Council’s win top award for Armed Forces support

Charnwood and Rushcliffe borough councils have received a gold award for their support of the Armed Forces.

The Armed Forces Covenant Employer Scheme (ERS) Gold Award is the highest badge of honour for organisations which have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and demonstrated outstanding support for those who serve and have served.

The award recognises employers who actively support the Armed Forces community in their workplace and encourage others to follow their lead.

Both councils currently have the silver award and are the first local authorities in the East Midlands to now receive gold.

Cllr Hilary Fryer, the armed forces champion for Charnwood Borough Council said: “We are extremely proud to receive the gold award for our continued support of the Armed Forces community.

“The award is testament to our successful partnership with Rushcliffe and our work within the community to raise awareness of the issues affecting Armed Forces personnel.

“It’s important we continue to acknowledge the sacrifices our armed forces men and women, and their families make, and the work of the covenant gives us an opportunity to give something back.”

“Congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this top award.”

Cllr Debbie Mason, deputy leader and armed forces champion for Rushcliffe Borough Council said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the gold award from the Armed Forces Employee Recognition Scheme together with Charnwood Borough Council.

"The award acknowledges our work with our Armed Forces community with initiatives such as Veterans' breakfast clubs, encouraging social enterprises and businesses to sign the covenant and events such as Proms in the Park that raise the profile of military causes and charities.

"We also introduced a guaranteed job interview scheme for Veterans and Reservists at the Council and if appointed, a buddy support system will help them settle into their new work place.

"We will continue to do everything we can to support those with a military background and to explore further ways we can assist hard-to-reach veterans and families with the support they may require."

Charnwood and Rushcliffe have made pledges under the Armed Forces Covenant to help support the Armed forces community including serving personnel, reservists, veterans and families to ensure that they do not face any disadvantage as a result of their service.

The partnership was formed in 2017 and involves Melton Borough Council.

A ceremony will be held in London later this year when the Council’s will formally receive the ERS Gold Award.