. to local health and welfare any other local resident. services.

PAGE | 6 PAGE | 7 Research • A train the trainer module delivered NEXT STEPS by Warwickshire County Council. The working group commissioned • A military culture and transition a small, independent research session delivered by York St John company to undertake a piece of University. strategic needs assessment research. • The military human - a full day or North Yorkshire Armed Forces address unmet needs and promote Shared Intelligence presented their two half days delivered by York St Covenant Local Authorities Working a more consistent approach across findings in April 2019. The findings John University. Group will continue to progress with North Yorkshire, with sharing good are now being used to inform the • An e learning module based on strengthening delivery of their local practice across local authority strategic direction and countywide Warwickshire County Council’s Community Covenants and enhancing boundaries. commissioning decisions across e-learning module the services provided for the Armed a range of service areas. More • Forces Connect delivered a one Forces Community. To this end due to the careful information is available in the report. day training session on the 8th management of the grant by July, at Hambleton District Council, Through stronger. More effective the working group the covenant The City of York Council conducted a Stonecross, , Three partnership working there will be office has granted a third year to Armed Forces Community Survey to training courses where delivered: greater awareness of the needs of the partnership. This will enable further understand the needs of the 1. Elected Councillor Armed Forces our local Armed Forces Community the work undertaken so far to be local armed forces community. More Champion training and stronger links between service developed and become imbedded information is available in the report. 2. Service Champion Training providers and our residents. within organisations, including 3. Armed Forces Awareness the development of action plans, Evaluation training for Call Centre and This will lead to improved outcomes supporting the development of The evaluation of the project has Frontline staff for the armed forces community new services and strengthening the been carried out by NWA research a We measure the effectiveness of across North Yorkshire. Particularly delivery of the covenant across North small independent business. NWA the training among the staff in each those that may be dealing with Yorkshire. presented their report in July 2019. partner authority through occasional complex issues. We aim to better More information is available in the quantitative surveys. report. Practitioner’s conference Training A Practitioners’ Conference is being The working group has developed a held on Friday 11th October 2019 comprehensive training programme at the Pavilions Harrogate. This will provide an opportunity for • An introduction to the armed the working group to showcase forces covenant and armed forces the successful work that has been awareness. A one hour session achieved throughout the county delivered by local authority staff and identify the challenges which who have received the training to can be faced by our Armed Forces deliver the material. The criteria Community. for a local trainer is that they are a veteran with some form of tuition in delivering training.

PAGE | 8 PAGE | 9 TOGETHER WE ARE WORKING TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY

North Yorkshire Armed Forces Covenant Local Authorities Working Group

City of York Council Armed Forces Champion - Councillor Keith Aspden Lead officers – Charlie Croft, Laura Clark, and Ian Cartwright

Richmondshire District Council Armed Forces Champion - Councillor Ian Threlfall Lead officers - Callum McKeon and Chloe Lewis

Hambleton District Council Armed Forces Champion - Councillor Bridget Fortune Lead officers - Dr Justin Ives and Lisa Wilson

Scarborough District Armed Forces Covenant Champion - Councillor Tony Randerson Lead officer - Jo Ireland

North Yorkshire County Council Armed Forces Covenant Champion - Councillor Carl Les Lead officers – Neil Irving and Anthony Ruddy

Selby District Council Armed Forces Covenant Champion - Councillor David Buckle Lead officer – Sarah Thompson

Harrogate District Council Armed Forces Covenant Champion – Miss Michelle Blackburn Lead officers – Roger Richardson, Paul Campbell and Julia Stack

Ryedale District Council Armed Forces Covenant Champion and lead officer – Margaret Wallace

Craven District Council Armed Forces Covenant Champion – Councillor David Ireton Lead officer – Kate Senior

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