Armed Forces Covenant
The Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives.
A ceremonial re-signing of the Armed Forces Covenant took place on Friday 23 June 2023.
Armed Forces Covenant signing, Friday 23 June 2023
The Community Covenant was adopted by the council in 2013. Council dignitaries including the Leader of the Council, Councillor Huw David, Mayor of Bridgend County Borough William Kendall, Chief Executive Mark Shephard and Armed Forces Champion Councillor Martyn Jones, were joined by HM Lord Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan Peter Vaughan QPM CStJ, The High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan Professor Jean White CBE MStJ and representatives from the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, South Wales Police, South Wales Fire & Rescue, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, BAVO, SSAFA and British Legion to sign the Armed Forces Covenant on 23 June 2023, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Community Covenant and renewing our commitment to the Armed Forces community in Bridgend County Borough.
Armed Forces Champion
Cllr Martyn Jones is our armed forces champion.
The champion raises the armed forces community’s profile and works for greater understanding and awareness of its issues.
He advocates for it, and ensures its interests are properly considered and prioritised in our policies and strategies.
We are proud to reinforce our commitment to supporting our existing servicemen and women and their families, reservists and veterans across Bridgend County Borough who have all made a significant contribution to our communities.
Over the last ten years we have proactively developed relationships with the Armed Forces community and other local organisations, providing support with education, health and wellbeing, housing, financial assistance, careers and discounted services, and we will continue to help make it easier to access help and support in the local community.
Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Martyn Jones
Silver Employer Recognition Scheme Award
The prestigious Defence Silver ERS Award recognises employers who have actively demonstrated their support for the Armed Forces community through implementing practical policies in the workplace.
To achieve Silver, organisations must proactively demonstrate that the Armed Forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruitment policies. They must also actively ensure their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards Defence people issues for Reservists, Veterans, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, and spouses and partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.
Bridgend County Borough Council are very proud to be recipients of the Silver Employer Recognition Scheme Award, demonstrating our commitment to the armed forces community, such as through offering leave to our serving reservists and the guaranteed interview scheme. As an employer we recognise that we have a role to play in helping those leaving the Armed Forces fulfil their potential in civilian life.
We’ve been working with reservists and veterans to learn from them and continue working as organisation that shares similar values to the Armed Forces, whilst offering stability and professional and personal life balance which we have heard are so important.
We were also very pleased to be able to work with Bridgend Town Council this year to be able to once again have celebrations marking Armed Forces Day in June, coinciding with our formal signing of the Armed Forces Covenant on the tenth anniversary of us previously signing the Community Covenant and a very well attended raising of the Armed Forces Flag.
The Bridgend Armed Forces Forum exists to:
- monitor reaching covenant objectives
- continue to identify the needs of current or former service personnel and families
- consider and assess any bids for the Armed Forces Covenant Grant Scheme for suitability prior to their formal submission
- improve the sharing and recording of information about our armed forces
- The armed forces charity, the SSAF (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association), offers practical and emotional support.
- The Bridgend branch of the Royal British Legion has details of local meetings.
- Visit the website of the charity Sorted for a range of employment related services and support for the forces community to find and keep work.
- Change Step is a peer mentoring service for military veterans.
- The Veterans NHS Wales page on the Armed Forces Community Covenant focuses on specialised mental health services for ex-servicemen.
- Welsh Government support for serving Armed Forces personnel and their families
Further information about the covenant:
- The Welsh Government page on the Armed Forces Community Covenant has resources for employers and for finding work.
- Gov.UK page on the Armed Forces Community Covenant has guidance for several groups in society.
- WLGA (Welsh Local Government Association) page on the Armed Forces Community Covenant describes its support for the scheme.