Runnymede Borough Council recently received the Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award from the UK Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. The scheme launched in 2014 to recognise employer support for the Armed Forces Covenant and Defence personnel.
This award was an upgrade from the previous bronze award which the Council held and highlights the commitment the organisation has made to support reservists, veterans, serving personnel and families, cadets, and the wider military community. To be considered for the award, the Council had to meet criteria. This included demonstrating support for training by providing at least five days’ additional leave and advocating the benefits of supporting those within the Armed Forces community.
As well as this, the Council has also demonstrated its worthiness for the accreditation through:
The development of a fortnightly veteran’s drop-in session at the Gogmore Farm Park Youth and Community Hub. Here veterans can chat with one another over coffee and Runnymede and Spelthorne Borough Councils are currently collaborating to launch a second session in another part of the borough.
The Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme was revised in June 2016 allowing serving / recently discharged armed forced personnel qualified to join the Housing Register without a local connection.
Establishing an Armed Forces Network, supporting employees who are reservists, veterans and spouses/partners.
Runnymede was one of 48 organisations in the South East accredited this period with the total now being 139 Silver holders in the region.
Further information on the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-employer-recognition-scheme