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The new covenant ensures that North Somerset Council meets its duties to consider the needs of serving and former armed forces personnel in matters of housing, education and health.
Cllr Catherine Gibbons, the council's representative on the South West Armed Forces Covenant Partnership, said: "The signing of the updated covenant means that the circumstances of members of the armed forces community will be considered more fairly. And in some cases, for those who have suffered the most, through injury or bereavement, we may consider taking actions that go beyond the support usually provided to reduce or remove disadvantage. We will continue to strive to do our best to support the armed forces community in our area, and encourage our partners to do the same."
Cllr Stuart Davies, Armed Forces Champion for North Somerset Council, added: “This is great news for armed forces personnel and their families living in North Somerset. They do so much to serve our country, it’s only right that we have measures in place to make sure they’re not disadvantaged during civilian life.”
The new covenant was signed at the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare by Jo Walker, Chief Executive of North Somerset Council, and Colonel John Cummings, Assistant Commander, Army Headquarters South West, in the presence of other covenant partnership organisations and representatives of the armed forces and civic communities.
Jon Beake, Regional Employer Engagement Director at the Ministry of Defence, said: “It’s fantastic that North Somerset Council joins over 1,100 organisations across the South West that have pledged their support by adopting their own Armed Forces Covenants. It’s been a pleasure tailoring the pledges with them to make them relevant and mutually beneficial. It was also great that they chose to sign in their council chambers with quite an audience to witness it.”
The new covenant can be viewed on the council's website at: https://n-somerset.gov.uk/council-democracy/priorities-strategies/armed-forces-support/armed-forces-covenant.
Organisations interested in pledging their support to the Armed Forces community should contact Regional Employer Engagement Director, Jon Beake at wx-reed@rfca.mod.uk.
The picture shows:
- Front row (left to right): Cllr Wendy Griggs, Chairperson, North Somerset Council; Jo Walker, Chief Executive, North Somerset Council; Colonel John Cummings, Assistant Commander, Army Headquarters South West.
- Back row (left to right): Warrant Officer 1, Diana Keeble, Royal Navy, HMS Flying Fox; Jon Beake, Regional Employment Engagement Director, Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association; Brigadier (Retired) Nigel Beacom, Voluntary Chair, Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association; Wing Commander Alex Drake, RAF Air Regional Employer Engagement Officer.