Support for armed forces personnel
We would be delighted to receive applications from serving members of the armed forces, veterans, members of the reserves and armed forces' partners and spouses.
Finding a job Toggle accordion
Jobs with us
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.
For more information and to look at our current vacancies take a look at our job and careers section.
Jobcentre Plus
Job Centre Plus provides back to work support to ex service personnel including:
- claiming benefits
- CV support
- training
- advice
Visit Jobcentre Plus to find out more.
Job shops
Our job shops provide support to residents, covering all aspects of finding work.
Housing and Council Tax support Toggle accordion
Information on Council Tax Support and housing support for people who are (or have been) in the armed forces, or who are related to or living with someone in the armed forces can be found in Council Tax discounts and exemptions.
Free leisure offer Toggle accordion
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.
Other support Toggle accordion
Whether you are currently serving in the armed forces, a volunteer or a veteran there are many organisations that can provide help and support to you and your family:
Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity
Armed forces covenant Toggle accordion
The armed forces covenant sets out the moral obligations between the nation’s people, the government and those who serve or have served in the armed forces. It exists to address the disadvantages that the armed forces community may face in comparison to other citizens, and to recognise sacrifices made.
Our armed forces community covenant
In 2012, we signed an armed forces community covenant with representatives of local armed forces and local partners, including:
- Barking and Dagenham College
- the local NHS clinical commissioning group
- borough police leaders
- the local chamber of commerce
- Jobcentre Plus
- Barking and Dagenham Council for Voluntary Service
Read 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.
Armed forces corporate covenant
This complements the armed forces covenant and sits alongside the community covenant. It ensures the armed forces community face no disadvantage in their engagement with businesses and charitable organisations.
Businesses and charitable organisations can show their support to the armed forces community by signing a corporate covenant and tailoring it to what they wish to pledge.