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.

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Finding a job

Work at Barking and Dagenham

We understand that being a member of the Armed Forces Community, you will have developed a variety of transferable skills and qualities throughout your military career that can be applied to jobs within the Council.

If you’ve left the Armed Forces or are a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer and apply for a job with us, you are guaranteed an interview if you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, (as detailed on the person specification for the post).

Search council job vacancies 

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)