Cambridgeshire Council Reaffirms Armed Forces Covenant Support
Local authority formally re-signs pledge to support serving personnel, veterans, and their families across the county.
By Rebecca Flint
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a formal signing ceremony with hands and a document.
Cambridgeshire County Council has formally re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant, reinforcing its commitment to serving personnel, veterans, reservists, and military families across the county.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a national pledge that acknowledges the vital contribution made by current and former members of the Armed Forces and their families. Signatories commit to ensuring that the armed forces community receives fair treatment and is not disadvantaged due to their service.
As a strong supporter of the Covenant, Cambridgeshire County Council has reaffirmed its dedication to fairness and opportunity. This commitment aims to foster future employment, promote financial security, and maintain strong connections for those who serve, have served, or are part of the wider armed forces family.
Earlier this year, councillors on the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee agreed to formally sign the Covenant, enhancing the support previously established through the 2011 Armed Forces Community Covenant. This action serves as a public declaration of the council's backing for the armed forces community.
The formal signing took place today, Tuesday 13 October, during the Council's Full Council meeting. This reaffirms the council's dedication to supporting serving personnel, veterans, reservists, and military families throughout Cambridgeshire, strengthening the existing 2011 Community Covenant.
The Council actively supports the armed forces community by hosting and co-funding the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Coordinator. It also helps coordinate the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Armed Forces Covenant Partnership, which unites over 50 organisations to bolster support across the county.
Furthermore, the Council is instrumental in creating new employment pathways for veterans and military families through initiatives like the Career Transition Partnership and Forces Families Jobs. Its library network offers free community spaces for Armed Forces groups and practical assistance for veterans, including help with Veterans Badges applications and referrals to specialist services.
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"Signing the Armed Forces Covenant recognises the contribution of, and shows our gratitude towards those who serve, those who have served, and those who support them. I am extremely proud that the Council has made this pledge and is standing alongside our Armed Forces community."
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"Today, we have made an important statement, renewing our commitment to ensuring members of the Armed Forces community are treated with respect and fairness in Cambridgeshire, and are afforded opportunities to thrive."
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"On behalf of the Council’s officers, I also want to make clear our collective support for those who serve, those who have served, and the families who support them. The Armed Forces community forms a significant part of life in Cambridgeshire, and I am very proud we are again strengthening our pledge towards supporting them."
Earlier this year, Cambridgeshire County Council was reaccredited with the Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, the highest honour available to organisations demonstrating outstanding, long-term support for the Armed Forces community.
