Councillor Amanda Grimshaw, Armed Forces Champion for Brighton & Hove, has signed the recently updated version of the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging the city’s continued support to our Armed Forces community.
The pledge demonstrates our commitment to removing any disadvantage that members of the Armed Forces community might face and recognising the sacrifice and contribution that active service personnel, reservists, veterans and military families make to our city.
The Armed Forces Covenant, first introduced in 2011, focuses on helping the Armed Forces community have the same access to government and commercial services as the public.
It outlines the principles of removing disadvantages faced by the Armed Forces community in areas such as education, housing, and healthcare.
As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, Brighton & Hove City Council has been awarded silver status in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme; we are currently working towards gold status.
Our silver award recognises the commitment and support we demonstrate to our Defence and Armed Forces communities, as we continue our journey of being a forces-friendly employer.
By promoting forces-friendly policies and raising awareness, we aim to be a frontrunner in the nationwide effort to understand the complex issues that can impact reservists and to provide the support needed.
To support our employees who are also reservists, we provide up to 10 days paid leave (pro-rata) to attend training, under our special and carer’s leave policy.
We also support the national Heroes Welcome scheme. You can find information on discounts and offers for the Armed Forces community from selected local businesses and attractions on our dedicated Heroes Welcome webpage.
Councillor Amanda Grimshaw, Armed Forces Champion for Brighton & Hove, said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to sign the Armed Forces Covenant again, signifying our commitment to supporting our Armed Forces community.
“As an employer, it is our duty to ensure that the personal sacrifice of our active service personnel, reservists, veterans and their families is repaid with support to overcome challenges and remove disadvantage.
“We’re proud to be awarded silver status in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and are committed to reaching gold status in the near future.”
