County’s military covenant to be signed on Armed Forces Day

The agreement, which will complement the national Armed Forces Covenant, aims to promote public understanding and awareness of issues facing the forces community.

The East Riding covenant will be signed by a range of public authorities and members of the community, voluntary and business sectors as well as the head of the British Army in Yorkshire and the North East, Brigadier Greville Bibby.

An action plan is being drawn up to deliver a range of tailored support to serving members of the military, veterans and their families.

East Riding Council has already identified areas where more local support may be needed after staging a workshop and consulting 30 organisations which have contact with veterans, serving members of the forces and their families.

These include a lack of affordable housing, support for alcohol and drug misuse, childcare support for service families at Leconfield, language and cultural support for Nepalese (Ghurka) service families in Leconfield, financial and employment advice.

The East Riding covenant follows last year’s signing of the landmark City of Hull Armed Forces and Veterans’ Charter, the first in the country to include support for Merchant Navy personnel and fishermen who have seen active service.