Local armed forces, veterans and their families have received a public promise of support from West Dunbartonshire as it became one of the first Scottish Councils to sign up to the new Armed Forces Community Covenant.
The Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between the civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. Its aims are:
- to encourage local communities to support the Armed Forces Community in their areas, and vice versa;
- to promote understanding and awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the Armed Forces Community;
- to recognise and remember the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces Community; and
- to encourage activities which help to integrate the Armed Forces Community into local life.
The Community Covenant was signed by West Dunbartonshire Council’s Chief Executive Joyce White, Provost Denis Agnew and representatives from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Chamber of Commerce and the charitable sector.
Provost Denis Agnew said: “I’m delighted to bring together so many organisations to sign this covenant. It will provide an opportunity for the Council and its partners to work together to make the transition easier for military personnel integrating back into civilian life. It demonstrates the determination of the Council and its partners to do all it can to help and support local members of the armed forces, as well as their families.”
Chief Executive Joyce White said: “We hope that by bringing both public and private sector, and military organisations together to sign the Community Covenant, we can help build an understanding of the needs of the armed forces and how best to serve them. For example, families can often find themselves isolated when serving partners are away from home, and our local community could reach out to them - and to veterans - to encourage them to participate in local activities.”
The scheme is also intended to be a two-way arrangement with armed forces personnel encouraged to support the community where they live. This might involve participating in local regeneration projects or taking part in educational or sporting events.
Lt Col Simon Higgens MBE RE, Commanding Officer, Glasgow & Strathclyde Universities Officer Training Corps and the MOD’s Firm Base representative in Strathclyde said: “I am delighted that West Dunbartonshire Council, and the other signatories of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, are cementing the already excellent relationship that they presently enjoy with the military community, their families, and veterans within their society.
“The Covenant’s aim is to ensure that the selfless commitment, and in some cases ultimate sacrifice, is recognised by the society from which the military recruits, and I very much look forward to developing those links over the years to come. West Dunbartonshire can be justifiably proud of the significant contribution it makes to providing servicemen and women, and of the support it already shows them.”
Andrew Robertson, Chairman, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “This is one of three community covenants that we have signed and we are wholeheartedly committed, alongside our local authority partners, to ensuring the delivery of the most appropriate services to the armed forces community wherever it is most needed.”
Now the covenant has been signed, West Dunbartonshire Council can apply for funding from the Government for community projects geared to helping armed forces personnel and their families.
Those pictured are:
Andrew Robertson, Chairman, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Gill Roddis, Chairman of SSAFA Forces Help
Provost Denis Agnew
Lt Col S G Higgens MBE RE, Commanding Officer, Glasgow & Strathclyde Universities Officer Training Corps
Selina Ross, Manager, West Dunbartonshire Community & Volunteering Service
Joyce White, Chief Executive of West Dunbartonshire Council
