Community Covenant
Press release from Shepway District
Council
Civic and community leaders in Shepway have
pledged their support for their local Armed Forces.
A Community Covenant signed on Friday 2
December confirms the mutual support between Shepway’s civilian and
Armed Forces communities and acknowledges the sacrifices made by
members of the Armed Forces - including veterans, their families
and their widows and widowers.
Shepway District Council is the first district
authority in Kent to draw up and sign an Armed Forces Community
Covenant.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Robert Bliss, said
he looked forward to underpinning the commitment with real and
practical help. He paid tribute to Cllr Brian Copping, Chairman of
the council’s overview and scrutiny committee, who he described as
a ‘tireless campaigner’ in getting a fair deal for serving armed
forces personnel and veterans.
“Cllr Copping moved a resolution at a meeting
of Full Council in July urging the council to demonstrate its
commitment to the Armed Forces community in Shepway. It is thanks
to his determination that we have progressed so quickly to drawing
up and signing this covenant.”
Cllr Copping said he welcomed the range of
groups and organisations signing the covenant.
“Shepway has a long tradition of co-operation
between its civilian community and its local armed forces. Today’s
signatories represent all aspects of service and civilian
communities in Shepway and demonstrate the strong desire from
everyone to work together. I expect this covenant to make a real
difference to the lives of serving forces personnel and veterans.
It will also enable us to bid for funds from the Armed Forces
Community Covenant Grant Scheme.”
Representatives from the1st
battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles, Royal British Legion, Royal Air
Forces Association, the Soldiers’ Sailors and Air Forces Families
Association, Burma Star Association, Normandy Veterans Association,
Folkestone Sports Centre, Kent County Council attended Friday’s
signing.
Lt Col David Robinson, Commanding Officer,
1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, said: “Today’s
signing of the Covenant reinforces the extremely strong bond
between the British Army and the local community and notably for me
represents the degree to which the people of Shepway have taken the
soldiers and families of the Royal Gurkha Rifles to their hearts.
We are extremely proud to be a part of such a community which we
hope will continue to be enriched by our presence here.”
To find out more visit www.shepway.gov.uk