A renewed commitment to armed forces personnel, past and present, has been made by Carlisle City Council.
The authority re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant showing a continued commitment to veterans and current servicemen and women.
The council’s armed forces champion Elizabeth Mallinson signed the declaration along with Cumbrian businesses and organisations.
It is a pledge from the council to continue and improve its already award-winning support for the armed forces community.
Councillor Mallinson, who is also the portfolio holder for health and wellbeing said: “We are part of the Armed Forces Covenant, we’ve already got bronze and silver and we’re going for gold.
“The council has employees that are past armed forces service personnel and we also have so of them in the reservists, we are very proud to offer them jobs in the community.”
Lucy Lamb, project officer at Forces Link, gave a presentation on the work of the community interest company, before signing the declaration with partner organisations.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service she said: “We engage with veterans and their families, we provide links to organisations [and support with] employment, housing, mental health, education.”
Training and events are organised by Forces Link for the military community including wheelchair basketball sessions in Penrith. In her speech, Ms Lamb said: “It’s about belonging, it’s about feeling a sense of purpose.”
Cllr Mallinson said the council looked forward to more collaboration with Forces Link and other Cumbrian organisations in the armed forces.
“A this current time with the Ukraine situation, it focusses the mind that something could change with our servicemen and their families, that’s when we step in and we help”,” she said.
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kennon, commanding officer fourth battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, signed the declaration as an armed forces representative.
Emma Porter, managing director of Story Contracting also signed the declaration alongside Antonette Cullen, HR manager at Clark Door Limited, Sarah McGrath principal of Carlisle College; Lizzie McGaffin, forces liaison officer at William Howard School and Alison Phillips, operations manager at Cumbria CVS.
