West Sussex County Council has been re-awarded gold status for going above and beyond with its Armed Forces Covenant.
The news was shared by Armed Forces Champion Jacky Pendleton during a meeting of the full council on Friday (December 12).
In 2020, the council earned gold status on the South East Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (SERFCA) Employer Recognition Scheme – it has now repeated that achievement.
The scheme acknowledges employers who provide exceptional support to the Armed Forces community, above and beyond their Covenant pledges.
Mrs Pendleton said she was delighted by the news that West Sussex would be gold for another five years.
The Covenant covers three main strands: signposting serving personnel, veterans, their families, reservists and cadets to the support and services available; internal support for veterans seeking work and those already working; and encouraging other local authorities to engage with the Covenant.
More than 31,800 people in West Sussex have declared that they have served with the Armed Forces – that’s 4 per cent of the county’s 16+ population. Some 13 per cent of those veterans are female.
Looking to the changes faced by councils in the coming few years, Mrs Pendleton added: “I would like to assure you all that I am working together with the Armed Forces Champions from East Sussex and Brighton & Hove to ensure that, following both Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution, our Armed Forces support and the Civilian Military Partnership boards are recognised in the new structures and represented through the Mayoral system into Government and across local authorities.”
West Sussex County Council has been re-awarded gold status for going above and beyond with its Armed Forces Covenant.
The news was shared by Armed Forces Champion Jacky Pendleton during a meeting of the full council on Friday (December 12).
In 2020, the council earned gold status on the South East Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (SERFCA) Employer Recognition Scheme – it has now repeated that achievement.
The scheme acknowledges employers who provide exceptional support to the Armed Forces community, above and beyond their Covenant pledges.
Mrs Pendleton said she was delighted by the news that West Sussex would be gold for another five years.
The Covenant covers three main strands: signposting serving personnel, veterans, their families, reservists and cadets to the support and services available; internal support for veterans seeking work and those already working; and encouraging other local authorities to engage with the Covenant.
More than 31,800 people in West Sussex have declared that they have served with the Armed Forces – that’s 4 per cent of the county’s 16+ population. Some 13 per cent of those veterans are female.
Looking to the changes faced by councils in the coming few years, Mrs Pendleton added: “I would like to assure you all that I am working together with the Armed Forces Champions from East Sussex and Brighton & Hove to ensure that, following both Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution, our Armed Forces support and the Civilian Military Partnership boards are recognised in the new structures and represented through the Mayoral system into Government and across local authorities.”
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