In 2017 Portsmouth, Southampton, Gosport and Isle of Wight councils came together to adopt a partnership approach to delivering the covenant within the Solent region of the wider County of Hampshire. Entitled Strengthening Local Covenant delivery, the aim of this partnership is to:
Raise awareness among serving personnel, reservists and veterans of the support they can expect from local authorities;
Provide a broader understanding of the needs of the local veteran population as well as serving personnel during transition to civilian life;Evaluate the impact of these initiatives.
The Solent Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Board representing Portsmouth, Southampton and Gosport, and the Isle of Wight Civil Military Partnership Boards, refreshed in 2017, provides strategic governance for local delivery of the Covenant.
We estimate that 76,207 adults and children are part of the Solent Armed Forces community. The Solent Armed Forces Covenant Partnership have worked together to understand the needs of this community in the form of the Solent Armed Forces Needs Assessment