Support for Veterans Championed as Remembrance Marked in Shropshire
Ahead of Remembrance Sunday on 10th November 2024, businesses, community groups, and local organisations across South Shropshire are being urged to pledge dedicated support for local veterans. Stuart Anderson MP is calling on them to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise from the nation to ensure those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, or their families, face no disadvantage in civilian life. Every Local Authority, including Shropshire, has signed the Covenant and over 12,000 organisations have so far signed pledges in support of the Covenant for the benefit of the wider Armed Forces community.
Since 2011, when the Covenant came into existence in its current form, it has been improving service provision to the Armed Forces community across the country - ensuring they face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in accessing public and commercial services. Since 2019, the number of signatories has more than tripled. Stuart is now encouraging more businesses and organisations in South Shropshire to demonstrate their support for the Armed Forces by signing the Covenant. In doing so, they make a range of written and publicised promises to set out their support. This can enhance the organisation's reputation, attracting the interest of Reservists and Service leavers; highly skilled, well-trained professionals who can add real value.
Signing the Covenant also provides the opportunity to be recognised by the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) award. Since 2014, the Scheme has provided visible recognition to employers which support the Armed Forces community and is inspiring others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate, or advocate support to Defence and the Armed Forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant. Publicity around the ERS and the Armed Forces Covenant is valuable to both Defence and the employers involved.
Since 2015, the independent Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has administered £10 million per annum, allowing organisations including charities to apply for grants that support the Armed Forces community. The Fund offers small grants up to £20,000 and large grants up to £500,000 for projects that support delivery of the Nation's Covenant promise to our Armed Forces, veterans and their families. The Covenant was strengthened in November 2022 with the introduction of a new statutory Covenant Duty. This places a duty of due regard on specific public bodies to ensure they consider the Covenant principles when conducting their functions in healthcare, housing, and education, with the aim of improving outcomes for the Armed Forces community.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
“Remembrance is a time of intensified emotion for many members of the Armed Forces community - not only our veterans and service personnel, but their loved ones and those left behind. South Shropshire is home to more than 4,000 veterans, representing almost one in ten households. I want South Shropshire to become the best place to be a veteran, where each veteran is recognised for their contribution and supported in civilian life. The Armed Forces Covenant acknowledges their huge sacrifices and the debt of gratitude owed to those who have served their country. It is our promise, as a society, that they are treated with fairness and respect in civilian life. I encourage every organisation in South Shropshire to find out more about the Covenant and pledge their support for our veterans during this special time of national remembrance.”
The Covenant is designed to be flexible enough to ensure organisations can retain the ability to take decisions about service delivery that are right for their local context and circumstances. The Ministry of Defence has a network of Defence Relationship Management National Account Managers and Regional Employer Engagement Directors who promote the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant to the employers they work with. They also help organisations through the process of devising their bespoke pledges and arranging signing events. Details of all Armed Forces Covenant signatories and their pledges are available on the gov.uk website at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/policies/armed-forces-covenant. Online guidance for businesses includes examples of best practice and can be accessed at www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/support-and-advice/businesses/.