One Essex borough council goes "above and beyond" for veterans
Basildon Council announces online support system for veterans called the "Veteran’s Guarantee"
For this Armed Forces Day (28 June 2025), an Essex borough council has released a new one-stop online resource making it easier for war veterans and their families to access the help and support they need.
Basildon council have released the "Veteran’s Guarantee" which pulls together all the council’s information and policies that may affect and aid members of the armed forces.
This includes how to find local affordable and specialist housing, getting training and career advice, or accessing housing benefit and council tax support.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Gavin Callaghan, said: “Basildon Council is committed to supporting veterans and we want to make it easier for members of the armed forces to find information relevant and helpful to them – and the Veterans Guarantee does just that.
“It’s fitting we can announce this as we mark the invaluable contribution and sacrifice these individuals have made – and continue to make – in the name of His Majesty and the United Kingdom.”
Cllr Callaghan added: “It’s not only the right thing to do, but it makes sense having everything in one, simple to find place.”
The Veteran's Guarantee was agreed at June’s cabinet meeting.
As part of Basildon Council’s month of celebration to support and honour war veterans, the borough also held a careers fair to help veterans plan their future.
The event on 26 June featured a range of employers including Basildon Council, Lidl, Marlborough Highways, Balfour Beatty, Pinnacle Group, Morgan Sindall Property Services, and VIP Security.
Training providers were offering free courses and qualifications, such as CSCS and SIA, to help armed forces veterans adapt their existing skillsets to civilian life, or to retrain.
Basildon Council recently committed to providing additional housing benefit and council tax support for war veterans and widows.
Since August 2020, the council has been a silver award holder in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which publicly recognises an organisation’s efforts to support military personnel issues.