Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council renewed its pledge to the borough’s armed forces community at a special ceremony today (Friday 11 September).
The council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Dave Taylor, signed the Armed Forces Covenant at Redcar Civic Centre - once again committing the authority to support serving military personnel, veterans and their families.
This is the third time the council – which recently earned national recognition as a ‘gold-standard’ council for armed forces support - has signed the national covenant after first making the commitment in 2012 and reaffirming it in 2021.
In attendance at the Council Chamber were Katie Carr, the Defence Relationship Manager from The North of England Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association, the Mayor of Redcar & Cleveland, Cllr Ceri Cawley and the Leader of the Council, Cllr Alec Brown.
There was a moment of reflection at the ceremony to remember the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack in New York 25 years ago and all victims of terrorism around the world.
Everyone at the ceremony left the Civic Centre to witness the Union Flag being lowered as Chairman of Redcar Royal British Legion, Dave Harris, read from the poem For The Fallen by Laurence Binyon including the lines; “They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”
Earlier this year, the authority was awarded the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, the highest national honour available. The Gold Award will be officially bestowed on the council at a ceremony in York in November.
At the ceremony, Leader of the Council, Cllr Alec Brown, said it was poignant that the ceremony was taking place on the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attack in New York which gave more credence to the council’s reaffirmation of the covenant. He said the council members of the Armed Forces, “continue to give to us every single day” and the council was, “very proud to support them.” He added: “Those who serve and who have served deserve to have their value recognised.”
Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Dave Taylor, who spent five years in the Light Dragoons serving in Bosnia and Iraq, said:
“The commitment from our Armed Forces Liaison Officers but also many other colleagues in all areas of the council, has been genuinely outstanding. There are support structures available now which just did not exist previously. It’s not only within the council itself that improvements have been made. Far from it. We have engaged with businesses, partner organisations and charities to help provide a coordinated joined-up and effective response to people who need help. It’s been fantastic progress – but there is more to be done. Let this reaffirmation be the start of renewed effort and an even better service.”
Katie Carr, Defence Relationship Manager from The North of England Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association, also spoke. She explained that she worked closely with cadets and studies had shown that cadets, including from disadvantaged backgrounds, were much more likely to stay out of trouble and find employment. “By signing the covenant, you are supporting that,” she said.
Representatives of local business ES Mobile Services also signed the covenant at the ceremony.
Businesses and organisations across Redcar and Cleveland are being urged to show their support for the Armed Forces community and are encouraged to also sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant. All organisations – public, private or voluntary and small, medium or large – are welcome to sign.
By signing the Covenant, businesses make an important pledge to ensure that no member of the Armed Forces community faces disadvantage in employment or the services they provide.
Email the council’s team at ArmedForcesLiaison@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk to find out more.