29 February
2012
Gloucestershire
pledges support to Armed
Forces
Representatives from across Gloucestershire have
pledged their support for the Armed Forces at a ceremony in Shire
Hall.
More than 10 public sector organisations including
Gloucestershire County Council, the six district councils, NHS and
police as well as representatives from the voluntary sector signed
the Local Armed Forces Community Covenant.
Members of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and the
Allied Rapid Response Corps also attended the event to sign the
covenant.
The covenant is a voluntary statement of
mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed
Forces Community.
Its aim is to
encourage local communities to support the armed forces
community in their areas, and vice versa
- Promote understanding and
awareness among the public of issues affecting the armed forces
community
- Recognise and remember the
sacrifices made by the armed forces community
- Encourage activities which
help to integrate the armed forces community into local
life.
Signing the covenant also
unlocks funding to help support Armed Forces families. The
Ministry of Defence has made £30 million of grant funding available
to support local projects which aim to improve ties between the
armed forces and the wider community.
Gloucestershire County
Council will now be encouraging groups to come forward and bid for
funding to support their work with forces communities, from
projects encouraging integration, to education and activities that
remember those who lost their lives.
Cllr Mark Hawthorne,
Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, who led the ceremony,
said
"Gloucestershire is proud
of its association with the Armed Forces and the signing ceremony
has formalised our commitment and support going
forward.
"The next step is to
invite more organisations to join us and show the difference they
are making to improve the quality of life for our service
personnel.
"Our commitment is to push
this forward, encouraging local people to get involved by
celebrating our service personnel and ensuring that we maintain
strong links between ourselves and the Armed Forces
Community."
Brigadier Piers Hankinson,
Commander of 43 (Wessex) Brigade, said
"The community covenant
represents a real step forward embedding Armed Forces personnel,
past and present, and their families into communities we serve,
that we are drawn from and to which many will return.
"I am extremely grateful
to all of our partners for the proactive and positive response they
have made in developing the covenant and the work they have done
and are doing it to make it a reality."
Cotswold
Cllr Carole Topple,
Cotswold District Council Cabinet lead for Housing and Communities,
said
"We have good links with
the military on account of the 29 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps
being on our doorstep, but this new covenant will, I am sure,
strengthen those ties and encourage even greater community support
for the military across the Cotswolds."
Tewkesbury
Leader of Tewkesbury
Borough Council Cllr Robert Vines said
"Tewkesbury Borough has
a range of military units within the area and it's vital that those
who serve in the military and their families feel part of the local
community.
"The signing of this
covenant recognises this and Tewkesbury Borough Council will
continue to work hard to make sure that they are fully integrated
into local life."
Forest
Leader of Forest of Dean
District Council, Cllr Patrick Molyneux, said
"The Forest of Dean
District Council is wholly committed to this Community
Covenant.
"We look forward to
developing even closer links with our resident Battalion, 1Rifles
while also addressing the needs of the wider service community both
in our district and across Gloucestershire."
Gloucester
The Leader of the City
Council, Paul James, said:
"Gloucester has always
had very close connections with all branches of the armed
forces.
"We have great pride
and respect for what they do for the people of the county and the
country as a whole.
"The signing of this
covenant demonstrates that we will do all we can to repay their
commitment and dedication."
Stroud
Chairman of Stroud
District Council, John Hudson, said
'I am proud to be signing
the covenant on behalf of Stroud District Council. We certainly
value the contribution of our men and women in the armed forces and
this is one way of recognising their contribution.'
Stroud District Council
Deputy Leader, Keith Pearson, added
'Stating our combined
commitment to the invaluable work of our armed forces is an
excellent way of highlighting the work they do and emphasising that
we really value them.
"We are very pleased to be
putting our name to what is an extremely worthwhile
initiative."
Cheltenham
Councillor Steve Jordan,
leader of Cheltenham Borough Council, said
"I am delighted to sign
the covenant as the Armed Forces are an important part of our
community.
"This agreement will help
us work more closely together for everyone's
benefit."
The Legion successfully
campaigned to have the Military Covenant, the nation's pledge to
look after our Armed Forces, written in to law.
Legion membership is open
to all regardless of whether you have served in the Armed Forces or
not. We are committed to the welfare, interests and memory of
the Service family. If you want to help those who have
served, contact your
