The Surrey Civilian-Military Partnership Board met on Wednesday 20 May 2026 to discuss a range of updates and initiatives concerning the armed forces community in Surrey. Key discussions included the progress of the Armed Forces Bill 2026, support for service children's education, and updates on various military and civilian partnerships.

Armed Forces Bill 2026 Progress

Canon Peter Bruinvels, SCC Civilian Military Liaison Advisor, provided a detailed update on the Armed Forces Bill 2026¹. The Bill, which aims to renew the legal basis for the UK's Armed Forces and fully enshrine the Armed Forces Covenant in law, had been introduced in the House of Commons and referred to a Select Committee. Canon Bruinvels gave oral evidence to this committee, advocating for the inclusion of Unitary Authorities, such as those that will exist in Surrey post-local government reorganisation, within the scope of the Covenant Legal Duty. The Ministry of Defence has accepted this recommendation, confirming that amendments will be brought forward to ensure these key local bodies are subject to the Duty. The Bill will expand the Covenant Legal Duty to cover a wider range of policy areas, including adult social care, childcare, transport, personal taxation, criminal justice, welfare benefits, immigration, citizenship, pensions, and employment, impacting local authorities significantly.

Support for Service Children's Education

Julie Beckett from the SCC Education Team presented an update on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) chapter concerning service children. The focus is on ensuring education providers, from early years to higher education, are aware of the Armed Forces Covenant and understand the unique challenges faced by service children. The aim is to ensure these children are not disadvantaged in areas such as admissions, attainment, attendance, wellbeing, safeguarding, transport, and additional needs. Changes have been made to the admissions process to recognise the unique status of service children, and 19 schools have now signed the Armed Forces Covenant. Efforts are underway to strengthen links with the Gurkha community to increase uptake of the Service Pupil Premium², and a Festival of Friends event for military children is being planned at Surrey University.

HQSE and Task Force Commander Updates

Richard Moore provided an update on behalf of HQSE, noting the appointment of Col Dickie Hawkins as the new commander. A key focus is the Armed Forces Day National Event taking place in Aldershot on 27 June 2026. The Army's recruiting targets for both Regular and Reserve personnel were discussed, with efforts underway to increase applications and reduce declines. The Army Training Centre (Pirbright) is working to increase training numbers, with the relocation of units from ATC Winchester progressing. Engagement activities include the Grand Military Gold Cup and Leadership Challenge Day events, aimed at attracting external employers and civil leaders.

SERFCA Update

Col Patrick Crowley from SERFCA³ reported that confirmation regarding budgets is still awaited, which presents a challenge. The Armed Forces Bill 2026 will see SERFCA transition to a non-governmental body. Connections with employers remain a priority, with efforts to encourage participation in events like Reserves Day and the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).⁴ The Employer Recognition Scheme currently has over 30 silver award holders in the South East, exceeding the national average.

Recognise and Remember Task Group Update

Canon Peter Bruinvels reported on the progress of the Recognise and Remember Task Group, which met on 6 February 2026. The group discussed the sustainability of veteran hubs, noting that funding is often difficult to secure and many are kept going by volunteers. There is a potential for funding to be available through SCC Member allowances and Cost of Living funding. The future of the Task Group is under review following local government reorganisation.

General Updates

• Armed Forces Covenant Conference Review: Tim Hall spoke positively about the recent conference, highlighting excellent speakers and the contribution of service pupils. A provisional date for the next conference is set for 10 March 2027 at ATC Pirbright.
• Forcer Protocol: Ellie Vesey-Thompson, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, confirmed Surrey Police's satisfaction with the launch of the Forcer Protocol⁵ at the Armed Forces Covenant Conference. The protocol aims to reduce the risk of harm to missing service veterans and personnel by enabling quick access to information. Police are being trained to recognise former service personnel.
• Ship Twinning to Surrey: An affiliation has been approved between Surrey and HMS Stirling Castle, a minesweeper entering service on 12 June 2026. Opportunities to promote this affiliation are being sought.
• Local Government Reorganisation: Interim management for East and West Surrey has been confirmed, with existing councils continuing until 1 April 2027. Work is underway to ensure a smooth transition and that knowledge is not lost. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service will remain a county-wide body.