Surrey Scouts honour Armed Forces Covenant

Surrey Scouts have become the first Scout County in the UK to sign the Armed Forces Covenant. Representing a commitment on behalf of the 18,000 members of Scouting in Surrey, the Armed Forces Covenant was signed by Joe Rogerson (County Commissioner) and Colonel Tim Petransky, in the presence of His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Mr Michael More-Molyneux.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise that Surrey Scouts acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives. Surrey Scouts enables young people from the Armed Forces Community to join Scouting, supports military families, service members and veterans

The county of Surrey still sees a large amount of armed forces reside and work across Surrey and a number are currently involved as volunteers in Scouting.

Joe Rogerson (County Commissioner) said “Surrey Scouts is committed to honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and supporting the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our country and to Scouting”.

Colonel Patrick Crowley MBE DL, Chief Executive of the South East Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association said “The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve, or have served, and their families, are treated fairly. We are delighted that Surrey Scouts has signed the Covenant and with the commitments Surrey Scouts has made to young people, military families and all members of the Armed Forces Community”.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives.

Its two principles are that, recognising the unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the Armed Forces:

Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

You can read about the Covenant in depth, the full statement of the Covenant, or Covenant FAQs.

If you’re a member of the Armed Forces (regular or reserve), a veteran, or a family member, the Covenant offers a wide variety of support to ensure you are treated fairly.

The Covenant focuses on helping members of the Armed Forces community have the same access to Government and commercial services and products as any other citizen. This support is provided in a number of areas including: healthcare, education and childcare, housing and accommodation, employment, financial services

You can find out how the Covenant supports you, as a member of the Armed Forces community.

A wide range of different organisations implement the Covenant, including: The UK Government and Devolved Administrations, The single Services (Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force), Businesses of all sizes, Local government, The NHS, Schools, Charities

Some of these organisations sign the Covenant or make other commitments, or have a Legal Duty to consider it.

This site will direct you to the information regarding policies, services and projects that is relevant to you.

The Covenant Legal Duty is a legal obligation on certain public bodies (including local authorities, governing bodies of certain state schools, various NHS bodies, and other organisations) to have due regard to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant when carrying out certain functions in healthcare, education and housing. It has been in force since November 2022.

All genders, races and backgrounds are welcome at Scouts. Every week, it gives almost over a third of a million people aged 6-25 the skills they need for school, college, university, the job interview, the important speech, the tricky challenge and the big dreams: the skills they need for life.  

Scouts helps members gain these skills by encouraging them to ask the big questions and listen with wide open minds. It helps them to take a deep breath and speak up, think on their feet, ignore the butterflies and go for it. With Scouts, young people don’t give up – they get back up and try again, often with the support of the friends they’ve made there.  

Neil Wibberley