Third council signs covenant to support its armed forces heroes

Leading members of community groups will gather at Rotherham Town Hall this afternoon for the launch of the covenant, described as a “public promise of support” from the people of the borough.

Estimates show that around 15,276 people are living in Rotherham who have served in war zones, and Rotherham Council said it was determined to ensure that more was done to recognise their contributions.

Coun Mahroof Hussain, the authority’s spokesman for community development, said the signing of the covenant would demonstrate that determination, and open up opportunities to access generous Government grants.

He added: “This is hugely relevant to Rotherham’s One Town One Community initiative, which has a focus of equality and fair treatment for all Rotherham citizens.

“I am very proud to be involved in this because members of our Armed Forces do an amazing job and they do sacrifice some freedoms, that as civilians we take for granted.

“And of course, as part of their duties they sometimes face danger, suffer serious injury or even pay the ultimate sacrifice.

“Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our armed forces and so in return we all have a moral obligation to support this special group of people as well as their families.”

The Government has set aside £30 million over four years and community projects will be assessed against eligible criteria, with local authorities being asked to match any grant awarded on a pound for pound basis.

Before the covenant was drawn up a group was established by Rotherham Council to identifying and addressing issues relating to ex-service personnel.

The working included representatives from relevant council services such as housing, education, transport and benefits, as well as from the health service, the Department of Work and Pensions, and the local business and voluntary sectors.

Members of these organisations will be attending the signing ceremony alongside representatives of local armed forces organisations, MP’s Kevin Barron and John Healey, as well as council leader Roger Stone and chief executive Martin Kimber.

Rotherham Council said its community covenant would complement the Armed Forces Covenant published by the Government last June.

That document outlined the “moral obligation” between the nation, the Government and the armed forces at a local level and stated the armed forces community should not be disadvantaged compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.

A spokesman for the council said: “The community covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local armed forces community - a two-way statement aimed at encouraging support for members of the armed forces community living and working in the area, including ex-service personnel, their families and widows and widowers.

“Research has shown that returning to civilian life can be daunting for those who have spent even a short time in the armed forces, because all their welfare needs such as housing, education and health matters are met by the Ministry of Defence.”

Last year, two other South Yorkshire councils signed similar covenants with Doncaster Council leading the way in June and Sheffield Council signing its document in November.

Barnsley Council has yet to sign up while Wakefield, North Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire are other councils which have already drawn up their own community covenants.

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