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Support for armed forces personnel
Find out what support Barking and Dagenham offers to serving members of the armed forces, veterans, members of the reserves and armed forces’ partners and spouses.
Finding a job
Work at Barking and Dagenham
If you’ve left the armed forces and apply for a job with us, you’ll be guaranteed an interview if you meet certain conditions.
Jobcentre Plus
Job Centre Plus provides back to work support to ex service personnel including:
- claiming benefits
- CV support
- training
- advice
Get support from Job Centre Plus
Council Tax Support
If you are a member of the armed forces and live at a property that is owned by the Secretary of State for Defence and held for the purposes of armed forces accommodation you may be eligible for a Council Tax exemption.
Work related discounts and exemptions
Free gym/ leisure pass
Barking and Dagenham council offers free leisure passes to all regular and reservist armed forces personnel and their immediate families.
The leisure pass provides free access to Becontree Heath Leisure Centre and Abbey Leisure Centre and includes access to:
- gyms
- fitness and exercise classes
- swimming pools
- sports facilities
To get your free leisure pass, bring your armed forces ID into either of our leisure centres and a member of staff will be able to assist you.
This offer is available to:
- regular and reservist serving personnel from the British Army, Royal Air Force and Naval Service
- volunteer reservists, who form the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marine Reserve, Territorial Army, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
- regular reservists, who comprise the Royal Fleet Reserve, Army Reserve and Royal Air Force Reserve
- those who have served for at least a day in HM Armed Forces, whether as a regular or as a reservist
Veterans are also able to access our leisure services at a discounted price.
Our armed forces community covenant
The covenant aims to encourage all parties within a community to offer support to the local armed forces community and make it easier for service personnel, families and veterans to access the help and support available from the MOD, statutory providers and the charitable and voluntary sector. These organisations already work together in partnership at a local level.
LBBD armed forces community covenant (PDF, 189 KB)