AFC0004

Written evidence submitted anonymously.

My experience of the Armed Forces Covenant is that companies are keen to sign up, but less keen to implement or put these grand gestures into action at a tactical level.

For example, Vodafone refused to suspend my contract retrospectively when I deployed at very short notice despite agreeing I had not used my phone for 4 months, having a letter from my chain of command and doing so previously when I was on HERRICK.

Similarly, schools are the biggest issue when moving. Despite the ability for schools to go above the maximum class size to add a military pupil, the good schools are invariably full when you move, and if near a military base have already admitted pupils above the class limit. We were adamant we were not going to sent our children to boarding school but after several moves and battles to get your children into a ‘good’ school on moving (and failing on many occasions) we have relented. The 20% VAT without exemption, albeit partially covered by a CEA uplift has been a bit of a kick in the teeth and a significant additional expense.

Housing is the other big stress on moving  every 2 years and again appears to be a lottery, not well maintained with little information or options provided on the properties, to make an informed choice. While the aspiration is stated to keep more stability, support services in particular remain as mobile as every and we are deploying more than ever.

Finally, NHS care is not national. Waiting list can be longer where you are posted to. We have also had significant difficulties finding an NHS dentist that will accept patients for my wife and children every time we move. Often the waiting list is longer than the posting. Similarly we have had military medical centre which are family practices saying that my wife and children need to find a new practice as they are under strain.

8th January 2025