Community Covenant Scheme

Last updated: 07/11/2011 Add to My Bookmarks Subscribe

a large C with a ribbon wrapped round it with the text 'Community Covenant'

Cornwall is amongst one of the first counties in the country to establish an Armed Forces Community Covenant as part of a Government initiative to promote a greater understanding between the military and the general public.

The Covenant has been signed by representatives from various sectors of the community, including Cornwall Council, the Cornish branch of the Royal British Legion and the Armed Forces.

A Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. It is intended to encourage mutual support and integration between local communities and Armed Forces communities in their area.

Statement from Cllr Alec Robertson, Leader, Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council is committed to supporting the aims of the Community covenant to ensure that the valued work of service personnel and the communities in which they live and work are supported to provide community cohesion, integration and project support in a range of ways; at local schools, by volunteering, attending and supporting community events and providing mentoring. Cornwall Council recognises the importance of working in partnership with the local community to achieve joint goals for Cornwall, both socially and economically and appreciates the special qualities and skills the services bring with them.

Having grown up in a naval family based in Helston and later serving in the Royal Navy myself, I am very aware that Cornwall has long had strong connections to the armed forces. Service personnel constitute a large proportion of Cornwall’s employment base with close associations to RNAS Culdrose, RAF St Mawgan and HMS Raleigh. It also has a very active cadet movement, a valued resource for supporting young people in our communities and Cornish ports regularly host visiting ships of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

The Councils Community Networks will play an important role in supporting local bids coming through community groups who engage with, and partner with, service personnel. The range of projects that the Community Networks are involved with will offer service personnel the opportunity to really get involved with their local communities.

The covenant signing - Cdr Ovens of RNAS Culdrose, Clive Rawson of the Royal British Legion and Cllr Lance Kennedy

Statement from Cdr Ovens RN, Commander RNAS Culdrose

I am honoured to be involved in the implementation of the Armed Forces Community Covenant in Cornwall. Our Armed Forces Community is already fortunate enough to benefit from the strong support of members of the Cornish Community.”

He added: “The establishment of this Covenant is an excellent opportunity for us to strengthen that relationship even further. Through regular forums with key members of the Cornish Community we hope to become an integral part of a network which will provide mutual support and encourage the fundamental values of the Covenant.”

The Covenant is supported by the Community Covenant Grant Scheme which has been established to financially support projects, at the local level, which strengthen the ties or the mutual understanding between members of the Armed Forces Community and the wider community in which they live. See the related link for further information.