Council brings veterans together to strengthen support for Armed Forces community
Tuesday 13 October 2026
Bridgend County Borough Council recently brought together around 44 veterans, charities, and community organisations as part of a dedicated event to celebrate the contribution of the Armed Forces community and strengthen support for veterans across the county borough.
The event provided an opportunity for veterans and representatives from local organisations to hear about the support available from the council, share their experiences and help shape future initiatives.
The Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, Cllr John Spanswick, opened the event and thanked veterans and community groups for their service and their continued work supporting the local Armed Forces community.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, which it re-signed alongside key partners in June 2023.
As part of its commitment, the Council appointed Cllr Martyn Jones as its Armed Forces Champion, helping ensure that the voice and experiences of veterans are considered across all areas of council business.
The event also included presentations from Finola Pickwell, Armed Forces Liaison Officer, and Kirsty Williams, Partnerships Manager and the council’s lead officer for Military Covenant delivery, who outlined current support and opportunities for future development.
Examples of the council’s work include a dedicated structure for monitoring and delivering its Covenant commitments, a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for eligible Armed Forces veterans, and housing provisions designed to ensure people leaving the military are not disadvantaged when accessing somewhere to live.
Support is also available for service children and families, with the council’s Education Directorate working closely with Supporting Service Children in Education Cymru (SSCE).
Several local schools have been recognised as ‘Armed Forces friendly’, with Pencoed Primary School receiving a Gold Award.
The council also recognises the contribution of its own employees who serve as reservists, with HR policies in place to support those balancing their employment with their military commitments.
“We are immensely proud of our Armed Forces community and are committed to ensuring that veterans, serving personnel and their families receive the recognition and support they deserve. Our Armed Forces Covenant is about turning that commitment into action. By working with our partners, we want to build on the support already available and ensure our Armed Forces community feels valued and supported across the county borough."
“Bringing veterans, charities and voluntary organisations together gives us a valuable opportunity to listen, share experiences and identify where and how we can do more. By working together and learning from our Armed Forces community, we can strengthen the support available and make a lasting, positive difference to the lives of veterans, serving personnel and their families.”
Following the presentations, veteran representatives were invited to network, share ideas and take part in discussions around the future delivery of support within the county borough.
The local authority is also exploring opportunities to support the long-term sustainability of community-focused veterans’ groups and the important work they deliver locally.
The event forms part of the council’s ongoing commitment to working in partnership with veterans, charities, voluntary organisations and other key partners to ensure the Armed Forces community in Bridgend County Borough continues to have a strong voice and access to appropriate support.
