The Sandbag Times Issue No: 41

The Armed Forces &
Community Covenant
Are They Just Empty Promises?
After seven years since David Cameron
and his Government put the Armed
Forces Covenant into action, one must
question it’s concept and ask whether it was
effective or was it just a PR stunt for those in
power to try to look like they were caring.
Just recently, we, the SBT Enterprise, along
with Veterans Radio Net and a few other
organisations have been asking those who
signed up a few questions to establish why
they have signed, what they understand about
the covenant and how they support or involve
themselves with the covenant.
In a very short space of time, we have discovered,
in some areas that the AF&CC lie dormant
and forgotten like a battleship at the bottom
of the ocean. In one particular area
which, for legal reasons we cannot disclose,
the County Council and other governing bodies
had not done anything in their area for
some years. In addition to this, many of the
organisations who had signed up to the
covenant were not even aware they were part
of it, what it was or what it asked of the community.
Unfortunately, one of these organisations
was governmental and part of an advice
network which has great influence over our
veterans.
So what has gone wrong? Governmental
changes? Brexit? Lack of funds? Maybe all
of them or even none of them Who can say?
One thing is certain, the problems and issues
THE COVENANT CHALLENGE
it stood for are still here.
It is so refreshing to hear of the current plans
to improve the mental health of our brave with
the newly established helpline and the brand
new initiatives by the NHS. But personally, I
have my own concerns over this. In 2011,
under the Armed Forces Covenant, plans
were made to code all veterans at GP level in
order to get a more efficient system in place.
Like today, funds were set aside and plans
were written. Unfortunately, this plan did not
work. Why? Because the great ideas in
power did not filter down to the those on the
ground.
We have been bombarded with such comments
as “We owe a great deal to those who
defend our country and their welfare is our
priority”. We have seen how the nation
stands together at 11:00am every
Remembrance Sunday, on Armed Forces Day
you cannot move in this country for Mayors,
MP’s and County officials standing in all of
their regalia pledging their support. Yet when
a homeless veteran walks into the same
council offices and asks for somewhere warm
to sleep, he gets given a place in the council
queue and told to go away. Where is the loyalty
and support from those in office then?
The Armed Forces Covenant Challenge is not
a witch hunt but a wake up call. Those who
have signed will be asked to honour their
pledge and, if required, advice and help will
be given in order to do so. But, as one
organisation proved, they have no intention of
being part of it then please make it known to
those who have your details so you can be
removed from it. I cannot wait to see the first
to do that!
The political shipwreck of the Armed Forces &
Community Covenant can and must be
refloated. But in order to do so, those who
sign up must take it seriously. Unfortunately,
this must start at the very top with those who
steer it.
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