The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect. To meet this promise, councils need accurate information about the armed forces community in their area.
In December 2022, Norfolk County Council (NCC) used census data in a needs assessment commissioned by the Norfolk Armed Forces Covenant Board. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collected information about veterans for the first time during Census 2021. Veterans are anyone who served in the armed forces for one day or more. The census asked whether they had served as either a Regular or Reserve.
Using census data to support delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant
Members of the Norfolk Armed Forces Covenant Board, including NCC, used ONS population and household data, and new Census 2021 data about the veteran population. Using these data meant that the council’s needs assessment could improve understanding of the armed forces community in Norfolk. As a result, decision-makers have a source of information that would not otherwise exist. This can be used to help support the provision of relevant services for the local armed forces community.
NCC used more census data in a report they published in March 2024. The data included information about:
- population and identity
- education and work
- housing
- health
A duty to deliver housing, healthcare and education services
Introduced in 2022, the Covenant Legal Duty is a legal obligation on certain public bodies to “have due regard” to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant. It applies to organisations responsible for delivering housing, healthcare and education services.
The Duty requires that when public bodies make decisions about the development and delivery of certain services, they should consider the needs of the armed forces community.
Support for housing in the armed forces community
ONS household data helped the Covenant Board to target conversations relating to housing, in particular social housing. This has ensured authorities responsible for housing are accessing e-learning that makes employees aware of how to deliver on the Covenant Legal Duty. It has also indirectly supported conversations about homelessness in the veteran community.
Support for healthcare services in the armed forces community
Using census data, the Covenant Board has been able to identify areas with a higher number of armed forces veterans. Practice managers and integrated care boards in the NHS can then encourage GP practices in these areas to become veteran friendly. These practices can provide specific support for veterans and the families of serving members of the armed forces, who are registered with them.
Support for education in the armed forces community
The Department for Education (DfE) introduced Service Pupil Premium (SPP) to help overcome the specific challenges children from service families face. This also helps organisations deliver their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant. NCC’s needs assessment uses DfE data to give a clearer picture of the ages of service pupils across the county. With this information, schools can request help to provide pupils with extra support through SPP.
Using ONS data now and in the future
Andrew Taylor, the Armed Forces Commissioner for Norfolk said,
The information from the census data has provided valuable insight into the local armed forces community that was not previously available. Because of this, our reports have provided a better understanding of the armed forces community in Norfolk, allowing local services to address the issues that the community faces.
NCC plans to use census data and other ONS data in the future to inform decisions about other services that they are responsible for.
For example, population and migration statistics from the ONS will provide further information on how the number and different characteristics of people living in Norfolk changes over time. This will allow decision-makers to plan services to meet the changing needs of the county.