The Bedford Borough Armed Forces Community Covenant
Organisations across Bedford Borough are pledging to work together to look after and support our Armed Forces and their families within the community.
Representatives from Bedford Borough Council, charitable and voluntary organisations, businesses and civilians will be signing the Bedford Borough Armed Forces Community Covenant with local Armed Forces members on Monday 2nd July, following a ceremony to mark Armed Forces Day.
The Armed Forces Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between the civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. The aim of the Community Covenant is to encourage the local community to support the Service community in their area and promote understanding and awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the Armed Forces Community. It is intended to be a two-way arrangement, with the Armed Forces community encouraged to do as much as it can to support the community and promote activity which integrates the Community into civilian life.
Mayor Dave Hodgson will be the Council's Lead Member acting as Armed Forces Community Covenant Champion, pursuing and promoting the principles of the covenant.
Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "This is a public recognition of the unique role of the armed forces and the sacrifices made on behalf of us all, and I am delighted that this commitment is being made here in Bedford Borough between the civilian community and our armed forces. I hope that the Covenant will encourage support for the armed forces community and help make it easier for service people including veterans to access all the help and support that is available here in Bedford Borough. "
"The Council is committed to the principles behind the Covenant and I look forward to championing these principles and working to promote understanding and awareness of issues facing members of the Armed Forces Community."
The core principles of the Bedford Borough Armed Forces Community Covenant are to:
a) Ensure that members of the Armed Forces community do not suffer any disadvantages as a result of their service.
b) Recognise and remember the sacrifices made by members of the Bedford Borough Armed Forces community, particularly those who have given the most. This includes in-Service and ex-Service personnel, Reservists, their families and widow(er)s.