Telford & Wrekin Council Armed Forces Covenant
Citizens Advice Telford and Wrekin is the latest organisation in the borough to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.
Pictured from left to right: Major Jules Ward, Councillor Chris Turley, Councillor Rae Evans, Lt Col Maggie Durant
The covenant is a voluntary agreement of mutual support between public, voluntary and business organisations and the armed forces family which promises to ensure that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly.
Telford & Wrekin Council (who signed the covenant back in 2012) and co-ordinate the work of the Covenant across the borough, encourages businesses and charitable organisations of all sizes to sign the covenant in Telford & Wrekin.
By signing the covenant organisations can pledge to:
• promote the fact they are an armed forces-friendly organisation
• support the employment of veterans and service leavers
• offer flexibility in leave for service spouses and partner before, during and after deployment
• support reservist employees, allowing leave for training and deployment
• offer discounts to members of the armed forces community
Nationally more than 3,000 organisations have now signed the covenant which includes businesses, charities and local authorities.
Working in partnership Telford & Wrekin Council has invited Citizens Advice Telford and the Wrekin, along with a range of charities and businesses to work with them to establish a new ‘hub’ specifically for services, and ex-service personnel and their families in the borough.
The hub project, which is planned to start in April, will start by working to identify the needs of services, ex-service personnel and their families, following which a pilot service will be launched later this year.
Councillor Chris Turley commented: “We are always proud to support our armed forces community here in Telford and Wrekin as they are a huge part of our borough. We would encourage other local organisations to show their support by signing the covenant and provide help in whatever shape or form they can.”
Councillor Rae Evans Cabinet Member for People Services, Visitor Economy & Partnerships said: “We look forward to working with Citizens Advice Telford & the Wrekin and other partners to set up this new hub which will provide a range of support and assistance to Armed Forces personnel and their families.”
Caro Hart, CEO of Citizens Advice Telford & the Wrekin, said: "We are proud to be working with Telford & Wrekin Council and our other partners to provide this much-needed service. We are also committed to raising awareness of the importance of understanding the needs of service and ex-service personnel and their families, and becoming an armed-forces friendly organisation throughout Telford & Wrekin."
